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Boy Scouts’ Values At Stake Will Homosexuality Become an Accepted Part of Scouting?

hould an openly homosexual troop continues to face mounting pressure to allow open leader be allowed to take adoles- homosexuality in its ranks. In recent years, this ef- cent boys on an overnight camping fort has gained a number of outside allies, including trip, along with a heterosexual big corporations, the media, some mainline liberal troop leader? churches, and various political leaders. The BSA’s written by: proposal to change its membership policy regard- Alysse Should a 15 year-old boy, who is the only ing homosexual youth is a compromise it hopes openly homosexual Scout in his local troop, will please both sides of the debate. However, both ElHage, Sbe allowed to tent with a heterosexual boy homosexual activists and pro-family organizations M.A. on a camping trip? have criticized the resolution—with one side saying These scenarios were presented in a national it does not go far enough, and the other viewing it survey1 Boy Scouts of America (BSA) distributed as opening the door for the eventual promotion of to 1.1 million adult volunteers and Scouts’ parents homosexuality in the Scouts. in March 2013.2 The survey questioned respondents How the BSA National Council votes on the about their support for the BSA’s long-standing membership standards resolution will determine policy that prohibits membership to “open or the future mission and values of the Scouts, and avowed homosexuals.” A resolution on the policy whether, in the near future, open homosexuality is slated for consideration by the approximately will be presented as acceptable to the millions of el- 1,400 members of the BSA National Council this ementary and adolescent boys involved in Scouting. May.3 Under the resolution, the BSA would grant membership to youth who identify as homosexual, A “Values Based” Program while maintaining the prohibition on membership Incorporated in 1910 and chartered by Congress for openly homosexual adults.4 in 1916, the BSA describes itself as a “values-based Over a decade after the U.S. Supreme Court youth development program,” with more than 2.7 upheld the constitutionality of the BSA’s policy million youth members between the ages of seven on homosexuality, the national youth organization and 21, and more than one million volunteer leaders 1 Family North Carolina (in 2012).5 The BSA’s stated mission is “to prepare Boy Scouts Values young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetime by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.”6 Scout Oath: “The Boy Scouts train boys to be leaders and men “On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and of character better than any organization I have to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself had experience with,” says Bob Stevens, assistant physically strong, morally straight, mentally awake, and morally straight.” Scoutmaster and Chaplain for Boy Scout Troop 15 7 Scout Law: at Christ Baptist Church in Raleigh. A number of “A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, former presidents, 289 current members of Con- cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.” gress, including seven of North Carolina’s represen- tatives, and 181 NASA astronauts participated in Scouting as youth or leaders.8 Current Membership Policy. As a private, The BSA adopted the 1991 policy following a nonprofit organization, the BSA may set specific controversy over the revocation of the adult mem- standards for membership, and currently requires bership of Eagle Scout James Dale. A freshman at that applicants “possess the moral, educational, Rutger’s University, Dale applied and was approved and emotional qualities that the Boy Scouts of to serve as an assistant Scoutmaster in 1989. As a America deems necessary to afford positive leader- result of openly acknowledging his homosexuality, ship to youth,” and that applicants “be the correct becoming co-president of the college Lesbian/Gay age, subscribe to the precepts of the Declaration of Alliance, and providing an interview to a newspaper Religious Principle, and abide by the Scout Oath or about his “advocacy for homosexual teenagers need Promise, and the Scout Law.”9 for gay role models,” the Monmouth BSA Council Additionally, the current BSA membership policy, revoked Dale’s adult membership on the grounds which applies to both youth and adults, states: that the BSA “specifically forbid(s) membership to While the BSA does not proactively homosexuals.” Dale filed a lawsuit against the BSA inquire about the sexual orientation of in 1992, which ended up before the U.S. Supreme employees, volunteers, or members, we do Court in 2000.14 not grant membership to individuals who In defending the decision to revoke Dale’s are open or avowed homosexuals or who membership, the BSA argued that, “homosexual engage in behavior that would become a conduct is inconsistent with the values embodied distraction to the mission of the BSA.10 in the Scout Oath and Law, particularly with the According to the BSA’s March 2013 survey, the values represented by the terms ‘morally straight’ majority of BSA parents, unit leaders, council and and ‘clean.’” The BSA also said it did “not want to district volunteers, and chartered organizations sup- promote homosexual conduct as a legitimate form port the current membership policy. Specifically the of behavior.”15 survey found that the current policy is supported by: • 61 percent of parents. • 62 percent of unit leaders. • 64 percent of council and district volunteers. • 72 percent of chartering organizations. 11 How the BSA National • 51 percent of major donors. Council votes on the Policy History The prohibition against open homosexuality has membership standards been part of the BSA’s membership policy in some resolution will determine form since 1978, when a position statement to the BSA Executive Committee stated: “We do not be- ... whether ... open lieve that homosexuality and leadership in Scouting homosexuality will be are appropriate....”12 The BSA reiterated that posi- tion in a formal policy in 1991, which stated that: presented as acceptable Homosexual conduct is inconsistent with to the millions of ... boys the requirement in the Scout Oath that a Scout be morally straight and in the Scout involved in Scouting. Law that a Scout be clean in word and deed, and that homosexuals do not provide a desirable role model for Scouts.13 2 Family North Carolina In a landmark decision in June 2000, the Su- list of protected categories in housing, employment, preme Court upheld the BSA’s constitutional right public accommodations, healthcare, and education. to pick and choose its own members, ruling that The addition of these terms is dangerous, because forcing the Scouts to accept homosexual members it essentially equates sexual behavior with immu- “would significantly burden the organization’s table characteristics, such as race or color, helping right to oppose or disfavor homosexual con- to normalize homosexuality in society. Ultimately, duct.” In the majority opinion, then-Chief Justice pro-homosexual nondiscrimination policies limit or Rehnquist wrote: restrict the ability of private or religious organiza- tions to deny services, membership, or employment Dale’s presence in the Boy Scouts would, 19 at the very least, force the organization to to individuals who do not adhere to their values. send a message, both to the youth mem- John Stemberger is an Eagle Scout and president bers and the world, that the Boy Scouts of the Florida Family Policy Council, who recently accepts homosexual conduct as a legitimate founded OnMyHonor.net, a national coalition of form of behavior.16 Boy Scout leaders, parents, and donors who support the current membership policy. Stemberger agrees that those pushing for a change to the BSA policy Normalizing Homosexuality are seeking more than just access for homosexuals. As Justice Rehnquist pointed out, allowing self- In an interview with FOX News, he explained that identified homosexuals in the Boy Scouts would put the current policy “allows anyone to participate, a stamp of approval on homosexuality for millions regardless of sexual orientation,” but prohibits open of young boys. The normalization of homosexual- homosexuality. He said the BSA is being “bul- ity throughout society—from the classroom to the lied” by those seeking “full-blown gay activism in home—has been the chief aim of the homosexual scouting, and that’s what they can’t have under the rights movement since its inception.17 In fact, one current policy.”20 of the “imperatives for gay liberation” that gay com- mune founder Carl Wittman outlined in his 1969 Bullying the Scouts “Gay Manifesto” was to “free the homosexual in The Supreme Court’s decision in Dale certainly 18 everyone.” What better way to achieve Wittman’s weakened the legal effort to force the normalization goal than by influencing the views and values of the of homosexuality upon the Scouts via the courts. next generation of male leaders through the Scouts? But the cultural campaign by homosexual activists Nondiscrimination policies that include the term to bully the BSA into changing its membership “sexual orientation,” such as the policy proposed policy has only escalated. in the BSA resolution, are one of the major tools Leading the effort against the BSA’s member- employed by homosexual activists to advance their ship policy are groups such as: Scouts for Equality, agenda. In recent years, the effort has expanded to which was founded by Eagle Scout Zach Wahls, include transgendered individuals by adding the who was raised by two lesbian mothers; GLAAD; terms “gender expression” and “gender identity.” The and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC).21 As a goal is to get the terms associated with homosexual, result of their effort to portray the policy as a form bisexual, and transgender behaviors added to the of discrimination, the BSA has lost: access to public facilities; the right to participate in state charitable fundraising programs in some states; and the fund- ing of some major corporations, including UPS, Merck, Intel, and some United Way groups.22 Timeline. Following is a timeline of recent events leading up to the BSA’s decision to review its mem- bership standards regarding homosexuals: • April 2010: A resolution was submitted at the BSA’s National Meeting, asking the BSA to change its membership policy regarding sexual orientation to allow local councils to determine standards.23 • July 2012: After a two-year evaluation of the policy by volunteers and BSA leaders, the BSA reaffirmed its policy of prohibiting membership “to open or avowed homosexuals” as in the “best interest of Scouting.”24 • September 2012: Following a petition drive by Scouts for Equality, the BSA’s largest corpo- rate donor, Intel, suspended donations to the BSA in September 2012, and now requires 3 Family North Carolina donation recipients to sign a nondiscrimina- BSA Proposed Membership Standards Resolution tion policy. By the end of 2012, UPS and Merck followed suit.25 • January 2013: The BSA announced that its On April 19, the BSA’s Executive Committee released a resolution national leaders were “discussing potentially proposing that: “that the Boy Scouts of America amend its member- removing the national membership restric- ship standards policy so no youth can be denied membership in the Boy Scouts of America on the basis of sexual orientation or preference alone, tion regarding sexual orientation” in favor of while maintaining the current membership policy for all adult leaders of allowing local chartering organizations to 26 the Boy Scouts of America.” determine membership standards. Pro- family groups and religious leaders, including The resolution also states that, “any sexual conduct, whether homo- the Family Research Council (FRC) and the sexual or heterosexual, by youth of Scouting age is contrary to the virtues American Family Association, responded by of Scouting,” and that “the Boy Scouts of America does not have an launching petition, phone, ad, and email cam- agenda on the matter of sexual orientation, and resolving this complex is- paigns in support of the current policy. As a sue is not the role of the organization, nor may any member use Scouting result, tens of thousands of citizens contacted to promote or advance any social or political position or agenda.”1 the BSA asking it to maintain the policy.27 • February 2013: The BSA’s National Executive Board announced that it was delaying a vote 1. BSA Proposed Membership Standards Resolution, http://www.scouting.org/sitecore/content/ MembershipStandards/Resolution/Resolution.aspx on the policy for a “more deliberate review.”28 • April 19, 2013: The BSA released a resolution proposing that a nondiscrimination policy regarding homosexual youth be added to the membership standards (see sidebar). The BSA The End of Scouting? National Council will vote on that resolution Richard Land, president emeritus of the SBC’s 29 at the BSA’s National Meeting in May. Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, has warned that a reversal of the BSA’s position on The Church and the BSA homosexuality could lead to a “mass exodus” of the To fully grasp the impact of allowing openly Church from Scouting.36 In an executive summary homosexual youth in Scouting, it is important to of the resolution study process, the BSA acknowl- understand the significant relationship between the edged that, “Many religious chartered organiza- BSA and the Church. The majority (70.3 percent) tions … estimate a membership policy change that of chartering organizations for the BSA are faith- includes both youth and adults could cause the BSA based, mainly churches, whose relationship with the to incur membership losses in a range from 100,000 Scouts dates back 100 years. Chartering organiza- to 350,000.”37 tions are responsible for providing meeting facilities Scouts Canada is an example of what could hap- and leadership within the local Scouting troop.30 pen to the BSA if the membership policy regarding While there are differing opinions about homo- homosexuality is altered. In 1998, Scouts Canada sexuality among religious chartering organizations, loosened its standards to allow membership to not the majority of Boy Scout troops are chartered by only homosexuals, but also girls and atheists.38 Over more conservative churches, specifically the Church the five years following that change, membership in of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS), the Ro- Scouts Canada declined by about half, and mem- man Catholic Church, and the Southern Baptists.31 bership continues to dwindle.39 As noted earlier, 72 percent of chartering organiza- Bob Stevens—who is one of many BSA leaders tions support the current membership policy.32 at the local level who support the current member- Representatives for both the U.S. Conference of ship policy—believes that any change to the policy Catholic Bishops and the Southern Baptist Con- regarding homosexuality will ultimately lead to “the vention (SBC) have issued statements in support of end of scouting.” But he warns of a broader impact. the BSA’s current membership policy.33 The SBC “The issue could lead to a domino effect,” Stevens went a step further in February, when its Execu- says. “If the Boy Scouts can’t hold their ground, tive Committee unanimously passed a resolution, then how long will it be before churches and Chris- urging the BSA National Council to retain “the tian schools will be pressured to compromise their current policy of moral rectitude that has marked standards?” He added, “With this new resolution, the Boy Scouts of America for more than 100 the National Board of the Boy Scouts has suc- 40 years.”34 SBC president Frank Page also com- cumbed to opinion polls over eternal principles.” mented on the new BSA resolution, describing it as “more acceptable to those who hold a biblical form Battle Not Over of morality than what was being considered before,” Whether the BSA’s proposal to change its mem- but emphasizing that the SBC would “still prefer bership policy regarding homosexual youth will lead no change in the policy.”35 to a massive loss of members remains to be seen. 4 Family North Carolina Impact of Allowing Open Homosexuality in the Scouts Boy Scouts’ Mission at Stake Any change to its long-standing national prohibi- tion on membership to “open and avowed homosex- According to OnMyHonor.net, the harms of changing the BSA uals” places the BSA’s mission and values at signifi- 1 membership policy to allow open homosexuality include : cant risk. If approved by the BSA National Council this May, the proposal to grant membership to • A mass exodus of parents, boys, troops, denominations and youth who identify as homosexual would give tacit sponsoring organizations. approval to homosexuality, and open the door for its • A flood of litigation by homosexual activist groups. promotion in BSA troops nationwide. • Overt pro-homosexual political activism expressed throughout As the Supreme Court confirmed in its landmark the BSA. 2000 decision, the BSA is a private, nonprofit youth • Open, public and inappropriate expressions of physical affection organization with the First Amendment right to between homosexual boy scouts. determine its membership standards according to its • URL website links from individual pack, troop, and council websites values and mission. Changing the current member- to other websites with inappropriate sexual and political content. ship standards regarding sexual orientation will • Continued demands and legal attacks from homosexual rights significantly modify the values and mission of the activists. Scouts, and could expose the BSA to lawsuits. 1. As found at: http://www.onmyhonor.net/impact-of-open-homosexuality-in-scouting/ “Scouts is not about sexuality; it’s about teaching boys to hike, to tie knots, and to successfully make that difficult journey from adolescence to manhood,” said FRC’s Perkins in an interview on the North What is clear is that neither side of the debate is Carolina Family Policy Council’s Family Policy satisfied with the BSA resolution, and the battle for Matters radio program. “The last thing that parents the Scouts is far from over. involved in Scouting want is for their kids to be In a statement, FRC President Tony Perkins sexualized through the Scouts by interjecting this 45 called the BSA resolution “a completely unwork- element of homosexuality.” able solution that neither side can support.” He As recently as July 2012, the BSA appeared to explained that: agree when it explained its decision to leave the long-standing membership policy intact: While the Scouts are desperately trying to straddle the fence, the reality is that true Scouting is not the place to resolve diver- morality isn’t dictated by age. If it’s wrong gent viewpoints in society and … if same- at 30, then it’s wrong at 13. What this sex attraction is going to be introduced resolution would suggest is that homosex- or discussed, it should be with parents, uality is acceptable until a boy is 18—and caregivers, or spiritual advisers, at the then, suddenly, it’s not.41 appropriate time and in the right setting— but outside of the Scouting program.46 Perkins continued, “The resolution specifically references homosexual youth, but this is a distinc- This May, the BSA National Council should tion without a difference because advancing into reaffirm that position by voting against the proposed leadership positions is integral to the Scouting resolution. The BSA should maintain the current na- experience.” 42 tional policy prohibiting membership to “open and avowed” homosexuals of any age, and leave the issue For their part, homosexual activists have criti- v cized the resolution as not going far enough. HRC of sexual orientation to parents, where it belongs. described it as discriminatory “toward gay and lesbian parents, leaders and in employment,” and asked, “What message does this resolution send to the gay Eagle Scout who, as an adult, wants to continue a lifetime of scouting by becoming a troop leader?”43 Both HRC and GLAAD have pledged to continue their campaign to pressure the BSA into ending its prohibition against open homosexuality for both youth and adults. Alysse ElHage, M.A., The policy change recommended by the BSA is associate director resolution also has legal implications. The Alli- of research for the ance Defending Freedom, a Christian civil liberties North Carolina Family organization, has warned the BSA that “Altering Policy Council. For a the national membership policy will undermine footnoted version of [the Supreme Court’s decision in Dale] and expose this article, please visit councils, local troops, and the national organization ncfamily.org. to a flood of litigation.”44 5 Family North Carolina Boy Scouts’ Values At Stake 28. BSA, Membership Standards Review-Background, as found at: http:// www.scouting.org/sitecore/content/MembershipStandards/KnowTheFacts/ Endnotes Background.aspx 29. http://www.scouting.org/sitecore/content/MembershipStandards/ 1.NCFPC obtained a copy of the 2013 Boy Scouts of America “Voice of the MediaCenter.aspx Scouts” survey from a local Scout leader. 30. BSA, “Chartered Organizations and the Boy Scouts of America,” as found at: 2. Boy Scouts of America, “Membership Policy: Frequently Asked Questions,” http://www.scouting.org/About/FactSheets/operating_orgs.aspx as found at: http://www.scouting.org/sitecore/content/MembershipStandards/ KnowTheFacts/FAQs.aspx 31. Ibid (Faith-Based Organizations in order of membership) 3. BSA, Values and Membership Standards Review, “Status,” as found at: http:// 32. Op. Cit., Executive Summary. (On 4/25/13, the LDS Church released a www.scouting.org/sitecore/content/MembershipStandards/Status.aspx statement about the BSA resolution, found here: http://www.mormonnewsroom. org/article/church-statement-boy-scouts-of-america 4. BSA, Membership Standards Resolution,04/19/13, as found at: http://www. scouting.org/sitecore/content/MembershipStandards/Resolution/Resolution.aspx 33. For National Catholic Committee on Scouting statement, see: http://www. nccs-bsa.org/BSAComment.htm 5. BSA, Fact Sheets, Facts About Scouting, as found at: http://www.scouting. org/About/FactSheets/ScoutingFacts.aspx 34. Gryboski, Michael, “Southern Baptists Pass Resolution Urging Boy Scouts to Not Repeal Gay Ban,” 2/20/13, as found at: http://www.christianpost.com/news/ 6. BSA Values and Membership Standards Review, as found at: http://www. so-baptists-pass-resolution-urging-boy-scouts-to-not-repeal-gay-ban-90419/ scouting.org/sitecore/content/MembershipStandards.aspx 35. Foust, Michael, “Scouts Propose Allowing Gay-Identified Youth,” Baptist 7. Email interview with Bob Stevens conducted by author 3/9/13. Press, 4/19/13, as found at: http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=40112 8. Op. Cit., “Facts About Scouting.” 36. “Boy Scouts Delays Decision on Lifting Ban on Gay Members,” PBS 9. BSA, “Know the Facts: Current Policy” as found at: http://www.scouting.org/ Newshour, 2/6/13, as found at: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/social_issues/ sitecore/content/MembershipStandards/KnowTheFacts/CurrentPolicy.aspx jan-june13/boyscouts_02-06.html 10. Ibid. 37. Op. Cit., Executive Summary. 11. BSA, National Council, Executive Summary of Membership Policy Findings, 38. Scouts Canada, “Are Homosexuals Allowed to Join Scouts Canada?” April 2013, as found at: http://scoutingmagazine.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/ Frequently Asked Questions, as found at: http://www.scouts.ca/ca/ executive-summary-of-study-findings.pdf frequently-asked-questions 12. Boy Scouts of America v. Dale (99-699) 540 U.S. 640 (2000), as found at: 39. One News Now, “Tragic Consequences in Canadian Scouting,” http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/99-699.ZO.html 2/4/13, as found at: http://ww2.onenewsnow.com/culture/2013/02/04/ 13. Ibid. tragic-consequences-in-canadian-scouting 14. Ibid. 40. Op. Cit., Stevens Interview. 15. Ibid. 41. FRC, “Boy Scouts’ Plan Makes for Unhappy Campers,” Washington Update, 04/22/13, http://www.frc.org/washingtonupdate/ 16. Ibid scouts-plan-makes-for-some-unhappy-campers 17. Elhage, Alysse, “Connecting the Dots of the Homosexual Agenda,” Family 42. Ibid. North Carolina, May/June 2009, as found at: http://ncfamily.org/FNC/0905SF. html 43. Human Rights Campaign, as found at: http://www.hrc.org/blog/entry/ new-boy-scouts-resolution-continues-discrimination-against-parents-and-in-e 18. Wittman, Carl. “A Gay Manifesto,” 1969, as found in: Miller, Neil, Out of the Past: Gay and Lesbian History from 1869-Present, Vintage: New York (1995), pg. 44. Alliance Defending Freedom, Boy Scouts Fact Sheet, as found at: http:// 384-387. See also, Op. Cit., Elhage, “Connecting the Dots of the Homosexual www.adfmedia.org/files/BoyScoutsFactSheet.pdf Agenda.” 45. Transcript of interview with Tony Perkins on “Family Policy Matters,” the 19. Op. Cit., ElHage, “Connecting the Dots of the Homosexual Agenda.” NCFPC’s weekly radio program, March 2013. 20. Starnes, Todd, “Scouts: We’re Being Bullied by Gay Rights Activists,” FOX 46. NCFPC, “Boy Scouts Reaffirm Membership Policy,” 07/20/12, as found at: News and Commentary, as found at: http://www.onmyhonor.net/2013/03/27/ http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/120720s1.html. See also: BSA, Membership scouts-were-being-bullied-by-gay-rights-activists/ Standards Review—Background, http://www.scouting.org/sitecore/content/ MembershipStandards/KnowTheFacts/Background.aspx 21. Scouts for Equality, www.scoutsforequality.org. 22. Messner, Thomas, “Same-Sex Marriage and the Threat to Religious Liberty,” 2008, as found at: http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2008/10/ same-sex-marriage-and-the-threat-to-religious-liberty#_ftn32 23. Membership Standards Review-Background, BSA, http://www.scouting.org/ sitecore/content/MembershipStandards/KnowTheFacts/Background.aspx 24. NCFPC, “Boy Scouts Reaffirm Membership Policy, July 20, 2012, as found at: http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/120720s1.html. See also: Membership Standards Review-Background, BSA, http://www.scouting.org/sitecore/content/ MembershipStandards/KnowTheFacts/Background.aspx 25. “Intel Pauses Donations over BSA’s Anti-Gay Policy,” Scouting for Equality, 09/24/12, as found at: http://www.scoutsforequality.com/campaign-news/intel- halts-boy-scout-donations-over-anti-gay-policy/. See also: “Merk Pauses BSA Funding,” http://www.scoutsforequality.com/campaign-news/merck-pauses-boy- scout-funding/, and UPS 26. NCFPC, Boy Scouts Under Attack, 1/31/13, as found at: http://www. ncfamily.org/stories/130131s1.html 27. NCFPC, Boy Scouts Delay Decision on Homosexual Leaders, 2/7/13, as found at: http://www.ncfamily.org/stories/130207s1.html

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