The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) is an organization, composed almost
entirely of volunteers, that provides "quality youth programs, including Tiger Cubs, Cub
Scouting, Boy Scouting, and Venturing" to about 4.8 million boys (and
some older young women) between the ages of 7 and 20. 1(Venturing is a co-ed program
introduced in 1998 for older youths and young adults; they involved about 200,000 members in its
first year).
In England, Lord Robert S.S. Baden-Powell, "the Hero of Mafeking,"
had started a program of training for boys with his book "Scouting for
Boys" in 1908. The book became an instant best seller. "He
was later proclaimed Chief Scout of the World." 2A number of his biographers have concluded from the available
evidence that he was gay. Tim Jeal wrote: "The available evidence
points inexorably to the conclusion that Baden-Powell was a repressed
homosexual." 3There is no evidence
that he acted on his sexual orientation.
An
American businessman, William D. Boyce, visiting London in 1910 was impressed
by the good turn of a British Boy Scout and
took action to bring such a program to the U.S. IN 1911, he arranged to merge
a number of boy's groups into a national organization. On 1910-FEB-8, a
new corporation "Boy Scouts of America" was established. Ironically, one of
Boyce's grandsons
is gay and thus is ineligible to be a Scout.
"The purpose of the Boy Scouts of America, incorporated on February 8,
1910, and chartered by Congress in 1916, is to provide an educational program
for boys and young adults to build character, to train in the responsibilities
of participating citizenship, and to develop personal fitness." 1
"Organizations such as public schools, government organizations,
churches, synagogues, mosques, civic groups or groups of citizens obtain a
charter from the Boy Scouts to sponsor an individual Scouting unit." 4
Churches sponsor about 62% of troops nationally and involve about 55%
of all boys in Scouting. 5
TheBSAexpels any person known to have a homosexual or bisexual
orientation, whether a scout or a staff member. 4 This policy is not shared by
either the Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. or the scouting movement in
Canada. In 1997-MAR, Scouting in Great Britain rescinded its policy of
discrimination against gay youths and adults.
The BSA is viewed by many as an inclusive organization open to all boys and
youth of good character whose ages fall within certain limits. This belief
appears in the BSA's own recruitment literature. In reality, the BSA regards itself as a
religious/spiritual organization with specific membership exclusions based on the youth's religion or sexual orientation.
Some indications of the religious/spiritual foundation of the BSA are:
The Venturing program (young men and women 14 to 20 years) involves "Instilling
stable personal values firmly based on religious concepts."
Boy Scout (males 11 to 17) are expected to follow the Scout Law which says, in part: "A Scout
is reverent toward God. He is faithful in his religious duties. He respects the beliefs of others."
One of the purposes of Cub Scouting (7 to 10 years) is to:
Positively influence character development and encourage spiritual
growth."
The BSA bylaws contain the statement "The Boy Scouts of America maintain that
no member can grow into the best kind of citizen without recognizing his obligation to God....The
Boy Scouts of America, therefore, recognizes the religious element in the
training of the member but it is absolutely nonsectarian in its attitude
toward that religious training."
One of the requirements of the BSA personal fitness merit badge is answer
and discuss with their counselor the question: "Are you actively
involved in the religious organization of your choice and do you participate
in their youth activities?"
Many scouts earn the Universal Religious Square Knot
which they sew onto their shirt above the left pocket.
The BSA does not have a merit badge on religious or spiritual knowledge.
However, about 5% of Boy Scouts have completed a religious program with their
own faith group
and may be allowed to wear the corresponding religious emblem on their
Scout uniform. This privilege is granted by the BSA to dozens of religions and
denomination, if the course meets
their standards. The emblems are supplied by the denomination, or by P.R.A.Y,
an independent agency, 6 after the youth completes their
faith group's course. For example, the Unitarian
Universalist Association has a Love and Help course and emblem
for Tiger Cubs and Cub Scouts. They have a Religion in Life course
and emblem for Boy Scouts and Explorers. Permission to wear their emblems
was rescinded, then restored, then re-rescinded by the BSA because the course does not meet their
standards in the teaching of sexual orientation, and deity. The Roman Catholic church
has courses and emblems called Light of Christ for cubs, Ad Altare
Dei for Boy Scouts, and Pope Pius XII for explorers.
The BSA requires its members to accept and
recite various oaths:
The Boy Scout Oath:
On my honor I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.
Cub Scout Promise:
I, (name), promise to do my best
To do my duty to God and my country,
To help other people, and
To obey the Law of the Pack
Tiger Cub Promise: (First grade boys)
I promise to love God,
my family, and my country,
and to learn about the world.
The organization has excluded potential members and has expelled current
members who are:
Members of religious organizations (or individuals with personal religious beliefs)
that do not have a belief in a god. This includes Agnostics,
Atheists, some Unitarian Universalists,
some Buddhists, and others.
Persons with minority sexual orientations, including both homosexuals
and bisexuals. Indications of homosexual behavior are not needed;
merely a homosexual or bisexual orientation is sufficient grounds to
terminate a membership. They are not expelled because of something that they
do; they are expelled because of what they are. The beliefs of the BSA go
beyond even those of most conservative and some mainline Christians. They
believe that both homosexual orientation and behavior is immoral.
The Girl Guides have an oath that is similar to the Boy Scouts:
"On my honor, I will try, to serve God & my country,
to help people at all times,
and to live by the Girl Scout Law."
However, since 1999, they allow individual girls to opt out of the use of the word
"God." They can substitute Jehovah, the Goddess,
the Great Spirit, etc. This allows girls who follow Buddhism,
Humanism, Unitarian Universalism, and other faith groups to join.
The BSA does not require its members to be Christian, or even monotheistic.
They allow Scouts to wear religious emblems from the Asatru, Bah'ai,
Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam,
Judaism, and Zoroastrian faiths.
They permitted, then cancelled, then permitted, then finally cancelled the wearing of
emblems by Unitarian Universalist Boy Scouts. Buddhists, in theory, do not recognize
the existence of a personal god. So taking an oath to god would seem to violate
their theological beliefs. Hindus worship many gods and goddesses.
Zoroastrians recognize a dual divinity - one good and one evil. Followers of
Asatru recognize the existence of Norse Gods and Goddesses. It would seem
that belief in multiple deities would make it difficult for a Scout to swear to
love or do their duty to a single god. But somehow, these minority religions are
accepted. It appears that any deity or set of deities will meet the BSA
standards.
There are many admirable instances in the BSA literature of pro-active
teaching about other religions. They not only teach tolerance; they advocate
respect towards other religions, and concern over the human rights of all:
The BSA bylaws state that "activities of the members of the
Boy Scouts of America shall be carried on under conditions which show
respect to the convictions of others in matters of custom and religion..."
The BSA's Advancement Guidelines state that "Throughout
life, Scouts are associated with people of different faiths. Scouts believe
in religious freedom, respecting others whose religion may differ from
theirs. Scouting believes in the right of all to worship God in their own
way."
The Scout Handbook explains: "Your family and religious
leaders teach you to know and love God and the ways in which God can be
served. As a Scout, you do your duty to God by following the wisdom of those
teaching in your daily life, and by respecting the rights of others to have
their own religious beliefs."
The Handbook for Boys, 2nd edition discusses a Scout's
duty to his country: "...he will stand for the equal opportunity and
justice which the Declaration of Independence and the constitution
guarantee."
The Scout Handbook discusses:
The "morally straight" clause in the Scout Oath.
It implies that the Scout should: "Respect and defend the rights of all people. Your
relationships with others should be honest and open. Be clean in your
speech and actions, and faithful in your religious beliefs."
The fourth point in the Scout Law "A Scout is friendly"
means that: "He seeks to understand others. He respects those with
ideas and customs that are different from his own...Every person is an
individual with his or her own ideas and ways of doing things. To be a
real friend you must accept other people as they are, show interest in
them, and respect their differences."
The sixth point of the Scout Law, "A Scout is kind,"
means that Scouts "take time to listen to the thoughts of
other people," to "imagine what it would be like if
you were in someone else's place," to be "kind to
people you don't know or don't understand, and to people with whom you
disagree," and that "compassion for all people is a
good antidote to the poisons of hatred and violence."
The seventh point of the Scout Law, "A Scout is obedient,"
requires the Scout to "obey the laws of his community."
In many cities and counties of the U.S. this would include human rights
bylaws.
The final point of the Scout Law, "A Scout is reverent,"
mentions that "All your life you will encounter people who hold
different religious beliefs or even none at all. It is your duty to
respect and defend the rights of others whose beliefs may differ from
yours."
The Explorer Code requires that each youth pledge that, "I
will recognize the dignity and worth of all humanity and will use fair play
and goodwill in my daily life."
The Learning for Life program promotes "moral and character
development," with sections on "race, religion and culture,"
"respecting differences," and "respecting my peers."
The program's intent is "to instill in youth the importance of
respecting the rights of all people."
The Scoutmaster Handbook, 7th edition, lists as some symptoms of a Scout's moral fitness: "Courage about what he believes...Respecting
the rights of others. Compassion for other's feelings and needs. Acting as
if rights of others matter to him. Accepting others as equal in worth and
dignity."
These are commendable thoughts and programs which promote tolerance towards minorities,
supporting the rights of others, displaying empathy towards people different
from themselves. These are principles that are sadly missing from many
other youth programs. Unfortunately, the BSA organization's tolerance is extended only towards some religions and towards
some sexual orientations.
There have been a number of court cases involving the termination of existing
BSA members (or BSA'S refusal to allow members to join), on the
basis of that individual's sexual orientation. It is based on BSA standards that Scouts
and their leaders must be "clean" and "morally
straight." The "Complainants' proposed findings of fact and
conclusions of law" in a District of Columbia case established a number
of points: 4
"The Boy Scouts' discrimination is not based on conduct or
expression. It is based upon status." i.e. it is based on sexual
orientation (feelings), not sexual behavior (sexual acts). The membership of
both celibate gays and
sexually active gays are terminated.
Boy Scouts have referred to their policies of excluding "gays, girls and
the godless" as "three G's." At one time, the
BSA did not allow women volunteers as leaders; this sexist policy was
terminated decades ago. Years ago, girls were denied admission to the BSA;
in 1991, they were admitted to the Venturing program for young men and
women aged 14 to 20.
The BSA has no standard policy of excluding heterosexuals on the basis of
premarital sex, adultery, use of pornography, or any other sexual practice. Each
case is considered on its own merits. Having a homosexual orientation or
practicing
homosexual behavior are the only sexual matters that result in an automatic
expulsion.
"If a youth comes to a Scoutmaster and admits to doing wrong, like
stealing, lying, cheating or vandalizing, the normal procedure is to counsel
the youth privately and sympathetically... If the youth admits to being a
homosexual, the Boy Scouts' policy is to instantly terminate his association
with Scouting."
Their anti-gay policy does not appear in program materials, training
manuals, etc. which are given to Scouts, Scout leaders or parents.
The Scout oath, law, motto, handbook and slogan do not mention
homosexuality.
In 1991-FEB-15, the BSA's national office issued a "Position
statement on homosexuality and the BSA." After referring to moral
and traditional family values, they stated: "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 Scout be clean in
word and deed, and that homosexuals do not prove a desirable role model for
Scouts." Thus, BSA rejected homosexual conduct, and extended this to
banning
all persons with a homosexual orientation.
In the same document, BSA asserted that "As a private membership
organization, we believe our right to determine the qualifications of our
members and leaders is protected by the Constitution of the United States."
Evidence of some change within the BSA national body:
Citizen, a program of the Fundamentalist Christian organization
Focus on the Family has stated: "Instead of squashing local insurrections
and rewarding councils that uphold Scout policy, BSA headquarters has continued
to send mixed signals that weaken its national stance. 7
One one hand, the BSA taking direct action to maintain its policy of
discrimination against gays and non-religious members:
The national body disbanded seven Cub Scout troops in Oak Park, IL,
in 2001 after they announced a policy that would permit persons of all
sexual orientations to become scout leaders.
The national body turned down a request from the Cleveland Scout troop 98 when they asked
for permission to sign a nondiscrimination pledge.
In 2002-JAN, the BSA headquarters rejected resolutions proposed by
local Scout leaders to change national policy to allow persons of all
sexual orientations to become scoutmasters.
However, the national body appears to be ignoring decisions that have been
quietly reached between individual councils and their United Way organizations.
Citizen writes that "...now the message seems to be: You can change policy as
along as you don’t announce it or put it in writing. When asked about recent
United Way agreements and 'nondiscrimination policies' adopted by local
councils, [national BSA spokesman Gregg]
Shields responded, 'I haven’t seen those documents that the local
councils have signed, but nothing they have done has been out of compliance.' "
The national body seems to have adopted a don't ask, don't tell policy. Its
web site states that the organization "makes no effort to discover the sexual
orientation of any person."
Gip Plaster, "The ultimate irony: Evidence suggests founder and
'Chief Scout of the World' may have been gay," Texas Triangle,
1998-FEB-26. Online at: http://sir.home.texas.net/
Tim Jeal, "Boy-Man: The Life of Lord Baden-Powell"
"Findings of Fact..., R.D. Pool & M.S. Geller vs. Boy Scouts of America..." Commission on Human Rights, Government of the
District of Columbia, 1998-MAY-1, at http://www.uua.org/
ReligionToday.com current news summary for 1999-AUG-12.
Programs of Religious Activities with Youth (P.R.A.Y.) has a web
site at: http://www.praypub.org/
