To: SCOUTS-L@TCUBVM.Bitnet Subject: Advocate articles on the BSA Date: Sun, 29 Dec 91 22:43:30 PST From: kmeyer@aero.org I'm no regular reader of The Advocate, but the Dec 31 issue has two articles that caught my eye. One is "Boy Scout Confidential: Organization Ousts Gay Teens and Leaders, Faces Lawsuits for Discrimination." The other is "Scout's Honor: Doing his Best to Do His Duty, the Grandson of the Boy Scouts of America Founder Comes Out." They are the best summary of the situation involving gays and the BSA that I've seen to date. The first article states that BSA Spokesman Blake Lewis, while reluctant to comment on specific cases with which he is not familiar, speaks at length about the antigay policy: The BSA emphasizes heterosexual, old-time family values. It's the BSA's position that persons who are living a homosexual lifestyle do not present a role model that is consistent with the values of scouting. According to Lewis, the BSA does not necessarily condemn those who disagree with the group's chosen values. The BSA does not say [that gay people are] bad, but he defends the BSA's right to define its own set of moral standards. Homosexuality remains incompatible with scouting, period. The article excerpts the stories of several gay men: Growing up gay was hell. Instead of getting help and understanding from someone in scouting, I got fag jokes around the campfire. (Charles Galvin, Marin County, CA) At age 16, the Scoutmaster pulled me out of the meeting and told me that word had come from the council that I couldn't stay, I had to leave. I was really hurt, really scared, really suicidal. (Chris Strobel, Stockton, CA) Eagle Scout Rob Schwitz of St. Louis...became involved in a public battle with the Air Force over whether he could remain in ROTC and was expelled from scouting (including firing from the staff of camp Joy. Morris Grooms was also fired from the same staff). Jeff McElroy, a 36 year old LA attorney recalls that many of the men who he worked with at Philmont were gay, but most were closeted and had not come to terms with their sexuality. Former Scoutmaster Harold Klein of Queens, NY says that he and his lover were openly gay when they were scoutmaster and assistant scoutmaster of a troop during the 70's and 80's. He says it was never an issue. Eagle Scout Daniel Campbell of Michigan State Univ points out that gay youth in scouting are put in the position of having to keep their sexuality a secret. If they obey the Scout Law and tell the truth, they get kicked out. The article also points out that various United Way chapters are considering withholding funds from BSA; it talks about Baden-Powell's alleged homosexuality (a point discussed in various biographies of Baden-Powell); and quotes the official policy statement of the Girl Scouts of the USA that states "...we do not have policies that focus on individual sexual orientation." The article also includes pictures of patches, various people interviewed, and a Philmont camp staff picture. The following article is about William Boyce Mueller, grandson of William Dickson Boyce. It starts by explaining how BSA was formed by Boyce, and his grandson's assertion: "My grandfather would not have tolerated discrimination. He founded the Boy Scouts for all boys, not just for some." The article indicates that Mueller has spent years living a quiet, gay life as an accountant in San Francisco; he is pictured in a business suit on the steps of some random pillered building. "Gay troop leaders," he says, "can be good role model for homosexual scouts and teach heterosexual kids that gay people are OK." --------------------------------------------------------------------------- | The opinions expressed above are my own and do not necessarily | | represent those of The Aerospace Corporation, El Segundo, CA. | | | | Kraig R. Meyer kmeyer@aero.org | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------