By ZOLA ROSS-GRAY, age 11
- Cub Scouts line up for color guard. PHOTO: US Navy
The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) was formed more than 100 years ago as a Christian organization, but the official ban on gay leaders and scouts has only existed since 1991. Their official policy states: “While the BSA does not proactively inquire about the sexual orientation of employees, volunteers or members, we do not grant membership to individuals who are open or avowed homosexuals or who engage in behavior that would become a distraction to the mission of the BSA”
- A Boy Scout troop from the early 1900s. PHOTO: Unknown
Zach Wahls, a 21-year-old Ohio State University student, became famous through a YouTube video of his testimony in Iowa against outlawing civil unions*, in which he defended his two mothers. He then formed Scouts for Equality, a group that supports lifting the BSA ban.
Wahls believes the ban will be lifted because so many BSA members have been outspoken in describing the damage that has been done by discrimination. According to Wahls, “We owe an enormous debt to the advocates and families who put their futures on the line to stand up to the Boy Scout leadership and say, ‘This is wrong.’”
- Jennifer Tyrell, a mother who lost her leadership position in her son’s cub scout troop for being gay. PHOTO: GLAAD
In response to public pressure, on April 19, the BSA proposed to lift the ban on scout members but not leaders. This proposal will now be put to the vote in May, despite the criticism it has drawn from both sides of the issue. Supporters of the ban claim that the BSA is violating their traditional values, while opponents believe that the proposal does not go far enough.
If the BSA representatives vote to remove the ban altogether, they would gain many supporters, but they could lose the backing of many conservative Christian parents and families. If the vote gets rid of the ban, then the BSA will have taken a stand against discrimination.
*Civil Union: a legally recognized union of a couple, same-sex or otherwise, that gives the couple some of the rights of marriage, but not all.
First of all, i think there should not be BOYS SCOUT OF AMERICA because alot of boys could become homosexuals and that is sad. i know that (BSA) is for boys to entertain them selves but i a little cousin that goes there and all the do is homework and when my aunt sign up for my cousin it says that they are going to a lot of trips once two weeks, it was a total lie.
This article is about kids in the U.S Navy.One the kids was Zach Wahls, a 21-year-old Ohio State University student.
This article is about how the BSA ban on gay leaders and scouts since 1991.So employees, volunteers or members, who are homosexuals are not allowed to work there..Zach Wahls, a 21-year-old man had defend his own mother for being gay because she wasn’t allow to join the scout.
THIS ARTICLE MOSTLY TALKS ABOUT THE BSA ON THE BANNING THE GAY LEADERS HOWEVER I THINK ITS NOT FAIR THAT THEY CANT WORK ONLY CAUSE THEY GAY OR HOMOSEXUAL I DONT FIND THAT NICE I FIND THAT RUDE YOU CANT BE DIFFERENT WID OTHERS CAUSE THEY DIFFERENT. TO ADD ON THIS ARTICLE THIS GUY NAMED ZACH WAHLS, HE IS 21 YEARS OLD MAN DEFEND HIS MOTHER FOR BEING GAY BECAUSE SHE WAS NOT ALLOW IN THE SCOUT SHE WANTED TO JOIN IN BUT SHE COULDNT CAUSE SHE WAS GAY.