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| Boy Scouts' ban on gay members alienates some high-ranking Eagles | Boy Scouts' ban on gay members alienates some high-ranking Eagles |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Their motto is "Once an Eagle, always an Eagle," but those who have earned the Boy Scouts of America's highest ranking are starting to recuse themselves from the 102-year-old organization. | Their motto is "Once an Eagle, always an Eagle," but those who have earned the Boy Scouts of America's highest ranking are starting to recuse themselves from the 102-year-old organization. |
| Some longstanding members who reached the level of eagle scout are disappointed at the decision by the 2.7 million-person organization to reaffirm its ban on openly gay members. | Some longstanding members who reached the level of eagle scout are disappointed at the decision by the 2.7 million-person organization to reaffirm its ban on openly gay members. |
| The website Boing Boing compiled 20 letters sent to the Boy Scouts of America national executive board from members who are rescinding their membership or asking the organization to reconsider their policy. These members are gay, straight and transgender, and represent a growing movement within the scouting community to fight the ban. | The website Boing Boing compiled 20 letters sent to the Boy Scouts of America national executive board from members who are rescinding their membership or asking the organization to reconsider their policy. These members are gay, straight and transgender, and represent a growing movement within the scouting community to fight the ban. |
| As a private organization, Boy Scouts of America is legally permitted to block members based on their sexuality. On 17 July, an 11-member committee completed a two-year review of the matter and unanimously agreed to uphold the ban. | As a private organization, Boy Scouts of America is legally permitted to block members based on their sexuality. On 17 July, an 11-member committee completed a two-year review of the matter and unanimously agreed to uphold the ban. |
| The Boy Scouts of America's official statement says: | The Boy Scouts of America's official statement says: |
| While the BSA does not proactively inquire about the sexual orientation of employees, volunteers, or members, we do not grant membership to individuals who are open or avowed homosexuals or who engage in behavior that would become a distraction to the mission of the BSA. | While the BSA does not proactively inquire about the sexual orientation of employees, volunteers, or members, we do not grant membership to individuals who are open or avowed homosexuals or who engage in behavior that would become a distraction to the mission of the BSA. |
| According to Boy Scouts of America, more than 50,000 young men earn the rank of eagle scout each year. It is an arduous process which requires scouts to fulfill requirements in the areas of leadership, service and outdoor skills as well as pass specific tests to earn merit badges, complete a service project, and provide a list of recommendations. | According to Boy Scouts of America, more than 50,000 young men earn the rank of eagle scout each year. It is an arduous process which requires scouts to fulfill requirements in the areas of leadership, service and outdoor skills as well as pass specific tests to earn merit badges, complete a service project, and provide a list of recommendations. |
| Just before the ban was reaffirmed, an Eagle Scout in Missouri was fired from the scout summer camp he worked at after he came out to the camp director. Last week, a scout camp in Northern California fired a gay eagle scout for a "uniform issue," though 10 fellow staff members took it as an act of discrimination, and resigned in support. | Just before the ban was reaffirmed, an Eagle Scout in Missouri was fired from the scout summer camp he worked at after he came out to the camp director. Last week, a scout camp in Northern California fired a gay eagle scout for a "uniform issue," though 10 fellow staff members took it as an act of discrimination, and resigned in support. |
| Multiple groups and online petitions have been created in opposition to the ban. Sam Bonin, who is straight, started the Eagle Scouts for Equality group on Facebook. Bonin and his father are eagle scouts and are proud of their rank, but Bonin finds it difficult to support the organization. | Multiple groups and online petitions have been created in opposition to the ban. Sam Bonin, who is straight, started the Eagle Scouts for Equality group on Facebook. Bonin and his father are eagle scouts and are proud of their rank, but Bonin finds it difficult to support the organization. |
| Bonin told the Guardian: "I have so many friends that are in the LGBT community, and I couldn't in good conscience continue to associate with an organization that excluded the LGBT community." | Bonin told the Guardian: "I have so many friends that are in the LGBT community, and I couldn't in good conscience continue to associate with an organization that excluded the LGBT community." |
| The 100th anniversary of the eagle scout award is 1 August, and Bonin hopes to recruit the online support for a call-in to the Boy Scout headquarters in Texas next week. A modest 387 people have liked the newly created group on Facebook, but Bonin is focusing efforts on 22 February, which is Founder's day. He doesn't expect the organization to make a policy change in that time, but hopes that they will makes moves to change their stance in the near future. | The 100th anniversary of the eagle scout award is 1 August, and Bonin hopes to recruit the online support for a call-in to the Boy Scout headquarters in Texas next week. A modest 387 people have liked the newly created group on Facebook, but Bonin is focusing efforts on 22 February, which is Founder's day. He doesn't expect the organization to make a policy change in that time, but hopes that they will makes moves to change their stance in the near future. |
| Bonin said: "If there is no change of direction and they stand their ground then I think its the right thing to do, for those of us who want to, to send in our badges and renounce our rank and hopefully get struck from the record." | Bonin said: "If there is no change of direction and they stand their ground then I think its the right thing to do, for those of us who want to, to send in our badges and renounce our rank and hopefully get struck from the record." |
| In May, Scouts for Equality, another group created by eagle scouts against the ban, delivered a petition to the Boy Scouts national executive board's meeting asking the organization to reinstate a lesbian den mother who was forced to resign because she was gay. | In May, Scouts for Equality, another group created by eagle scouts against the ban, delivered a petition to the Boy Scouts national executive board's meeting asking the organization to reinstate a lesbian den mother who was forced to resign because she was gay. |
| Similar organizations in the US – including the Girl Scouts, 4-H, the Boys and Girls Club, and Camp Fire USA – have all expressed support for openly gay members. | Similar organizations in the US – including the Girl Scouts, 4-H, the Boys and Girls Club, and Camp Fire USA – have all expressed support for openly gay members. |
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