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Subscribe to RSSJennifer Tyrrell, who was ousted as a den mother for her son's Cub Scout troop because of her sexual orientation, is fighting back. Tyrrell talks to msnbc's Thomas Roberts about her petition to change the Boy Scouts of America's long-standing policy on banning gays and lesbians.
The Boy Scouts of America will keep their controversial policy banning gay scouts and leaders after a confidential two-year review, the organization said Tuesday.
The announcement comes amid a stepped-up campaign from activist groups urging an end to the membership standards.
“The vast majority of the parents of youth we serve value their right to address issues of same-sex orientation within their family, with spiritual advisers, and at the appropriate time and in the right setting,” said Bob Mazzuca, Chief Scout Executive of the Boy Scouts. “While a majority of our membership agrees with our policy, we fully understand that no single policy will accommodate the many diverse views among our membership or society.”
The Boy Scouts convened a committee of 11 senior volunteers and professional leaders to decide whether the policy was still in the organization’s best interests after a resolution was put forward to reconsider it, the private group said in a statement that was first reported by The Associated Press. The nearly two-year-long review began in 2010.
The committee reached a "unanimous consensus" that it was the "best policy" for the BSA, Scouts' spokesman Deron Smith said in an email. That conclusion was shared at a February board meeting and recently reviewed by the officers of the board, he said.
“The committee included a diversity of perspectives and opinions. The review included forthright and candid conversation and extensive research and evaluations -- both from within Scouting and from outside the organization. The committee’s work and conclusion is that this policy reflects the beliefs and perspectives of the BSA’s members, thereby allowing Scouting to remain focused on its mission and the work it is doing to serve more youth,” the statement said.
The review was conducted confidentially "to allow the committee to make the best decision for the organization," Smith said.
In June, the Boy Scouts said the organization was considering another resolution proposed at the group's annual meeting the month before that also called for ending the policy. But the decision announced Tuesday means the Scouts’ board will take no further action on that resolution, Smith said.
"Resolutions can always be submitted as defined by our bylaws, but the officers of the board have no plans to further review this issue," he said.
Boy Scouts review controversial anti-gay policy
Eagle Scout son of lesbian moms: Boys Scouts must end gay discrimination
Gay mom upset after dismissal by Boy Scouts
Boy Scouts board member opposes anti-gay policy
The Boy Scouts’ policy became a focus of the U.S. Supreme Court in 2000, when the justices sided with the organization in a lawsuit involving a former assistant Scoutmaster who was gay, citing the protections of the First Amendment.
Courtesy of Jennifer Tyrrell
Tyrrell, a 32-year-old stay at home mother of four, said she agreed to become the den master on the day she signed up her son, Cruz Burns, for the local troop, last year. She had concerns about the Boy Scouts' policy against homosexuals, but a Cubmaster said that – locally -- they wouldn't have problem.
Zach Wahls, an Eagle Scout who is the son of a lesbian couple, has recently campaigned for changing the policy, along with Jennifer Tyrrell, who was ousted from her post as a Tiger Cubs’ den leader in April because she is a lesbian. She started an online petition to seek changes to the Boy Scouts policy.
Smith said the Boy Scouts would accept Tyrrell's petition on Wednesday, but did not plan to discuss the policy. Another big batch of petition signatures was delivered by Wahls to the Boy Scouts' annual meeting in May.
Wahls denounced what he said was "the secretive nature surrounding how this conclusion was reached" and called the announcement "old news."
"We've heard this line before, and we'll hear it again before this is all said and done. I've said this before and I'll say it again: this will be the official BSA policy up until the day it finally ends," he said in an email to msnbc.com. "Regardless of your thoughts on homosexuality, surely we can agree that gay people who serve our troops and communities deserve our respect and gratitude."
BSA board member James Turley, global chairman and CEO of consulting and tax firm Ernst & Young, said in mid-June that he was working within the organization to encourage dialogue on the policy, which is not one he would “personally endorse.” When contacted Tuesday, his firm's media representatives said he would have no comment beyond his earlier remarks.
“Scouting believes that good people can personally disagree on this topic and still work together to achieve the life-changing benefits to youth through Scouting," the BSA National Executive Board said in the statement. "While not all Board members may personally agree with this policy, and may choose a different direction for their own organizations, BSA leadership agrees this is the best policy for the organization and supports it for the BSA.”
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As a former Boy Scout I am glad they banned the gays. Our country is failing rapidly because we have allowed every rule to be bent or broken. Every time we refuse to stand our ground and respect the men and women who built this country and the rules they set up, we slip further into the politically correct crapper we have created. On my honor I will do my best to my duty to GOD and my COUNTRY!...
As a former Boy Scout I'm ashamed of the organization. Our country was built on the concept that is has to be adaptive to meet the changes of society. If not, we would have a monarchy or despotism instead of democracy.
Your unyielding ideology is an insult to our founding fathers and the very concept of our nation.
When someone changes their beliefs and morality for convenience because they are pressured into it who are the real losers?
If people are not willing to stand up for what they believe in and speak out what you get is a Holocaust that costs the lives of Millions of People because they stood by and said nothing while a small group of people were allowed to tell others what they should think..
Did you just seriously compare the Boy Scouts allowing gay members to the Holocaust? Seriously?
David, clearly all change is not good, but some is. Otherwise we would still have slavery, segregation, and no women's rights.
Here is a good rule of thumb, if you are limiting rights of others who are not infringing the rights of others, then the move is a bad one. If you are expanding rights, without harming others the move is a good one.
Clearly the holocaust falls in the first category, whereas gay rights falls in the second.
The boys scouts hit me up all the time at Giant and Walmart. I'm gonna have to say no to donations etc.... I cant support a group that discriminates.
Kinda like the NAACP were tax dollars go?
NAACP allows people of all races to join. Your point?
but the money only get used for colored people! I believe that is his point.
The supreme court has determined that unequal funding to balance out a historic inequality that causes discrepancy in outcomes is not discriminatory per se. Hence we can have women only scholarships by public groups in the sciences.
And I will continue my ban on Scouting.
Well its now official, BSA is a religious affiliated organization. No different then Komen.
I will now just ignore the Boy and Girl Scout sales.
Girl Scouts do not ban gay and lesbian scouts or leaders. So keep buying cookies!
To every problem there is a solution....Allow all gay boys scout leaders and scoutetts to join the girl scouts and visa versa. That way you won’t have any issues of gay dudes molesting lil boys or lesbians chicks molesting lil girls. Sort of keeping the fox out of the hen house. So gays can camp and do all the outdoor survival activates with the youth they so desire.
So sad you don't understand that gay does not equal pedophile. The chances that a troop leader is a child molester is equal regardless of him being gay or straight and happily married.
So sad your right but so sad I dont want my son in risk of a gay guy in charge of him on the outings. Same as if a strait guy were to be out with little girls. Its not appropriate. That will eliminate any opportunity to a child from being molested.
No, it won't. There are child molesters - which molest as a crime of opprotunity, and sexuality doesn't truly come into play. There are pedophiles - which are sexually attracted to pre-pubescent children (some are attracted to female pre-pubescent children, some are attracted to male pre-pubescent children). There are ephebophiles - which are attracted to children who have gone through puberty (again, some are attracted to males, some are attracted to females - but, it's still a minor that they are attracted to). A homosexual is attracted to someone that is age appropriate and the same gender. Banning homosexuals won't solve the problem of child molestation.
This makes me physcially ill. I thought the Boy Scouts were supposed to teach boys how to grow up with values and honor. Teaching hate and bigotry and at such an early age seems counter intuitive. What a disservice to those poor kids. Children are born accepting and innocent. Why would you want to send them off to learn to be intolerant of anyone; be it by race, sex, disability or anything else in an age where everyone else is getting more accepting? If everyone who knows a gay or lesbian person, as a family member, friend or aquaintance, kept their sons out of this hideous organizaiton and formed an alternate group that practices, tolerance, love, real values and acceptant, the BSA would cease to exist. Until the BSA joins the 21st century and repeals this 'rule', they can keep their popcorn and their wreaths and whatever else they're peddling. I'll keep my empty cans during their recycling drive and canned goods during their food drive. I'm not buying and not supporting this organization in any way. The world is evolving BSA. Get with the program!
Oh no. Here we go again.
This policy is not a ban, it is a lie to encourage pretending that there are no gays in scouting even though gays always been in scouting and will continue to be there regardless of the "policy." It is a sort-of ostrich approach to dealing with undesirable change by simply choosing to create the illusion of a more pleasant "reality" (in actuality, a non-reality) instead.
ram-762581 You've been told numerous times they don't receive government funding and are a private organization. Please read the posts before you continue your ridiculous rant. They DON"T receive government funding!!
Found this. (Google "boy scout membership by year")
They've lost half a million cub scouts (23%) in the 10 year period from 1998 to 2008.
Looks like they'll be disappearing soon enough. This will only accelerate the pace.
1998
2008
Change
%
Tiger Cubs
304,346
231,471
-72,875
-24%
Cub Scouts
1,006,497
798,060
-208,437
-21%
Webelos Scouts
861,144
636,104
-225,040
-26%
Total Cub Scouts
2,171,987
1,665,635
-506,352
-23%
Boy Scouts
945,583
844,939
-100,644
-11%
Varsity Scouts
77,859
60,940
-16,919
-22%
Total Boy Scouts
1,023,442
905,879
-117,563
-11%
Venturers
188,010
261,122
73,112
39%
Total Scouts
3,383,439
2,832,636
-550,803
-16%
I'm not sure how they can keep gays out? What kid goes around telling everyone he is gay?
I think as a "boy's club" it should be something for boys. If one of them has tendencies of homosexual actions on others while in the group, yes I would kick them out at that time.
MOTO:
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.
Crawl out from under your rock Boy Scout Association! It's the 21st century now..nobody believes as you do anymore! It's been proven that people are born gay so why punish them when people are only being who they are?
Whatever. I still believe in their morality and what they stand for. So do many others.
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.
For nearly a century, parents have sent their boys to Boys Scouts of America. Why? It isn't because they needed essential training in camping or they needed a babysitter. They wanted their boys to embrace the values of the Boy Scouts. These values are patriotic, wholesome, and good citizenship. If parents did not embrace these values, there would be no Boy Scouts of America. Should they change their values now to embrace the LGBT agenda? NO. It would change Scouting in a detrimental way
I'm a Scout leader. My three sons have all been Scouts. One Eagle, one almost Eagle, and one 1st class. I'm proud of them and their values.
The policy should be NO PEDOPHILES but since they don't live openly, you only know after the fact.
What are morals?
conforming to the rules of right conduct ( opposed toimmoral): a moral man.
Back then, gays were looked down upon. There was even a law that was stated to stone any man that slept (or had relations) with another man. This applies to women. Granted, that law doesn't apply to us today, the principle still stands. Gay/Lesbian behavior is not moral. Period. You can tell us to stay stuck at the 1st century, but... why should morals change for the convenience of others? I'm impressed that there's still people out there that won't bend for money, but strive for what's morally correct. If there's so many gay/lesbians out there, make your own organization. It's america, you have that opportunity.
Can I get stoned for having anal sex with women? Just checking Frank. What about a BJ?
lesbians are ok for the boy scouts, no gay men though maybe for the girl scouts not for the boys. just cant take a chance. i was molested i should know.
Good glad to see someone standing up for God America and against the pollution of the minds of growing young men. Its time to stop the democrat liberal brainwashing that teaches being gay ok. It is not the bible teaches us this. Time to get the Bible back in our schools and the gays and drug dealers and illegal immigrants out of them.
So you're going to throw gay kids out of school? Not very Christian of you.
Well, we have a little thing called separation of church and state, so how about no? Does no work for you?
LMAO...Oh god I've seen so many religious posts on this. The boy scouts is a private group just like religious groups that allow you to hate and be intolerable to other peoples personal choices. To me the bible doesn't count, just as the Koran or any other so called religious group spouts their "words"
I love how if you dont agree to force feed sodomy to your children you're a hate group member... I mean, do you people even hear yourselves talking? Because I don't want my child around a vile, disgusting lifestyle, I'm in the wrong? This world is going to hell in a handbasket, I'm just glad these liberal, agenda pushing a**holes are still in the overwhelming minority..
No, your in the wrong for discriminating against your fellow Americans.
I sense some projection.
The irony in all of this is that some kids from boy scouts are probably gay and they will keep quiet. But GOD forbid they say anything right? Because some of you adults might think that your kids will catch the "Gay" disease right? As for adult mentors, it should be up to the boy scout group to monitor and make sure they choose wisely if the person's background is good. Talking about any criminal or psychological problems. Not their sexual orientation.
It appears that the gay community is a hate community. They hate anyone who does not accept their philosophy. Just because something is legal does not mean that it is morally just. People's morals are based on their belief systems. Just because it is different than someone else's does not make it wrong.
Why are gays so hateful? Talk about hate crimes. It is time that the gay commuinty look at itself, its methods and its way of trying to make their points before they start accusing others of hate crimes. I have seen too many articles that brand crimes as hate crimes just because the victim was a minority. Is the standard that it is not a hate crime only if the victim is a white Christian American? Hatred has gone too far and is ruining our nation. People are accusing others of hate crimes for no legitimate reasons. Just because something bad happens to a minority does not make it a hate crime.
I agree completely... it seems a group that likes to point out discrimination and cite people for their hate and intolerance could use a lesson in such activities themselves.
They hate no problem labeling people who don't approve of their lifestyle as haters... and theyn hate them for it.
And they will mot tolerate people who will not tolerate them. I will defend your right to be gay anytime... but I will defend the right of straight people to laugh at you in the lunch room as well.
If you're going to challenge the vast majority of people (heterosexual) and start labeling them as the ones with the problem... you better be prepared for some serious hate back.
If you don't like people pointing out your bigotry, stop being a bigot. I don't respect people who are homophobic for the same reason that I don't respect people who are racists. You have the right to believe whatever you want, but I have the right to call you out on your outdated views.
Ralph, you must live in a Twilight Zone if you think the majority of hate is coming from gays. No one is saying you can't believe what you want. It is not about trying to make everyone think as a gay person. It's about how gay people are treated. Your post that is intended to point out gay hatefulness actually points out how clueless you are to the reality of the hate that is often directed toward gays. I do understand that it often makes people feel better about themselves to blame bad behavior on the actions of others, but guess it didn't occur to you that if there weren't so much anti-gay nastiness gays wouldn't have a need to ask to be treated equally? Nah, didn't think so. Believe whatever you want, but I hate to give you more reality...white Christian America has been running everything for a very long time.
Yes, hatred will ruin our nation if people are allowed to act on their hate. Your question, "Why are gays so hateful?" is astounding to me, but it really shouldn't be. Think of yourself treated like crap and denied the same rights as everyone else for as long as you can remember, and picture all your family members who happen to believe as you do treated horribly as well. think of being told you can't get this great job or adopt that child, or that you can't marry someone you love or be with them as they die. Think of being called names and even spat upon. Would you then allowed to be a bit tired of that and to ask for equal treatment? I hope so. Just because you don't understand what really goes on doesn't mean it doesn't. How about asking, "Why are people so hateful to gays or other groups who might not be just like they are?"
How about we all start treating each other equally? Then hate crimes really would disappear.
Your own statement if FULL of hate! You might want to take a longggggg, hardddddd look at yourself in the mirror...you might not like what is looking back at you! To truly see the "light", you must first find that same light (i.e. goodness) within yourself!