Comments on: A Letter to Parents: It’s Time to Quit Boy Scouts

By: amkenkent

amkenkent — Wed, 11 Sep 2013 11:30:35 +0000

And I’d like to address the comments about gay leaders being sexual predators. Think back to every major case of sexual assault. Who is the assailant? Is it an out gay man in a loving relationship? No, it is a priest or a married man (usually someone who espouses anti-gay beliefs in public forums)… these are closeted men that in their every day lives shun homosexuality but prey on young boys behind closed doors!! Maybe just maybe it is their self-hate for their sexual urges as deemed wrong by society that leads them to seek out such heinous acts. Meanwhile gay men as very wrongly marked as pedophiles (being attracted to other men does not equal being attracted to children!). I attend an “open and affirming” church where we have many out gay members who help with children’s programming. Not one has ever been inappropriate with a child. Why would they be? They don’t feel the need to act out illicit feelings on innocent victims because they live their life honesty with no repercussion. In summary…as a parent, I’m NOT afraid of the gay fathers who want to volunteer with my children, I’m afraid of that 45 year old married white dude that attends some fundamentalist christian church who doesn’t admit that inside he prefers Ys to Xs. Because I know statistically if someone were going to sexually assault my child…it would be him!

By: amkenkent

amkenkent — Wed, 11 Sep 2013 11:18:16 +0000

This was a hard one for me too. I struggled with the idea of letting my sons join an organization that has policies that do not align with my husband and my’s beliefs about fair and equal treatment of all people regardless of sexual orientation. But, when my boys came to us (it was introduced to them at school, not by us) asking to join…the look of joy and want on their faces made me rethink my staunch “no way position”. Personally, I know a den leader who is an out lesbian. No one in their pack has an issue with her or her partner’s involvement with their son’s pack (and this isn’t a pack in the very liberal college town in which I live…it’s someplace where you might expect prejudice). So I already knew that while the national organization has problems with gay leaders, that it isn’t exactly enforced on a local level. But more than that, it was actually one of my neighbors (who shares my beliefs) that helped convince me. She said “Boy scouts is a member driven organization. If all the people who are pro-equal rights drop out and boycott, than the organization will never change. The attitudes cannot be forced to change from the outside world, they must be changed from within…by it’s members.” And thus we allowed our boys to join boy scouts.

By: Really?

Really? — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 02:20:59 +0000

I understand your husband is a Life Scout. That is one step away from Eagle Scout. You should be very proud of him and his accomplishments and perseverance. How did he really feel about your article or stance? Your husband tried to find your son the best scout group to join, but honestly your kid was just “not that into it” and quit. If he loved it/gave it a chance, I bet you would have found a way/reason for him to stay. According to your blog, you seem to sacrifice a lot for your children. Funny how you make it sound like it was your choice to “pull him out” for grand ethical reasons. Do your research and actually show up at a meeting. Shame on you.

By: pogo

pogo — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 21:21:42 +0000

WOW!
I read her article in the Inquirer & posted a 3 word response:

GET A LIFE

My post ahs been deleted.
Obviously Emily’s global vison and journalistic acumen end abruptly at the tip of her nose.
Emily’s views and publications apparently constitute a very one sided conversation.

Oh, well, it’s her site and from the looks of her a died in the wool house mouse with nothing better to do than spout this nonsense and shut out any opposition.

How trite.

Can’t wait to see her version of the Boy Scout Jamboree. Will we have gay tents and straight tents for the boys? I guarantee if her kid got caught up in something wiht a gay 12 yo at camp her lawyer would be suing the troop the next morning.

This is bogus and her views of what YOU should expose YOUR kids to are right off The View which is where she spends most mornings anyway. Total thught control.

Emily get a life. Turn off Woopie Goldberg and learn how to think for yourself again, please. It’s for your own good. I’ll be back to check my post.

By: Matt

Matt — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 18:35:23 +0000

I, like some of the others I’ve read above have trouble understanding your stance of the Boy Scouts on gays in a private organization. Apparently you are more interested in taking a liberal position on gay rights then the safety of young boys. Do you have any understanding of what gay men do to young boys. Just recently there was an article of an 18 year old young man who took a scout leader to court for the abuse he suffered at the hands of a gay scout leader.What do you think the Catholic Church has been going through with gay priests and their treatment of young boys. I suppose your answer would be you would submit your sons to similar treatment willingly. Are you really that stupid? Why don’t you ask your son’s if they would want that kind of treatment after you honsetly describe what that treatment would be. You are a foolish woman with a head full of feathers.

By: Jason

Jason — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 16:28:26 +0000

It seems some of us need a refresher…

A Scout is Brave: A Scout can face danger although he is afraid. He has the courage to stand for what he thinks is right even if others laugh at him or threaten him.

A Scout is Reverent: A Scout is reverent toward God. He is faithful in his religious duties. He respects the beliefs of others.

I find it troubling that some parents and leaders posting here have little or no understanding of the preceding two most profound points of the scout law. Those scouts and leaders advocating for the change toward equality are truly brave. Maintaining the status quo requires no bravery and indeed exhibits an implicit fear; the type which the best scouts are known for managing well.

Regarding reverence: I am a Christian and an Eagle Scout. My Christian faith instructs me to advocate for people in disadvantaged positions, not disenfranchise them. This includes my gay brothers and sisters. I acknowledge that not all churches teach this interpretation of God’s law. While I disagree with the opposing viewpoint on a fundamental level, I do maintain some amount of respect for those holding opposing views because of the nature of religion. It’s just not practical to challenge deeply held religious beliefs and expect to maintain decorum. I know that, the founding fathers knew that, and Sir Baden-Powell knew that. And so, just as I respect those with whom I disagree on religion (as required by the 12th point of the scout law), I too require their respect as should everyone else, especially on the basis of religious beliefs.

Finally, removing boys from packs and troops is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it’s completely understandable and even respectable for parents to take this action based upon their own convictions. On the other hand, it’s disappointing that the movement may lose the advocacy of these open-minded people. If you must remove your boys from the organization, then I truly hope that you will consider participating in any number of ongoing campaigns advocating on behalf of equality and inclusion.

By: Gary

Gary — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 19:50:12 +0000

I see you missed the whole point of the Boy Scouts. Don’t join a group if you don’t believe in it. If you don’t understand the group don’t put it down, you only show your ignorance. If you don’t understand ask for an explanation, your jumping to a conclusion only causes hate and discontent. A Boy Scout is loyal to God and Country. If God believed in gays it would be promoted in the bible. Using your logic, God believes in discrimination. This of course is not true, as he allows people to run their own affairs. You are allowed your opinion, but the safety I had as a scout and the safety I want for my kids as scouts overwhelm your worthless opinion. Maybe if you just looked into things before jumping to conclusions you would have seen the history and understood their purpose. But then that would mean using time positively and not just running your mouth off.

By: benny2514

benny2514 — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 18:30:04 +0000

Shame on all of these people for saying that the BSA is doing the right thing.
I was a scout up until earlier this year, when it got too hard to manage, and so I dropped it. I knew I made the right decision when I saw your post, and many other posts on the internet have destroyed my faith in the boy scouts.
Kudos to you for writing this article, and to all of those people who have been sending you hate mail, think, do you really want your children in a group that discriminates intensely to gays, or do you want to support marriage equality?
We all love you, Em.
Congrats.
Ben

By: christies1968

christies1968 — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 12:58:21 +0000

Before enlisting my son in the program, I spoke with my lgbtq family elders as I struggled with the national organizations stance and the impact on my son. They all came back in overwhelming support for scouting, telling me how much good it did them and their fondest memories were of that time that they spent with the organization. You present it as a black and white issue and there are many shades of grey here. My son has benefited from the program, his troop does not support the national organizations stance and discuss how to change it openly, as do many troops. On the local level, troops are ready for change and will be the catalyst for it.

By: Sandy Beaches Sunny Days

Sandy Beaches Sunny Days — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 05:34:41 +0000

Emily, I guess you needed a current topic to assault for your new writing class, so you chose an organization that offers boys a chance to learn and grow to be independent young men. This issue cannot be compared to racial or ethnic prejudices. The safety and well-being of innocent kids who deserve our good judgement and protection is first and foremost — being politically correct comes way down the line. Shame on you for telling parents to pull their sons out of scouting and miss out on wonderful opportunities. In the future, think a moment before you wield your poison pen.