Usenet 1994 October/usenetsourcesnewsgroupsinfomagicoctober1994disk1.iso/answers/scouting/8_USA-official-policies

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From: [e-mail] (Kraig Meyer)
Subject: rec.scouting FAQ  #8: BSA/GSUSA official policies (gays in scouting)
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Archive-name: scouting/8_USA-official-policies
Last-Modified: Wed, 16 Jun 1993

This file contains a number of questions and answers regarding gays and
lesbians in the scouting movement in the U.S.A.  The answers are primarily
based on articles in the press and official statements or press
releases from the Boy Scouts of America.  An attempt has been made to
keep the presentation factual and balanced.  If you have questions
about specific statements made here, feel free to contact the author of
this FAQ, Kraig Meyer, email: [e-mail].

There are nine FAQ files in the rec.scouting FAQ series. The FAQ files
are posted in regular intervals (one file every three or four days)
on rec.scouting, rec.answers and news.answers. They can also be
retrieved through anonymous FTP from ftp.ethz.ch (path: rec.scouting/).

As the FAQ files are updated regularly, make sure that you have the
latest copy in your hands. The release date of this FAQ is indicated
in the line starting with "Last-Modified:" at the top of this file.
Files older than three months should be considered as outdated.


This file or parts of it may be freely used, printed and re-distributed
as long as you enclose this paragraph and keep the references to the
respective contributors and to the maintainer (listed below) intact.

-- Kraig Meyer  <[e-mail]>

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From:
Subject: What is the policy of the BSA regarding gays as leaders and members?

"The National Executive Board of Directors of the Boy Scouts of America
(BSA) at its February meeting voted unanimously to reaffirm its
position that the BSA does not permit avowed homosexuals to be
registered as leaders or members."  BSA Spokesman Blake Lewis, at BSA's
national headquarters in Irving, TX, further clarifies: "The Boy Scouts
is an organization that's based on traditional family values.  It's our
feeling and our position that persons who are living a homosexual
lifestyle do not present a role model that's consistent with the values
of scouting.  It's based on the Scout Oath['s phrase of] Morally
Straight."  (ref: Scouting magazine, May-June 1992 issue; Advocate
Magazine, 31 Dec 1992 issue)

--------------------------------
From:
Subject: Do the Girl Scouts of the USA have a similar policy?

No.  In June 1992, the organization issued a national policy statement
which reads "Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., a private organization,
respects the values and beliefs of each of its members and does not
investigate or intrude into personal matters.  Therefore, we do not
have policies that focus on individual sexual preference."  The Girl
Scouts instead have policies that focus on "appropriate conduct" of
employees and members.  They do not condone or permit "sexual displays
of any sort" by members, according to national policies.  (ref:
Advocate Magazine, 31 Dec 1992 issue; Seattle Times, 10 July 1992)

--------------------------------
From:
Subject: Is this policy enforced?  What do local organizations have to say?

The enforcement varies locally.  Some cases where the policy has been
enforced include the following: In Berkeley, CA, Timothy Curran, an
eagle scout, was removed from an adult leadership position in 1981
after his gayness became known.  In El Cajon, CA, Police Officer Chuck
Merino was asked by the BSA to sever ties with the Police Explorer post
in San Diego because his sexual orientation became known when working
on a citizens patrol to combat assaults against gays.  At age 16,
Patrick Renner was dismissed from his position as dining hall steward
at Cricket Holler Cub Scout Camp in Dayton, OH, and given one hour to
leave the camp after his gayness became known during a "court-martial"
session arranged by the camp's chaplain.  Chris Strobel of Stockton,
CA, was dismissed at age 16 after 8 years in the BSA's programs;
Strobel had read in the Boy Scout Handbook that if he had questions
about sex and relationships, he should discuss it with his Scoutmaster.
Eagle Scout Rob Schwitz of St. Louis, MO, became involved in a public
battle with the Air Force over whether he could remain in ROTC as a gay
man, and was expelled from Scouting and fired from his position at Camp
Joy, in Carlyle, IL.

School districts in San Francisco and other locales have prohibited the
BSA from using school facilities for in-school programs.  In Dec. 1991,
A scout troop that meets in a San Jose church said that they will not
honor the BSA's position barring gay scouts or gay adult leaders.  The
dozen members of the adult committee that runs the troop unanimously
passed a resolution outlining its position.  However, a memo to all BSA
councils from Chief Scout Executive Ben Love, dated 21 Feb 1992, states
that the issue with San Jose Troop 260 "has been resolved."  Harold
Klein of Queens, NY, says he was an openly gay scoutmaster from the
mid 1970's to 1981 without any problems; his gay lover was the assistant
scoutmaster and he states "it was never an issue."  Jeff McElroy worked
on the staff of the Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, NM, during the
late 70's and early 80's; he recalls that many of the men who worked
at the summer camp were gay, although most were closeted and had not
come to terms with their sexuality.

(ref: San Diego Union Tribune, 9 Sep 92; Advocate Magazine, 31 Dec 1992
issue; San Jose Mercury News, 4 Feb 92; Memo from BSA National Office
to local Councils, 21 Feb 1992)

--------------------------------
From:
Subject: Haven't the Boy Scouts been sued over their policy concerning gays?

Yes.  Timothy Curran sued the Boy Scouts claiming that the BSA policy
violated the California Unruh Civil Rights Act.  More recently, James
Dale, a 12 year veteran of the scouting program, has filed suit in
New Jersey claiming that the BSA policy violates a New Jersey statute
that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

In an early phase of Curran's hearing, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge
Sally Disco ruled that the Boy Scout's Bay Area-based Mount Diablo
Council was a business, not a private organization, and therefore
governed by the state's Unruh Civil Rights Act, which forbids arbitrary
discrimination.  In the second phase of the trial, Judge Disco ruled
that BSA is entitled to prevent Curran from becoming an adult member.
The ruling explained that the U.S. Constitution prevents California
from satisfying the state's "compelling interest in eradicating
discrimination in all forms" because to do so would interfere with
BSA's "ability to achieve its expressive goals."

Curran is currently appealing the case.  (ref: Scouting Magazine,
May-June 1992 issue; Los Angeles Times, 8 May 1992; New York Times,
5 Aug 1992).

--------------------------------
From:
Subject: Is it true that the United Way (UW) severed its ties with BSA?

Each local United Way chapter has its own policies.  The United Way of
the (San Francisco) Bay Area cut off general funds to the BSA because
the group's ban on gay Scouts on troop leaders conflicts with the UW's
nondiscrimination policy.  However, individual contributors to the UW
in San Francisco may still earmark funds to go directly to the BSA.
In the first two months following the United Way's announcement, the
BSA stated that they received over 2000 letters of support for the
BSA's policy, including donations ranging up to $10,000.

Apparently United Way chapters in Santa Clara (CA), San Jose (CA),
Seattle, Chicago, and New York are examining their policies, but I'm
not aware of any of them issuing official statements regarding funding.
(ref: Boston Globe, 12 Nov 1991; San Jose Mercury News, 4 Feb 1992;
Seattle Times, 10 Jul 1992; San Francisco Chronicle, 19 Feb 1992; CNN
Headline News 19-20 April 1992)

--------------------------------
From:
Subject: Have some corporations discontinued funding of the BSA?

In 1991 and 1992, Bank of America, Levi Strauss, Wells Fargo Bank,
Seafirst Bank Seattle, and First Interstate Bank of California all
discontinued funding the BSA.  With the exception of First Interstate,
all of these corporations pointed to the fact that the BSA's policy
conflicted with corporate non-discrimination policies.  All of these
organizations were targeted with boycotts by religious fundamentalists.

As a result, First Interstate later stated that the funding cuts were
part of a general decrease in charitable donations and were not
specifically related to the BSA's policy on gays.  Then, in Aug 1992,
Bank of America reversed itself and decided to resume contributions to
the BSA after receiving a clarification on the BSA's policy.  Peter
Magnani, a spokesman for Bank of America, stated "Our understanding is
that scouting is open to all boys--including gay boys."  Levi Strauss
has maintained its position.  Levi Strauss spokesman Mary Gross said
they received a written statement from the BSA that states "[the BSA]
excludes gays and atheists as leaders and members and has no plans to
change those policies."

(ref: San Francisco Chronicle, 19 Aug 1992; Seattle Times, 10 Jul 1992)

--------------------------------
From:
Subject: Is it true that Scouting's founder, Baden-Powell, was gay?

A number of biographers have suggested Baden-Powell's homosexuality.
Tim Jeal, author of The Life of Lord Baden-Powell, argues, "The
available evidence points inexorably to the conclusion that
Baden-Powell was a repressed homosexual."  Information gleaned from
Baden-Powell's diary and correspondence indicates that he often
expressed enjoyment at watching young men swim naked; enjoyed pictures
of nude men; expressed disdain for female nudity.  Also cited is
Baden-Powell's extremely close, decades-long friendship with Kenneth
McLaren, with whom he served in the British Military and always made
sure he bunked.

(ref: The Life of Lord Baden-Powell by Tim Jeal (1990); Eminent
Edwardians by Piers Brendon (1979); The Character Factory: Baden-Powell
and the Origins of the Boy Scout Movement by Michael Rosenthal (1986);
Advocate Magazine, 31 Dec 1992 issue).

--------------------------------
From:
Subject:  What about organizations comprised of gay former scouts?

The most publicized is "Forgotten Scouts," which was founded in October
1991.  Forgotten Scouts is an organization of adults, primarily gay
men, who were either in Boy Scouts during their youth or are (or were)
adult Scouters.  They are dedicated to helping the Boy Scouts of
America understand that it does not need to discriminate in order to
fulfill its mission.  They seek to accomplish this though educational
projects which affirm that gay men and boys are now and have always
been successful members of the Scouting program.  Forgotten Scouts is
currently planning its first "good turn," the coordination of a
Washington, DC city park beautification project that will be held on
Friday, April 23, 1993.  The project will coincide with the initial
weekend activities of the 1993 March on Washington For Lesbian, Gay and
Bi Equal Rights and Liberation.  Forgotten Scouts can be contacted at
415-626-8299.

There is also an organization called "Queer Scouts" which has similar
goals.  I have no further information about this organization other
than a contact: Terry Kenedy, 206-328-0790.

There is also an electronic mail list on the Internet that provides a
forum for Scouts, Scouters, and former Scouts to discuss how pressure
can be applied to the BSA to change their anti-gay policies.  It is
comprised primarily of gay eagle scouts.  For more information, send
electronic mail to [e-mail].

--------------------------------