I started this post ages ago but never got around to finishing it.
Over the summer Truman's childhood boy scout troop, which his dad is still a leader of, celebrated it's 50 (or was it 60?) year anniversary. Truman was feeling very conflicted about attending. Neither of us are supportive of the boy scouts' policy of discriminating against LGBT folks, yet Truman's troop was a meaningful part of his growing up process. Additionally, the local troop sees it's own practices as not nearly as anti-LGBT as the national policy. We decided to attend the celebration, but to also made shirts that voiced our opposition to the discriminatory policy.
Truman's dad ended up making a very brave speech about the same topic. Given that these are some of his closest friends and that some of people at the celebration actually do support the policy (or at least feel that there is a "time and place for political statements") we were so very proud of him.
I'm pretty excited about this week's news that the boy scouts might actually be changing it's stance on LGBT scouts and leaders. In an age where young LGBT men and women are being bullied and killing themselves at alarming rates policies like this are not only have a discriminatory effect on those that want to participate in boy scouting, they also norm a very hurtful idea. The idea that there is something wrong with you if you are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. I'm very hopeful that the reported change in the boy scouts' policy actually happens and that it is a sign that times are changing. That we, as a society, are coming to realize that there's nothing wrong with being gay. That it's not something to be scared of, made fun of, or discriminated against.
Oh, and also, I think it's worth mentioning that the girl scouts are rock stars and I'm so proud of them for doing this.
Here is our handy work:
"He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps perpetrate it." - MLK
I wanted you to be able to see the boy scout logo on mine. And yes, this shirt almost makes it look like I have boobs. I'll be wearing it often.
I wonder if the BSA would change their stance more quickly if they were kicked out of public spaces as they should be. They discriminate based on gender, sexuality, and religion, but are still given access to a lot of government/public resources that they should be excluded from. -Rob
ReplyDeleteI was pretty disappointed when they won the Philadelphia case.
Delete