Scouts For Equality Co-Founder, Zach Wahls, explains how the ban on gay Scouts and parents personally affected his experience in Scouting.
Zach Wahls destroys anti-gay Boy Scout rep on discrimination issue
Zach Wahls, super-hero and LGBT ally, destroys a very sad man, John Stemberger, who tries to “stand up” for anti-gay discrimination by the Boy Scouts of America.
The fact of the matter is no one is “promoting” any “gay agenda.” The issue with whether or not young gay men will be allowed to participate in the positive journey Scouting can have on a young man. AND whether or not a young adult Scout, after spending a decade perhaps in Boy Scouts, will be allowed to continue in service to an organization that might provide excellent opportunities to young men.
The idea that an openly gay adult male would not be able to take part as a Scout Leader – because it’s assumed they wouldn’t be able to control their ‘sexual urges’ – is reprehensible. That would be like saying straight men can’t control themselves from raping any woman on the street.
It’s simply ridiculous.
And yet you have John Stemberger telling the world that gays will “destroy” the Boy Scouts.
“Destroy” the Boy Scouts.
“Destroy.” How about that word?
SRSLY.
Boys Scouts new policy for gay scouts – in a nutshell
(h/t JoeMyGod)
Boy Scouts of America may allow gay scouts but no gay adult Scout Leaders
So, the Boy Scouts of America have come up with their solution to ending the ban on gay scouts: gay youth in; gay adults, out.
Reuters has the news:
The Boy Scouts of America called to end a long-standing ban on openly gay members, a spokesman said on Friday, but the organization’s board must still vote in May on whether to ratify the resolution. If the vote is approved, “no youth may be denied membership in the Boy Scouts of America on the basis of sexual orientation or preference alone,” Deron Smith, the organization’s spokesman, told Reuters.
The Boy Scouts proposal would create a situation where a gay youth could become a scout and then be forced to resign when he becomes an adult.
So the message to scouts will be: you can take part in scouting as an openly gay teenager, but come adulthood you are not good enough, you are a danger and you belong in the closet?
According to the extensive study done to find a “resolution,” parents in three of four U.S. regions opposed the current anti-gay membership policy.
The lastest load of anti-gay propaganda from Family Research Council
From Tony Perkins and the Family Research Council.
If this was the only clip of Tony Perkins you ever saw of him, other than the bile dripping from his voice as he speak the words “homosexuality” and “biblical standard of morality,” you might not know what a hateful bigot he is.
How this man goes day after day campaigning against others; must be draining.
Carly Rae Jepsen – “No” to the Boy Scouts, “Yes” to the White Party
Carly Rae Jepsen, the “Call Me Maybe” singer, dropped out of the Boy Scout jamboree earlier this month because the organization bans out scouts and leaders.
HOWEVER – she did say ‘yes’ to headlining the White Party T-Dance.
Jeffrey Sanker’s website made this announcement: “This isn’t a maybe, it’s official! White Party Palm Springs producer Jeffrey Sanker announced to today that “Call Me Maybe” superstar Carly Rae Jepsen is performing LIVE at the Sunday T-Dance, happening Sunday, March 31.”
The T-Dance is one of the highlights of the enormous gay bacchanal, held every spring in Palm Springs, Calif. Jepsen will be joined by singer Icona Pop and performer Carmen Electra for the T-Dance.
Jepsen is certain to be greeted warmly by the crowd. Watch her latest video, for “Tonight I’m Getting Over You,” below.
(via Advocate)
Bill Gates: Boy Scouts should drop gay scout ban
In an ABC News interview, Bill Gates was asked about what he learned in scouting. He was also asked if the scouts should allow openly gay members,
Q: Should the Boy Scouts of America rescind it’s ban on gay members and leaders?
Bill Gates: Absolutely
Q: Why?
Bill Gates: It’s 2013
And there you have it…
Carly Rae Jepsen drops out of Boy Scout Jamboree over anti-gay discrimination
Hooray for the good guys!
Carly Rae Jepsen tweeted today that she does NOT plan to take part in the Boy Scouts of America’s Jamboree this summer due to anti-gay practices.
She went on to tweet: “I always have and will continue to support the LGBT community on a global level and and stay informed on the ever changing landscape in the ongoing battle for gay rights in this country and across the globe.”
Early today I posted that rock band TRAIN has made the same decision about the Boy Scouts and their anti-gay discrimination.
Yes – the Boy Scouts get to have their own position. But it doesn’t mean artists and the public have to support it.
Yay Carly Rae!
I love me some TRAIN
Pop/rock band Train (big hit “Hey, Soul Sister” among many others) has decided to ‘wait and see’ if they will still participate in the Boy Scouts Jamboree this summer due to the ongoing discrimination against gays in scouting. From the Train website:
“When we booked this show for the Boy Scouts of America we were not aware of any policy barring openly gay people from participation within the organization. Train strongly opposes any kind of policy that questions the equality of any American citizen. We have always seen the BSA as a great and noble organization. We look forward to participating in the Jamboree this summer, as long as they make the right decision before then.”
Let’s hear it for TRAIN! Let’s hear it for the good guys!
And while we’re ‘hearing,’ let’s take a listen to their recent hit “Bruises.”
Indiana: Gay EMT and Eagle Scout dies in tragic car accident
Very sad news coming out of Indiana.
Timothy McCormick, a 24-year-old gay EMT from Greenwood, Indiana, was killed in an accident early Saturday morning in Indianapolis when the ambulance he was in was struck by a 21-year-old woman WTHI-TV reports had alcohol on her breath when officers spoke with her after the crash.
McCormick was also an Eagle Scout and spent his time at health fairs educating people about CPR.
He made an ‘It Gets Better‘ video posted to YouTube in December 2011, in which he said:
“My name is Tim McCormick. I am an Eagle Scout, college student, and professional EMT living in Indianapolis, Indiana. I am a gay American adult.
I have a brief but short message for you today. I want you to know that It Gets Better. Regardless of who you are. Regardless of your persona. academic, spiritual, professional, or sexual identity.
The things that are happening today are only typical of the hard times in which we live. If you don’t have anything, keep searching. If you’ve lost what you used to have., keep trying. Life isn’t a dress rehearsal, and it’s your time to shine. Right now.”
Very sad when heroes die.
Even though the Boy Scouts of America continue their ban on gay scouts, Timothy is a shining example of what great things can come from the program. His contributions to family, community and society in general make it clear what “gay” scouts can do.
My best thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.
(via Towleroad)