Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>The Boy Scouts of America, one of the nation’s largest private youth organizations, is actively considering an end to its decades-long policy of banning gay scouts or scout leaders, according to scouting officials and outsiders familiar with internal discussions.<< <a href="http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/01/28/16739587-boy-scouts-close-to-ending-ban-on-gay-members-leaders?lite" target="_blank">http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_new...ers?lite</a> 'Bout time. Hope this report is correct.
Originally Posted By TomSawyer I suspect you'll see a lot more Royal Ranger groups in churches that used to have Boy Scout Troops if this comes to pass.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt What I don't understand is why was there a need to even address it one way or the other. Why would it even cross someone's mind to ban a child from a group that exists to build leadership and character just because he or she is questioning their sexuality? People get hung up on the stupidest s**t sometimes.
Originally Posted By barboy for #3 .......too easy for gay scout leaders to go 'youngen style' on a troopers during campouts. Under most circumstances any parent who would let his/her son backpack into wilderness with known gay leaders is a fool.
Originally Posted By Mr X I assume you feel the same way about any prolonged contact with opposite sex teachers/counselors/group leaders etc.?
Originally Posted By Dabob2 Are there really people out there who still can't distinguish between a gay person and a pedophile? Apparently.
Originally Posted By barboy You assume right...... but context, like so much in life, is what I look at. When there is an occasion and opportunity for nudity I question it far more. A lesbian high school gym teacher should not be around showering female students, as a rule of thumb. A hetero male shouldn't be leading 15 year old girl scouts on overnight treks as well. It's not about the prolonged contact or duration be it with a teacher, priest, or sex counselor; it's about the ***TYPE*** of contact and opportunity. Hence, I wouldn't allow my 13 year old daughter to do overnights or swim parties with an adult female whom I know is attracted to girls.
Originally Posted By fkurucz >>I suspect you'll see a lot more Royal Ranger groups in churches that used to have Boy Scout Troops if this comes to pass.<< This has been happening for a while. BSA is pretty much on the way out anyway, and this move won't help stem that. A lot of BSA troops and packs are sponsored by LDS and Knights of Columbus and I wouldn't be surprised to see them withdraw their sponsorships.
Originally Posted By fkurucz >>Are there really people out there who still can't distinguish between a gay person and a pedophile?<< It will be a concern for many people, regardless. Food for thought: Even though nearly all hetero men will not molest a girl, there has always been concern with putting hetero men in situations with girls. While I am sure that most hetero men could walk through a girl's locker room and showers and not lay a finger on any of them, it's still considered a bad idea. I think that many people will consider having their young boys placed in a similar situation with a homosexual scoutmaster to be equally problematic, even though the overwhelming majority of gay scoutmasters would also not lay a finger on them.
Originally Posted By Tikiduck I would imagine there would be more doubt cast on a gay scoutmaster if he was without children. I think the same stigma applies to any single, childless adult male who is around kids of any kind. Parents are given a green light when contact with children is involved.
Originally Posted By barboy I mean if a an adult male is coaching a girl soccer team because his daughter is on it then I wouldn't think anything of it BUT if that same guy is coaching 13 year old girls and has no family connection on the team I would look at that with high suspicion. Same with scout leaders. If a gay scout leader does not have a son in overnight hikes then I'd be seriously suspicious of the prospects of ulterior motives. So BSA are setting themselves up for the inevitable lawsuit, sorrow and embarrassment if they allow known gay leaders to head out into the wilderness with teen boys. Best BSA allow gays in the organization but as speakers, motivators, teachers admin positions but not as overnight hike supervisors.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan All Scout leaders must take youth protection training every year. Scouting utilizes two-deep leadership, which means there should never be a situation where an adult is alone with a child. When this is enforced and followed faithfully, all of this becomes a non-issue. Also by following the buddy system, a scout wouldn't be alone ever.
Originally Posted By fkurucz >>BUT if that same guy is coaching 13 year old girls and has no family connection on the team I would look at that with high suspicion.<< Actually, that happens a lot. But bear in mind, a soccer coach can easily be kept out of potentially compromising positions. A soccer coach never needs to be alone with the kids.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan Also in Scouting, Venturing crews are coed units. On outdoor overnighters there are adult leaders of both sexes. And again, rigorous following of the two-deep leadership principle makes this a non issue too.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 Many troops already limit leaders to parents with kids in the troop. I'm fine with that, as long as gay parents are treated the same. Also, don't forget the other side of this; the scouts currently kicks out gay teens for being gay too. Hopefully that will change.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan I am Scoutmaster of a unit consisting of visually impaired youth. Most of the students are from elsewhere in the state which means that without local Scouters stepping in to volunteer, these kids wouldn't get to experience scouting activities. So while being cautious is fine, let's be careful slinging the ol' broad brush, hmmm?
Originally Posted By barboy ///Also in Scouting, Venturing crews are coed units/// Boy Scouts Amer. has female members also? All this time I thought the organization was male only, hence the name "Boy Scouts" Has it always been both genders or is that somewhat new?
Originally Posted By barboy ///Actually, that happens a lot./// At face value there is something very creepy about that, don't ya think? Unless I knew that daughterless dude had a bonafide/legitimate reason to coach teen girls I wouldn't allow my daughter anywhere near him. And you are right about it being fairly easy to keep clear of compromising positions as a soccer coach since practice and games are in the open field with many parents joining the fun...... ......but still, at face value, what is a grown dude hanging around young girls doing? Dude might be watching with lustful eyes outside of any legitimate reason to be there.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan Venturing has been around quite some time. Boys and girls ages 14 - 19 I think... Google Venturing for more info. It focuses mostly on "high adventure" activities... whitewater rafting, climbing, etc. My unit is BSA and Venturing.
