BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA

                                National Office
                             1325 Walnut Hill Lane
                   P.O. Box 152079, Irving, Texas 75015-2079
                                 214-580-2000

June 24, 1991

SUBJECT:        ATHEISM, GIRLS AND HOMOSEXUALITY


From:           J. Carey Keane
                National Director of Relationships/Marketing


To:             Regional Directors
                Area Directors
                Scout Executives
                Division Directors

As you know, the BSA currently is involved in various legal issues;
issues that include atheism, girls in Scouting and homosexuality.
The media has been covering these rather extensively, with the usual
debate of pros and cons.

Since many of you have been, and may continue to be, approached by
local media, we thought it would be beneficial to provide a compre-
hensive package of information. The attached includes:

- Overall suggestions on responding to the media and to the public,
as well as a pamphlet on "Unacceptables" that can be used to "bridge"
discussions to the positive things the BSA is doing to resolve issues.


- Position statements and questions and answers on:

                - Duty to God
                - Girls in Scouting
                - Homosexuality


If you need further information, please contact Blake Lewis at
Edeknan Worldwide at (214) 520-3555 or Jeff Sacks, Division Director,
External Communications at (214) 580-2271.




                              POSITION STATEMENT

                           HOMOSEXUALITY AND THE BSA


For more than 80 years, the Boy Scouts of America has brought the
moral values of the Scout Oath and Scout Law to American boys, help-
ing them to achieve the objectives of Scouting.

The Boy Scouts of America also places strong emphasis on traditional
family values as being necessary components of a strong, healthy
society. The Scouting program is designed to be a shared, family
experience.

We believe that homosexual conduct is inconsistent with the require-
ments in the Scout Oath that a Scout be morally straight and in the
Scout Law that a Scout be clean in word and deed, and that homosexuals
do not provide a desirable role model for Scouts.

Because of these beliefs, the Boy Scouts of America does not accept
homosexuals as members or as leaders, whether in volunteer or profes-
sional capacities.

Our position on this issue is based solely upon our desire to provide
the appropriate environment and role models which reflect Scouting's
values and beliefs.

As a private membership organization, we believe our right to deter-
mine the qualifications of our members and leaders is protected by the
Constitution of the United States.

JSsd
6/6/91



                       QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS



Q. May an individual who openly declares himself to be a homosexual be
   a volunteer Scout leader or member?


A. No. The Boy Scouts of America is a private membership organization
   and leadership therein is a privilege and not a right. We believe
   that homosexual conduct is not compatible with the aims and
   purposes of Scouting and that it does not present a desirable role
   model for the youth in our program. We will continue to select only
   those who in our judgment meet our standards and qualifications for
   membership.



Q. May a group of individuals who openly profess to be homosexuals
   obtain a unit charter?

A. No. As in the case with membership, a Boy Scouts of America unit
   charter is a privilege and not a right. We reserve the right to
   grant or withhold charters upon the basis of the aims and purposes
   of the Scouting program.



Q. Are you implying by your policy that homosexuals do not have good
   moral or emotional character?

A. Our position is that they do not present a role model which we seek
   for our youth members



Q. By what procedure may an individual's registration in the Boy
   Scouts of America be revoked?

A. This procedure is set forth in detail in the publication
   Maintaining Standards of Membership.



Q. What procedure should be followed in the event that an individual
   involved in Scouting is alleged to be a homosexual?

A. The matter should be investigated in a discreet and responsible
   fashion, with the utmost regard for the concerned individual's
   civil rights.



Q. What procedure should be followed in the event that a professional
   or non-professional employee is arrested and charged with an
   offense involving public morals?

A. The council representative should respectfully decline to comment
   or to take any action without the advice of the council's attorney.
   Any comment, speculation, or volunteering of gratuitous information
   may be prejudicial to the civil rights of the accused ... and under
   certain conditions, could lead to a suit for damages.