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If the Boy Scouts gave out merit badges for cynical caginess, the North Texas-based Boy Scouts of America leadership would earn one with its nonsensical “compromise” on changing the group’s ban against gays and lesbians. Under the new proposal, gay kids who aren’t sexually active will be allowed, but gay adult scout leaders will still be barred. (A vote takes place this Thursday at BSA headquarters in Irving.)

Is this a joke? How many openly gay 11-year-olds, sexually active or otherwise, do you know? It’s true, there is the occasional child who’s lucky enough to have a firm grasp of his gay orientation very early in life. (One suspects the hilarious Ross Matthews was among this population.) But most gay kids spend a large part of their adolescence trying to process and understand their feelings. Officially allowing them into the Boy Scout fold addresses an issue that hasn’t yet become a practical reality –– i.e. few gay boys are going to outwardly identify as gay, least of all to their fellow Scouts. It’s a meaningless policy change.

But some kids are coming out earlier these days, so an openly gay 15- or 16-year-old Boy Scout is conceivable (if still rare). How does this proposed change affect them? It tells them to go ahead and work hard for that vaunted Eagle Scout status, but don’t be too proud of achieving it –– upon reaching 18, their orientation will disqualify them from continued participation as adult Scout leaders. This is a weird and cruel thing to do to a child who just wants to excel in the BSA program.

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A BSA spokesman declared that changing the ban is “the most challenging and complex issue” the organization has faced. Actually, it’s neither challenging nor complex. Most polls show a significant majority of Americans support ending the gay ban completely. During last year’s presidential campaign, Mitt “I’m a Severe Conservative” Romney stated that the ban should be lifted. When Mitt Freakin’ Romney believes it’s wrong for the Scouts to discriminate against gay people, that means the controversy has become largely, well, un-controversial.

I’m gonna be honest here: If the Boy Scouts of America disappeared tomorrow, the world would keep on turning. Kids would continue to learn valuable life lessons about goal-setting and team work from other places, including school athletics and theater programs. Boy Scout enrollment has been declining for years, so the BSA needs all the sincere, hardworking people it can attract. This insulting and unjust “compromise” won’t help the situation.

3 COMMENTS

  1. If you do the research and not rely on popular opinion you will understand the truth behind gay behavior.
    There are no genetic conditions that predetermine gay behavior, there are influences of choice. There are no biological conditions that predetermine gay behavior, there are influences of choice. There are no hormonal conditions that predetermine gay behavior, there are influences of choice.There are no environmental conditions that predetermine gay behavior, there are influences of choice. There are no psychological conditions that predetermine gay behavior, there are influences of choice. There is always a psychological issue to gay behavior, similar to all behaviors such as smoking cigarettes. Something as mild as low self esteem can influence you into a choice.
    Let me explain to you what a genetic and biological influence is. If you are tall, thin, athletic and like to run you may be influenced to be a basketball player ( genetic, heredity ). Because you want to be a basketball player, the hand eye coordination portion of the brain becomes overdeveloped ( biological ). Everyone tells you, because you are tall – thin – athletic and like to run, that you should be a basketball player ( environment ).
    Not all tall people are basketball players. Not all thin people are basketball players. Not all athletic people are basket players. Not all people who like to run are basketball players. If that is what you are drawn to because of your influences, you will most likely be a basketball player ( choice ).
    I have about 600 hours of research on this topic. This is truth. This is not hate or discrimination. If you do not believe what I am saying do the research yourself and not the believe the rhetoric that has been passed around for the last forty or so years.
    If you choose to be gay, it is your prerogative to be what you want to be. I want to help gay people understand how they were influenced into their behavior, not criticize.

    • Note how for all of the references to research and studying this moron never actually cites any of the supposed research.

      “A simple and singular determinant for sexual orientation has not been conclusively demonstrated—various studies point to different, even conflicting positions—but research suggests that a combination of genetic, hormonal and social factors determine sexual orientation. Biological theories for explaining the causes of sexual orientation are more popular, and biological factors may involve a complex interplay of genetic factors and the early uterine environment. These factors, which may be related to the development of a heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual or asexual orientation, include genes, prenatal hormones, and brain structure.”

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biology_and_sexual_orientation

      None of the research there or anywhere else will match up to your totally-not-meant-to-be-homophobic delusional rantings. Care to post where you actually got that dumb theory or is it just made up?

  2. Wait — you’re calling Brent a “moron” for not citing specific research, and all you provide as a counterpoint is a link to Wikipedia?! Unintentional irony at its best … You might win a few more folks over to your side if, 1. you write at least ONE sentence before you start insulting people with childish names, and 2. you do the very thing you demand of others, i.e., linking to actual research that supports your position.

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