Image Credit: Prayltno via Flickr
All across America right now, hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of people from the gay community are still celebrating the success in the Supreme Court ruling of Obergefell vs Hodegs. For those of you whom have been on a few weeks long camping trip, in the middle of nowhere, with no cell service, and have no idea what I am talking about… same sex marriage is now legal in all 50 states. With one long and arduous battle for equality won, another may be just around the corner.
Since forever, the Boy Scouts have always banned anyone who is gay from participating, whether it be as a Scout, a leader, or even a volunteer. The premise has been that it would be inappropriate to have gay men working with young boys, impressionable ones at that. Because you know, all gay men are child predators and/or looking to brainwash young boys (please note my sarcasm). However, today the BSA (Boy Scouts of America) has approved a resolution that would allow gay adults to work for or volunteer for this organization. According to the Scouts for Equality webpage this change would mean that:
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Eliminate the BSA’s across the board ban on openly gay or bisexual adults in scouting.
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Allow each individual troop or unit to determine its own policy regarding the eligibility of openly gay or bisexual scoutmasters or other adult leaders.
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Prohibit regional governing councils or non-Troop entities such as boy scouts camps from discriminating against employees and volunteers based on their sexual orientation.
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Allow previously removed leaders to reapply for their positions.
As excited and hopeful as I am for this to go to vote, I fear that there are still some issues. If this passes, then that means that each individual troop or unit could still decide to deny a man who is gay. I hope that my fears are unwarranted, but only time will tell.