Lesbian mom Jennifer Tyrrell delivered a petition to Boy Scouts of America (BSA) Wednesday, containing 300,000 electronic signatures in support of the group changing its approach toward the gay community. On Tuesday, BSA reaffirmed its policy of disallowing membership to “open or avowed homosexuals.”
Ms. Tyrrell had been the den leader of the Tiger Cub Den, the Bridgeport, Ohio Cub Scout den that her 7-year-old son Cruz had been a part of, before she was asked to step down due to her sexual orientation. She then organized an electronic petition through Change.org to protest BSA’s decision to not allow gay members or den leaders.
Despite the “tens of thousands of comments” from scouts and former scouts, BSA stuck to its “no gay members allowed” policy. A statement released to the public on the decision states:
The committee's work and conclusion is that this policy reflects the beliefs and perspectives of the BSA's members, thereby allowing Scouting to remain focused on its mission and the work it is doing to serve more youth.
Good for the BSA for standing up for the majority of its members and not kowtowing to social pressure. The Boy Scouts are a private group, and they don't have to allow homosexuals. They don't allow women either (except as cub scout den leaders for the under 12 set), but no one is complaining about that.
I'm sorry that Ms. Tyrrell didn't get to fulfill her dream of becoming a den mother, but no one gets everything they want. She decided to have a child as a lesbian, which has its pros and cons. On the one hand, she's not allowed to lead her son's den (by the way, I didn't see anything about excluding the children of gay couples), but on the other hand mommies are awesome and Cruz has two!
The majority of Boy Scouts have said that they are not comfortable allowing homosexuals into their ranks. Here's the beauty of the free market -- if this is really something that so many scouts feel strongly about, they'll leave and find other places to do good deeds. Enough people leave, BSA may have to reexamine its policy. Until then, leave them in peace.
What do you think? Should the Boy Scouts of America be forced to accept homosexuals as members?
Image via stevendepolo/Flickr
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Comments 74
OMG, I'm tired of hearing about homosexuality. Honestly I just go with simple science on this. No men............no babies. No women no babies. The world as we know it would abruptly end. If whoever created us (whether you believe in god or not) designed us to be gay or lesbian, then gay and lesbians as couples could create life without the help of the opposite sex. Its NOT possible!
That being said I have no hate toward people who choose to live their lives this way ( I know, I know some of you don't believe its a choice) I know many people who are gay and love them just the same. However that's the great thing about freedom of speech, we can choose to believe what we what, when we want.
Here's my problem with the Boy Scouts:
People say they are a private organization, so they can discriminate against whoever they want. However, the Boy Scouts receives tax payer money. That's so unfair! I think more people should watch Penn&Teller's "Bullshit" episode about the Boy Scouts. I was moved to tears at the end! And don't you dare tell me that homosexual scout masters would rape the boys! That's bullshit! Homosexuals are no more likey to be pedofiles than heterosexuals! And since heterosexual male teachers are allowed to teach female students in schools, the "rape" argument is invalid.
My brother is both a Bisexual and an Atheist, and he's also an Eagle scout. He had to lie to stay in the organization. It's just so unfair. The girl scouts lets homosexuals and Atheists into their organization, so why can't the boy scouts?
@ilovemy4kiddies
Trying to drag science into the homosexuality argument, eh? Then surely you are aware of the facts behind homosexuality!
1. Homosexual behaviors have been obserbed in several different animal speices, not just humans. In fact, almost every Bonobo (a primate closely related to humans) will have sex with both males and females. It's natural. (I got this information from the book "Our Inner Ape")
2. The female body indentifys male fetuses as a potential pathogen. A woman pregnant with a boy will produce more antibodies in an attempt to "feminize" the fetus. These antibodies increase each time she is pregnant with a boy. As a result, a boy could be born homosexual. (Look up "Get educated about homosexuality" on Youtube for more information.) I will admit not many studies have been done on lesbians, so I cannot at this time give much information on that.
You think homosexuality is a choice? Why would someone CHOOSE to be discriminated against?? My bisexual brother has told me it's not a choice. Do you choose to be heterosexual? I certainly don't! You say sexual oriantation is a choice, but I already know that there is no possible way I will ever be attracted to females. You are who you are when it comes to sexual oriantation.
In response to everyone that responded to my comment(s), I believe what I want to believe and you believe what you want to believe. Some of the sources that I listed write about homosexuality being a choice and some write that homosexuality isn't a choice. I didn't just read things on one side of the fence, I'm not ignorant. I learned that I probably won't comment on articles regarding my opinions on homosexuality because it seems as if many of the women here feel very passionate that I'm wrong. I always look at issues from both sides of the fence and try my very best to understand where people are coming from before forming an opinion.
Homosexuality (like all social opinions) is just one of those issues that people feel strongly about. It's very hard to change some one's opinion once they have already form one.
I hope that we can all agree that you put race, ethnicity, gender, and sexuality aside because we all are human and everyone has feelings and deserves respect.