GLAAD is teaming up with lesbian mom Jennifer Tyrell to take on the Boy Scouts, who have a long history of discriminating against LGBT people.
Tyrell (right) was ousted from her position as den leader after a year of solid service, simply because she found some “inconsistencies in the pack’s finances” as treasurer. Only then did her sexual orientation become an issue.
This is the second time in a year the “morally straight” Boy Scouts they’ve ousted a lesbian pack leader.
Need I remind you that the Boy Scouts are run by the Mormons? But at least they’ve instituted a “no name-calling week” in conjunction with GLSEN, eh?
How about we take this to the next level?
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Says Tyrell:
I was recently removed from this volunteer position, and my membership was revoked after nearly a year of service—just because I happen to be gay. Shortly after registering my son for Cub Scouts, I was asked to assume the role of den leader and was persuaded by a platform of tolerance, acceptance and support. Throughout the year, my cubs performed volunteer service at a local soup kitchen, collected canned goods for area churches to distribute in food baskets, participated in bell-ringing for the Salvation Army, and, at the time of my removal, were working on a conservation project for a state park.
My Tiger Cubs earned multiple Scout badges for service and skills, while learning and exercising the 12 Core Values of Scouting: citizenship, compassion, cooperation, courage, faith, health & fitness, honesty, perseverance, positive attitude, resourcefulness, respect, and responsibility.
The revocation of my membership came shortly after I was elected treasurer of my pack and uncovered some inconsistencies in the pack’s finances. Within a week of reporting these findings to the council, I received notice that my membership had been revoked, based on my sexual orientation, citing that due to being gay, I did “not meet the high standards of membership that the BSA seeks.”
GLAAD’s new President Herndon Graddick calls out the BSA’s b.s.:
“The Boy Scouts of America is one of the only cultural institutions to categorically discriminate against LGBT Americans,” said . “Sending the message to America’s youth that they or their parents are somehow less than everyone else is dangerous, inaccurate and should be changed immediately.”
So, go sign the change.org petition and tell the BSA to cut the bull.
jason
More power to Jennifer Tyrell. There’s something very smelly about the whole affair, particularly the finances aspect.
The Mormons should be investigated on this.
christopher di spirito
It’s official. Ohio is the new Texas.
Clockwork
>Need I remind you that the Boy Scouts are run by the Mormons?
Really?
I thought they were run by the Jews, Bilderbergers, and the Trilateral Commission.
Randy
Another reason not to support scouting in any way. I haven’t for 20 years or more. Support our kids, nieces and nephews through their school activities.
Bob
I cannot believe that when she was a Den Leader she condoned bell ring for the even more homophobic Salvation Army!!!! Is this woman really one of us or not?
xamthor
Furthermore the Boy Scouts retain their right to discriminate ( no jews, atheists, homos or girls) AND receive our public tax money to do so. *
Whereas the Girl Scouts … who actually accept everyone. Have been declared public enemy #1 and boycotted…. because they do just that: Accept everyone.
I’d tell the lesbian troop mom to volunteer her time and talent to the GSA instead.
*http://www.thehumanist.org/humanist/articles/bsa.html
Belize
What exactly can you learn from scouting that you can’t learn from being a bigoted simple-minded redneck? That said, I don’t think the government should support something that people can get for free without an institutionalized set up.
Hyhybt
The only scout troop I know the affiliation of is (non-SBC) Baptist, so they’re not *all* Mormon.
iirreekkaa
Some food for thought… Convicted felons are allowed to serve in leadership positions! Yes, BSA feels as though felons are more responsible and morally superior to gays… How is that right? Who in their right mind would choose a felon over a lesbian to volunteer?
Thom Watson
@Bob: What Bob said.
As detestable as I find the BSA’s anti-gay and anti-atheist policies, I’m extremely conflicted about making a hero of a woman who enrolled her son in a group she knew to be anti-gay, a group that teaches him that his own mother is not “morally straight,” and who abetted that organization’s anti-gay policies by taking the troop she was leading to participate in the bell-ringing activities of another notoriously anti-gay organization, the Salvation Army. Ms. Tyrell seemed to be fine supporting the BSA’s policies and practices as long as they turned a blind eye to her, but only comes out to condemn them after she was removed from her own leadership position. I think the word that comes to mind is “quisling.”
NovaNardis
C’mon. BSA is not run by the Mormons. That is a completely baseless accusation. I was in the Boy Scouts from 12-18. There is nothing Mormon about the organization.
Now, some units may affiliate with Mormon churches — just as my unit was affiliated with a Catholic parish — and that can clearly change the tenor of a unit. But to claim the entire organization is lazy name-calling.
jaredk
I am currently 18 years old and have been in scouting for my entire life. I recently got my eagle scout award. Over the years, I haven’t really seen any hate towards LGBT individuals. (Although you will always have those few adults who make some rude reference, but always indirect) I believe the Boy Scouting program is really a good program. I mean, once you set aside that they don’t “like” LGBT or atheist people. Scouting teaches you to help others and appreciate what you have around you and what you were given. Feel free to email me at an open email account at: [email protected]
Angel M
I was a council member of Jennifer’s pack. Jennifer was hung out to dry for simply telling the truth. When you cut through all the,”this is policy and but she’s gay” crap, the bottom line is, I was there and I know what a wonderful leader she was and I also know for a fact that the scout leader knew she was gay and promised it wouldn’t be a problem and he would go to bat for her….and didn’t. When Jen was fired I resigned my position and sat back and looked at the big picture and it is this….Jen tried to right a wrong and was punished for doing so, period. Bless you Jen, you where right