A New Possibility

After more than two weeks of tending sick children, who are now thankfully well and back at school, I have a long list of things to post, from developing our family song canon to my Goodreads goal and two other challenges I've undertaken for February.  But last things first:  I want to post about the Boy Scouts.

Gommie called last night, "Are you ready to be a Boy Scout leader?"  She relayed the announcement that the BSA is considering allowing local troops to decide the gay and lesbian issue.  I told her that until the national office eliminated their anti-gay policies, we still couldn't support Boy Scouts on the local level.

But as I later read the news reports, I discovered that the BSA is actually considering eliminating discriminatory policies from their national office but leaving choices on LGBTQ leaders and scouts to the local level.

Which means we can join.

Yep, if Bud still wants to be a Boy Scout, and, if the troops in our area accept us (and I have it on the best authorities that there will be no problem on that score), we will sign up as soon as we can.

Of course, that's a lot of "ifs" but it's still much further than I expected to be while Bud was still young enough to join.

Help Bud Be a Boy Scout

Please sign Jennifer Tyrell's petition to the CEO of AT&T who sits on the Boy Scouts of America board and tell him you want the homophobic policies of the BSA rescinded so everyone can be a Boy Scout.  If they eliminate their policy, we'll sign him up.  Help us make the change we wish to see in the world.

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A BIG THANKS to all of you who saw my post/email and signed the petition!

Connections

Lest you think the Cub Scouts' homophobia is only a problem for Cub Scouts and my rants are merely sour grapes, I contend their prejudiced yet legal policies, accepted by both the Supreme Court and people who support the Boy Scouts of America, create a climate that leads to tragedies like this:

DETAILS IN GAY IOWA TEEN'S DEATH AFTER ALLEGEDLY ENDURING THREATS EMERGE

He was 14.

My thoughts and prayers go out to Kenneth Weishuhn's family and friends, as well as all LGBTQ youth.

I send my deepest thanks to those of you who have commented and emailed me privately with your support and agreement that the BSA and such attitudes are unacceptable.

Mommy Bear and Her Own Cub

I often get asked why Bud isn't in Cub Scouts, when we so actively encourage Sis to be a Girl Scout.  This is why:

BOY SCOUTS KICK LESBIAN DEN LEADER OUT OF SON'S DEN

I'd like to think that Connecticut isn't like that, but it can happen anywhere legally even against the wishes of the local members, as the article describes. I can't support with our money, time, or membership an organization that repeatedly asserts that I am flawed and my son's family is wrong.  How could I?  Why do you? 

The Boy Scouts are flawed and they are wrong.  

BSA Revisited

I've been giving my Boy Scouts of America post more thought. It occurs to me that I am really bothered by my friends' acceptance of the BSA's discriminatory and homophobic policies, their willingness to sign up their own children regardless of the implications. Why don't they care? They've told me they don't agree with the policies, but it doesn't seem to bother them. Why aren't my friends also standing up for justice? for us and our kids?

While the comparison is exaggerated and hyperbolic, I am reminded of Pastor Martin Niemoller's "First They Came . . . ":

First they came for the communists,

and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist.

Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew.

Then they came for me

and there was no one left to speak out for me.

A Different Kind of Family Value

First grade. The time when boys join Cub Scouts.

Except our boy.

Because we can't see a moral or ethical path to encouraging Bud to profess this:

Boy Scouts of America believes that homosexual conduct is inconsistent with the obligations in the Scout Oath and Scout Law to be morally straight and clean in thought, word, and deed.

Do we really want him around people who believe that his moms are dirty and immoral? Or to have to agree to that himself? Of course, not all Boy Scouts believe this, surely. I imagine they conveniently ignore it because it doesn't affect them. That doesn't make it better. Or right. And what kind of message does that send to Bud or the BSA, that we don't mind that they morally object to us? Would you encourage a biracial child to join the Klan?

It's hard because we know that he'd probably enjoy the camaraderie and activities. Several of our friends don't understand our dilemma and keep telling us that it doesn't matter on the local level, that no one will discriminate against us or Bud here in town. And I imagine they're right, for the most part. But I say it's the principle of the matter.

Besides, in 2009, the moms of a Vermont Scout were prohibited from volunteering for his pack when it was learned they were lesbians.

How could I risk putting him through that? What would we have taught him? What would he have learned?