Boy Scouts of America (BSA) Discrimination on Religion and Sexuality Must Stop
Posted: Tuesday, December 29, 2009
by Connor Davidson
For a while now I have been growing increasingly more annoyed by the Boy Scouts policies and attitudes towards certain groups of people. What they are doing is blatant discrimination and I truly believe that certain aspects of scouting is polluting the minds of young people. Clearly, something must be done.
But first: I must point out that if you ignore their policies and membership criteria then they are great. They empower children. They teach young people skills and offer them guidance. It's enjoyable, engaging and educational. They do, do good.
The membership criteria can be summarized by the three (this article will focus on two) "G's" prefaced by no: Girls, Gays and Godless. So, if you are gay or do not believe in some form of god (be it Judeo-Christian, Islamic or so on) then you best hope you have your hiking badge because you're going to have to take one.
Let's look at homosexuality first. Here are two famous quotations that show the open discrimination the Boy Scots undertake:
"We believe that homosexual conduct is inconsistent with the requirements in the Scout Oath that a Scout be morally straight and in the Scout Law that a Scout be clean in word and deed, and that homosexuals do not provide a desirable role model for Scouts. Because of these beliefs, the Boy Scouts of America does not accept homosexuals as members or as leaders, whether in volunteer or professional capacities." Boy Scouts of America, Position Statement on Homosexuality, 1991
"To suggest that the BSA had no policy against active homosexuality is nonsense. It was an organization which from its inception had a God-acknowledged, moral foundation. It required its members, youth and adult, to take the Scout Oath that they would be "morally straight." It is unthinkable that in a society where there was universal governmental condemnation of the act of sodomy as a crime, that the BSA could or would tolerate active homosexuality if discovered in any of its members. . . .Men who do those criminal and immoral acts cannot be held out as role models." Superior Court Judge Patrick J. McGann,
These quotes clearly show that the BSA is a homophobic organization. But why? What is the problem and what is the point of caring?
Well, if only I knew. I have searched and searched for a powerful argument as to why gay people are incapable of being good scouts or should not be allowed into the organization. The best I could find was: "they are not good role models". What utter nonsense.
Imagine this hypothetical scenario. The President of the United states who has broken all records for popularity, has two Ph.D's and three Masters, raised over twenty million dollars for charity, took a stand against corrupt politics in Africa, helped alleviate world poverty, won the Nobel Peace Prize and climbed mount Everest is a bad role model. All because he is gay. I mean we better linch this person before he pollutes the minds of little Scouts.
Perhaps this example is a bit of a hyperbole but you get the idea of saying that they are a "bad role model" is a pathetic argument which may (if they are lucky) convince six year old cub scout.
There is a real example that I would like to draw your attention to. Tim Curran was an exceptional scout. He won the Eagle Scout Award, was elected to be Patrol Leader and was included in the 'Honor Society of Campers". But then in 1980 he was told not to come back as homosexuality and scouting are (for some reason which, despite my best efforts, eludes me) incompatible.
The thing that really gets me about the whole homosexuality and scouting is: why care? What has a fun based club got to do with sexuality? I must say, as a heterosexual man, that I find the idea of being homosexual repulsive. But I also find, as a caramel hating person, that sweets with caramel in them are repulsive. Perhaps I could start up a club for little children where they are taught that people who eat caramel are bad role models. I can see very little delineation between caramel and homosexuality . If someone willingly and knowingly elects to eat caramel fine. If someone knowingly and willingly elects to be gay fine. Besides, collectively, we spend far too much time worrying about superficial things like what consenting adults do between the sheets - Tim was 18 when he admitted being gay. Get over it.
There we are; the first of our two G's have been dealt with and I hope that you can see through the hollow and poorly argued points the BSA have come up with. A youth organization should be supportive not exclusive. If only they could follow the example the Uk (the home of scouting) has set and stop this discrimination.
The next area of blatant discrimination I would like to draw your attention towards atheists, humanists and secularists. In order to join the scouts you must sign a "declaration of religious principles". There are two main reasons adult volunteers are excluded from joining and that is either because they are pedophiles and/or atheists.
There are two lines of attack I'm going to take against their policy. The first is it is not fair on children and the second, is that the whole idea that in order to be moral you must have god is utter rubbish.
Firstly, I ask you, are young children capable of knowing exactly what they believe? And do parent have the right to tell children what to believe? I'd say no.
At six years old, the age for joining the Bobcat Cub Scouts, a child is not able to decide (for there self) if they want to believe in god or not. It's not fair to treat them as being theists or non-theists they don't understand. Someone got annoyed at me when I would not accept that is son (just about to start school) was a young earth creationist. I said to him that I trust that his son has read On the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin and has a degree in geology with an emphasis on radio carbon dating based on the radioactive decay of carbon isotopes over time. He clearly did not and what was even more obvious was that the beliefs that he held were not his own. Children have the right to make up their own mind and should be allowed to do so.
So, the boy scouts are not being fair to children by, essentially, telling them what to believe. The wording that they use is even worse. They talk about doing your "duty to god". The word duty is very indicative of being forced to or having to do - it's a necessity. If you are religious then you have a duty to your God. If your a child to young to know what your truly believe then it is not your duty unless you elect to.
The other thing that annoys me is the way they think you need God to be good. Yes, may people have done a lot of good because of god.Yes, there are many better people out their because of faith. On the other hand their are a lot of good atheists. I like to think I'm a moral person and I know I'm not religious. Here is a quotation their declaration of religious principles:
"The Boy Scouts of America maintains that no member can grow into the best kind of citizenship without recognizing an obligation to God. In the first part of the Scout Oath or Promise the member declares, "On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law." The recognition of God as the ruling and leading power in the universe and the grateful acknowledgment of His favors and blessings are necessary to the best type of citizenship and are wholesome precepts in the education of the growing members. No matter what the religious faith of the members may be, this fundamental need of the members should be kept before them. The Boy Scouts of America, therefore, recognizes the religious element in the training of the member, but is absolutely nonsectarian in its attitude toward that religious training. Its policy is that the home and the organization with which the member is connected shall give definite attention to religious life."
This is an insult to all the atheists in the world. You can be a good citizen without god. If you abide by the law, are nice to all the people you meet, polite, respectful, pay your taxes, do your bit for charity but don't believe in some form of god you're now not a very good citizen? No that's just silly.
Right, if atheist can be good people why can't they be in the scouts? Well, the BSA have a get out of jail free card.
The way that the BSA can get away with so much discrimination is that they claim that they are a private organization, and thus, have the right to discriminate. Hogwash, I say.
If the Hitler Youth was a private organization would they get to play the same card? Logically yes but in practice, thankfully, not.
The real question is should something be allowed to discriminate, and encourage more discrimination, simply because it is a private organization? I certainly hope not.
Has anyone noticed that an organization that talks about gays not being "morally straight" and atheists lacking morality (implied by the citizen jibber-jabber) is itself lacking morality and thus hypocrites. Ironically, Colonel Baden-Powell founded the scouts as an alternative to church lead youth groups that forced children to accept a certain creed.
Connor Davidson is a UK based writer. He writes on wide variety of topics with his main interest being science, maths and engineering.
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You can keep up to date with his writings by following him on twitter or Google+
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Top-level comments on this article: (10 total)Great article, a very interesting read. Discriminating against people based on faith (or lack thereof) or sexuality is unfair, unreasonable and wrong (with the possible exception being where the faith or sexuality is the primary unifying element of the group - so it would be ok for the Catholic Church to rule out Muslim or atheist candidates for the Papacy for example).Unreasonable discrimination based on sexuality, gender, age, faith etc should not be permitted by any organisation, private or public.The "atheists lack morals" implication is not only a ridiculous slur, it is flatly contradicted by the evidence.Atheists, as a group of people, are demonstrably just as moral as non-atheists. In fact, there's a fair amount of evidence that implies atheists are less likely to be involved in criminal activity than non-atheists - atheists are significantly under-represented in the prison population compared to the rest of the population for example.It would be stupid for a muslim or atheist pope. Could you imagine the state the catholic church would be in if Richard Dawkins or Sam Harris ect were pope?You could also say that since their is a correlation between atheism and level of education - more educated the more likely to be an atheist. While their is also a correlation between education and crime. So, perhaps that is an explanation of why atheists are not in the prisons as much.Thanks for the comment.So the Catholics instead elected a nazi hitler youth pope to scare the jews senseless!?
Connor we might have to agree to disagree on this one - why should every organization have to be all inclusive? The organization has the ability and right to set up membership rules - if not, then some membership department stores would have to accept all when maybe their goal is simply to accept small businesses.... clubs for encouraging and mentoring say women - maybe even abused women would the have to allow men to join so as not to discriminate against men..... certain churches who adhere to the Bible would have to hire teachers in their church schools that were atheists and, heaven forbid.... the atheists organizations would have to hire Bible believing Christians who applied for positions on their staff..... Mexican clubs celebrating their heritage and culture would have to admit people from Fiji and IRA clubs/organizations might even have to admit Brits to their membership....Just some thoughts.... MarijoI see what you are saying. But these sort of clubs are different in my eyes. These clubs are essentially based around an idea and are reasonable. The Boy Scouts need not be based around religion or sexuality.Also, the clubs that you mention are not actively encouraging discrimination only grouping together like minded people.Thanks for the comment.
Kudos to you Connor for tackling this subject. I completely agree with you on all points. It's way past time that the human race stop pitting 'them against us.'IMHO, imposing your views, religious or political, on anyone else falls under the heading of "immoral."Thanks for the comment.
You see too clearly Connor. Life in America will be difficult for you and you will be the target of constant criticism and rebuke because no one wants to face the truth, and prefers to remain hidden in illusions.
So I guess that makes you my kind of hero! May you fight until the end for what is right and decent for all of the people. May everything you do come from a kind and compassionate heart, and may you see always through the delusion of hatred, cloaked as it may be.
Best.............eI heard that 40% of Americans think the earth is less than 10,000 years old. I guess I would not get on too well with them.Thanks for the comment.
Hi Connor. Thank you for sharing your point of view. I see what you mean. If I want to join a particular club, I want to make sure that I know the qualifications to become a member and if I don't qualify -- I will find another club that would accept me, but I understand that the issue here is discrimination not qualification. Great article Connor. Happy New Year to you and your loved ones. ~Nenita~Thanks for the comment.
Interesting article. The only thing I remember about Boy Scouting is my troop leader. He was such I jerk I left after a month and never came back. Good stuff Connor.Thanks for the comment.
Good for you; the boy scouts are a youth fascist organization which as you say would be wondrous if not for their catholic(means,'narrow')iklings.Thanks for the comment.
Hi Connor, I appreciate your passionate and well articulated opinion. The thing is it is a private organization, so it can set things up however it likes. The solution is simple, don't join if you don't agree. There are lots of boys and girls clubs out there with different sets of standards and policies anyone can find whatever suits them.My opinion is - it is silly to try to get a private organization to change their policies - just start one of your own. But this is just my opinion :-) . Again, well written. TeresaThanks for the comment.If they didn't get special treatment from the government (i.e. advantages not available to other private clubs that might be created), I'd agree, but they do - the Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act gives them special access to school facilities.The government shouldn't support (via funding, or special treatment) any organization that discriminates.If the government funded, or gave legistlative support to, a large organization that denied membership to black people or women there'd probably be massive opposition, but when the discrimination is against atheists and homosexuals somehow it seems to be widely accepted.I totally agree. The government is endorsing discrimination.I wonder what you think of the girl guides and their polices of not allowing boys or male leaders.At least the boy scouts will allow female leaders
Connor,Good article but I think you miss the point about its philosophy. Why is a private organization not entitled to have an ideology which it believes produces morally strong young men who happen to believe in God (still the majority of people in the world although I realize those numbers are declining in England and many European countries)? What you must take into account is the fact that for most Christians, homosexuality is immoral. Welcoming homosexuals as leaders into this organization whose purpose is to develop young boys spiritually, physically, and mentally is the founding principle of this club. Embracing homosexuality doesn't fit into the picture for the majority of its members.Those who are not religious are welcome to join other clubs; i.e, the 4-H. Of course, the 4-H has a stipulation that you must attend 70% of its meetings. Isn't that a form of discrimination? But then, you won't argue that one, or will you?The problem is they don't produce morally strong adults.Thanks for the comment.
Why not try the Earth Scouts? The best way to beat the competition is to offer them some.Like many others said, the BSA is a private organization and can discriminate if it wants. This is a Constitutionally protected right. The Constitution protects the rights of groups with which many of us disagree and that's a good thing! If you want to start the Atheist Gay Scouts, you can!Btw, I found your comment about homosexuality being repulsive to you very insensitive to all my gay friends but I will defend your right to say it.
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