A Boy Scouts pack in Maryland has removed a non-discrimination statement including support for gay Scouts and Scoutmasters from its website rather than be kicked out by its regional council.
Pack 422 of Cloverly, Maryland, made headlines this week when its inclusive policy, enacted last year and posted on its website, earned the ire of the DC-based The National Capital Area Council.
The families of Pack 442, which serves boys age 7-10, voted unanimously in August that they “will not discriminate against any individual or family based on race, religion, national origin, ability or sexual orientation.”
The unit had until today, Saturday, to remove the statement or face expulsion. A poll was conducted on the Pack 442 website—one that any member of the public could vote on—and it appears the majority wanted to keep the pack intact.
A statement on the site reads:
Due to pressure from the National Capital Area Council of BSA, Pack 442 was forced to remove its Non-Discrimination statement in order to keep our Charter (set to expire Jan 31st). This Non-Discrimination statement, previously posted here, welcomed ALL families.
Please feel free to send feedback to NCAC at 301-530-9360
Pack 442 will continue to provide a wonderful and enriching program for scouts and families in the community.
That doesn’t mean the pack will turn away gay scouts, but it will have to pretend they’re not gay. The choices in the poll were:
A. “Keep our current non-discrimination policy on the website, most likely not be rechartered by BSA, and continue to operate but as an independent scout group that openly welcomes all families.”
B. “Remove our non-discrimination policy from the web site, recharter with BSA, and return to a “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, welcoming all families.”
Apparently the NCAC would prefer its scouts to compromise honesty and integrity rather than embrace equality. Is there a badge for that?
1EqualityUSA
These boys will make fine Mormons!
Taliaferro
“Scouts Honor? Where is the honor in submitting to the blackmail tactics of the BSA? Is there some reason this group felt it HAD to belong to the BSA? What about the values they were supposedly trying to instill, the sense of community. Here’s a thought, establish the Freedom Scouts of America and accept everyone who is interested.
1EqualityUSA
Being a boy scout will be linked to bigotry. They’ll be seen as UNCOOL, the death of such a social, Mormonated outfit. Geeks (in a bad way). Just as the Republitards have ruined themselves, let the Mormons call the shots and scouts will be just about as popular as the GOP. All things come to an end. Evolve or go extinct. Formaldehyde please.
Avenger
I would like to send the BSA a financial donation. Does anyone have their address?
Dakotahgeo
@Avenger: I would love to send them a “donation” they’d never forget… one that one couldn’t flush away or charter.
Billysees
Read the previous article about this issue.
http://www.queerty.com/dc-boy-scouts-council-theatening-to-oust-troop-for-refusing-to-discriminate-20130126/
They had much to lose if they didn’t comply.
But now the issue has been put out in the open for all to see and ponder.
Persecution becomes obvious after a while, and also the wrongness of it all.
Then change will come.
GayAtheistLH
If they really wanted to stand up for what they believe in they should have called the Boy Scouts bluff and refused to take down the anti-discrimination message. That would have been a better message for the kids.
Xanderer
Naw, it’s fine. Troop 442 is obviously not going to discriminate against gay scouts or gay families of scouts, and the BSA is once again exposed as an organization with backward and bigoted policies. It’s almost better that the kids learn that they should treat fellow human beings with respect despite policy makers attempts at exclusion. Do the right thing even when the people in charge don’t want you to.
balehead
“Scout’s Honor” by Patrick Boyle explained what was really going on in these troops!…
gppm1103
They can also leave the discrimination statement out and just ignore the “rules” of the council during their regular meetings…etc…
The only way this will change is to get rid of the current council and replace it with real human beings that don’t suffer from religious bigotry.
Probably hard to do though.
RomanHans
Looks like nobody’s getting the merit badge for Courage.
alexoloughlin
Pack 422 could go its own way, affiliate with the original UK boy scout movement that allows openly gay boys to enroll.
Kieran
1938: Boys who are Jewish excluded from joining the Hitler Youth.
2013: Boys who are gay excluded from joining the Boy Scouts of America.
vonlmo
They should have removed their entire non descrimination pledge rather than, specifically, the sexual orientation part. Cloverly, wake up.
Andrew
Pity they didn’t tell them where to shove it and join another organization which believe in treating others are equals. Here’s an opportunity for these other organizations to say “Hey join us instead and we will honour your ranks and badges.
Billysees
@Xanderer: 8
You’ve said right.
“Overcome evil with good”…….the Book.
RomanHans
@Xanderer: Ridiculous. Despite saying they’re against discrimination, Troop 442 says they’ll shut up if the Boy Scouts want them to. They will continue to be counted in the discriminatory Boy Scouts rolls, and they’ll continue to FINANCIALLY SUPPORT the Boy Scouts.
To the contrary, Xanderer: Troop 442 sets an example to the rest of the world that you can’t fight the Scouts. And maybe you can’t, but you can LEAVE them, as the far braver/smarter/cooler Fifth Brooklyn Scouts have.