Quote:
Originally Posted by tapu
Here's how I thought it through: The Boy Scouts as a national organization have discriminatory policies. They are also effectively disconnected from the Boy Scouts at Troop level and even at Circle level.
At those levels, where the boy scouts actually are, inclusiveness is a main and explicit goal--and standard practice. The boys who make up a troop are not self-selecting their friends--kids who would never hang out together at school or elsewhere are grouped together in a troop, and loyalty, kindness, respect, etc, are values and attitudes extended to all Scouts.
It's pretty tough to get thrown out of Boy Scouts. Kids with serious behavior problems and other problems are enthusiastically included and accommodated. Boy Scouts are not mean to one another. Behavior of leaders and other troop members model against it very effectively.
I'm included in my son's Boy Scout Troop parents, as is his other mother. I help chaperone their hikes and camp-outs, and I've been invited to become an Assistant Scout Master. (I swear I can hear you guys smirking. >:-)
The point of all this is: I don't think scout, parent, or troop level is an effective or appropriate way to address the discrimination issues. Voice your complaints to the BSA administrative offices. They'll know what you're talking about.
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Tapu?
Do they know you are a Lesbian/Gay?
When my kids were younger, they wanted to participate. I was certainly out at this time and was informed of the scouts policy on Gay people and was not welcome to participate as a parent. Of course at the point - I told my kids they could not participate and why. They were young, but they understood even at that young age, what discrimination was and were really okay about not joining. I had to teach them to be tolerant of their friends who were Scouts.
Just because there are bigots out there, does not mean you have to return the favor.
Julie