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25th Anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America Discriminating -- Open letter written March 2003 by Dave Rice. 
Not many remember it, but March, 2003 marks the 25th anniversary
of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) policy of excluding gays!It was in March of 1978 that the first written statement on the policy appeared, in a memo to the executive committee of the National Executive Board. I wish I could lay my hands on a copy, but it evades me. It is the oldest document the BSA could produce in support of its policy in court cases. No one seems to know for sure whether it was a draft or whether it was really sent out. Later in 1978 a longer memorandum was written, to Scout executives I believe. It is noteworthy that if the BSA had simply stuck with its 1978 memo without additions, it wouldn't have the dilemma it now has. The memo reported on the case of an Explorer Advisor who had kicked two gay boys out of his Explorer post, and declared that he had the right to do so. The BSA Rules & Regulations still state that Scout units can decide who can be in their unit, a position that Scouting For All has supported, as long as they can join other Scout units if excluded by one. Furthermore, the memo declared that the BSA would abide by all federal, state, and local laws which barred such actions. As a matter of fact, the 1916 Congressional Charter gives the BSA the right to make rules and regulations as long as they are not in conflict with federal, state, and local laws. As I remember, the memo said nothing about gay leaders. I was thinking a few days ago that it has taken 25 years for the BSA to arrive where it is now, and it will likely take another 25 years to undo it. Perhaps we should mark the occasion with cake and ice cream, with fireworks following! I'm sure some people have already done this. Whether it takes one year or 25 years from today to stop the Boy Scouts of America from discriminating, it will be worth all the effort. --Reprinted from an open letter (March 2003) by Dave Rice. back to FAQ/Volunteer |
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"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." –Martin Luther King, Jr. "Institutionalized homophobia in the Scouts or in church or school is the cruelest of all. It makes life miserable for young gay people and it misleads their peers with regard to the truth about gay people—that we are remarkably similar to the rest." –Ian McKellen, Actor (Gandalf in Lord of the Rings and Magneto in X-Men), quoted with permission. Main site: http://www.mckellen.com Quote: http://www.mckellen.com/epost/m030924.htm |
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