Groups Encourage Boy Scouts to Expand Resolution to End Discrimination of Adults

May 23, 2013 (USA) – Today, Scouts for Equality (SfE), GLAAD and the Inclusive Scouting Network (ISN) applauded the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) for the passage of the historic non-discrimination resolution that will end the discrimination of gay Scouts. This landmark resolution eliminates the longstanding policy that prohibits openly gay Scouts from participating in the Boy Scouts and has forced thousands of exceptional young men to stay out of the Scouts.

“Today’s vote ending discrimination of gay Scouts is truly a historic moment and demonstrates the Boy Scouts of America’s commitment to creating a more inclusive organization,” said Zach Wahls, Eagle Scout and Founder of Scouts for Equality. “Scouts for Equality is honored to be a part of the movement that has achieved a tremendous victory towards the fight for equality in America and we are proud to call ourselves Scouts. We look forward to the day where we can celebrate inclusion of all members and are committed to continuing our work until that occurs.”

Of the 1,400 voting members, over 60% voted in support of the proposed resolution. At the Equal Scouting Summit, being held directly across from the BSA National Meeting in Grapevine, members of SfE, ISN and GLAAD celebrated this historic victory while calling for equality for all.

“Today’s vote is a significant victory for gay youth across the nation and a clear indication that the Boy Scouts ban on gay adult leaders will also inevitably end,” said GLAAD spokesperson Rich Ferraro. “The Boy Scouts of America heard from religious leaders, corporate sponsors and so many Scouting families who want an end to discrimination against gay people, and GLAAD will continue this work with those committed to equality in Scouting until gay parents and adults are able to participate.”

Since its founding in 2012, SfE has worked with GLAAD, ISN and many others to generate support for the ending of discrimination by the BSA of its gay members and leaders. Over 17,000* people, including over 7,000 Eagle Scouts, from across the country have joined SfE and working together with partner organizations GLAAD, ISN and the Human Rights Campaign have collected almost 2 million* Change.org petition signatures supporting the elimination of this ban.

“Today’s decision by the BSA is an important step forward but is just one small step in a much longer journey for Scouting,” said Mark Noel, Founder of the Inclusive Scouting Network. “Supporters of inclusive Scouting will not rest until this institution is safe and equal for all people. Discrimination on any level is unacceptable.”

Additional quotes from Scouts and Scout Leaders Who Launched Change.org Petitions

“When I was kicked out of the Boy Scouts last April, I was devastated.” said Ohio mom Jennifer Tyrrell, who in April 2012, alongside GLAAD, reignited a national conversation about discrimination in Scouting after she was ousted as leader of her son’s Cub Scout pack because she’s gay. “Having to look my son, Cruz, in the eye and tell him that our family isn’t good enough was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. Today is truly a watershed moment for me, but even more so for the millions of kids across this country, who will now be allowed to serve in the Scouts without fear of rejection. I’m so proud of how far we’ve come, but until there’s a place for everyone in Scouting, my work will continue.”

“Just a few hours ago, I was thinking that today could be my last day as a Boy Scout. Obviously, for gay Scouts like me, this vote is life-changing,” said Pascal Tessier, whose petition on Change.org received more than 128,000 signatures. “Like my brother before me, I now have a chance to earn my Eagle award — something that’s taken most of my life to achieve. Finally, Scouts are no longer forced to choose between upholding the Scout Oath and being open and honest about who they really are as a person.”

“This is an historic day in the 103-year history of the Boy Scouts of America — the day it finally found its moral compass and started down the long trail to equality in Scouting, say Greg Bourke, who launched his petition on Change.org. “It is definite progress, but even with this approved membership change, gay adults like Jennifer Tyrrell and myself will continue to be banned from serving in the Scouts, even in units with our own children. There is no other word for that except discrimination.”

“What started as a Change.org petition launched by a rejected lesbian den mother from Ohio has transformed into a movement of Scouts and Scout leaders who have inspired more than 1.8 million signatures calling for change,” said Mark Anthony Dingbaum, senior campaign manager at Change.org. “While today’s vote is a historic win for Scouts across the country, it’s also a testament to the incredible power everyday people have when personal stories are paired with innovative online organizing.”

Media Contact: press@scoutsforequality.com

Step One towards inclusivity was completed on May 23rd, 2013.

Join us for Step Two: http://scoutsforequality.com/join

Wayne Perry, USATODAY 4:36 p.m. EDT May 22, 2013

Our policies must be based on what is in the best interest of our nation’s children.

Story Highlights

• The resolution reaffirms our core belief in doing one’s “duty to God.”
• Changing adult standards would have conflicted with the virtues of our chartered partners.
• We will work to stay focused on that which unites us.

The Boy Scouts of America is part of the fabric of this nation. Our focus is on working together to deliver the nation’s foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training. Somehow, Scouting has become one of the focal points in the debate on homosexuality. However, it is not the role of the Boy Scouts to resolve this complex issue, nor can the decision we will make today.

In 2000, the Supreme Court ruled that the BSA has the right to set its membership standards. It is worth noting that the court’s decision was not about whether homosexuality is right or wrong; rather, it affirmed that private organizations have the right to set membership rules based on their beliefs and values.

At the BSA’s National Annual Meeting today, the 1,400 voting members of our National Council will vote on a proposed resolution that would end the restriction on gay youth membership. That’s the right decision for Boy Scouts.

Duty to God

Today’s proposed resolution reaffirms our core belief in doing one’s “duty to God.” It would remove the restriction denying membership to youth on the basis of sexual orientation alone and would maintain the current membership policy for all adult leaders. Further, the resolution reinforces that Scouting is a youth program, and that any sexual conduct, heterosexual or homosexual, is contrary to the virtues of Scouting. It also prohibits the use of the organization to promote or advance any social or political positions or agendas.

While some people wish the proposed resolution would go further, it was clear from our listening phase that changing adult standards would have conflicted with the majority of our partners, 70% of which are religious organizations, and would have disrupted our ability to deliver Scouting. Conversely, some have asserted that the proposed change for youth runs counter to the values of, and raises concerns among, Scouting’s religious chartered organizations. We are unaware of any major religious chartered organization that believes a youth member simply stating he or she is attracted to the same sex, but not engaging in sexual activity, should make him or her unwelcome in their congregation. We reviewed a variety of policy options and concluded this option would provide kids a place to belong while they learn and grow.

About the kids

The change to the Boy Scouts of America’s membership policy is not the result of pressure from outside; it is the result of extensive dialogue within the Scouting family. Parents, adults in the Scouting community and teens alike tend to agree that youth should not be denied the benefits of Scouting. The resolution is not about adults; it is about what is best for young people.

Some have voiced concerns that this proposal could put children at risk of being abused. The BSA makes no connection between sexual abuse and homosexuality. The nation’s leading experts agree. The BSA has stringent polices that protect the safety and privacy of youth and has always worked to ensure that it is a supportive and safe environment.

The BSA’s executive committee unanimously presented this resolution because it stays true to Scouting’s mission and remains focused on kids. No matter what your opinion is on this issue, America needs Scouting, and our policies must be based on what is in the best interest of our nation’s children.

Wayne Perry is the president of the Boy Scouts of America.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2013/05/22/boy-scouts-president-let-in-gay-boys/2351907/

A lot has happened in the interim. Last July, the Boy Scouts doubled down on their ban, and said it was the best policy for the organization. Since that time, Scouts for Equality has worked with incredible petition starters to gather more than 1.8 million petition signatures on Change.org. Working with our partners like the Inclusive Scouting Network, GLAAD, HRC, and others, we’ve been able to keep the pressure on the Boy Scouts, so they know how important this issue is to the nation and to the future of Scouting. Our incredible grassroots volunteers organized in nearly 150 of the BSA’s 282 councils and had thousands upon thousands of conversations that were Scout to Scout, parent to parent and leader to leader.

And ultimately, that’s what this entire conversation is about: leadership. We understand that for many of the voting members, this is a deeply personal decision and frankly, I respect the difficulty facing some of these electors. But in a final analysis, the facts are clear:

According to ABC News polling, a strong majority of Americans support ending the ban on gay Scouts and including a vast majority of people under the age of forty and even a plurality of self-identified conservatives.

Further, according to the BSA’s own internal research a majority of Scouting parents under the age of fifty support ending the ban on gay Scouts, and the vast majority of currently active Scouts support ending the ban.

It is clear that if Scouting is not willing to move forward on this issue, it will be left behind by an America that supports our LGBT friends, neighbors, family members and even our fellow Scouts who made it through the program. America needs the values that Scouting has to offer now more than ever, and we cannot afford to lose this great cultural icon.

Finally, at the end of the day, this entire conversation comes down to one of the core values of leadership that is so often discussed but so difficult to actually execute: treating others the way we want to be treated. There is nothing Scout-like about exclusion of other people, and there is nothing Scout-like about putting your own religious beliefs before someone else’s.

President Reagan once reminded us of the Shining City on the Hill—a testament to that last great bastion of hope and freedom. There should be no doubt that for decades, the Boy Scouts of America has contributed to that radiance, but with the continued exclusion of LGBT Americans like my parents, Jackie and Terry, and young men who happen to be gay, the BSA darkens the light of those who would gladly serve their communities and country.

Tomorrow’s vote gives the BSA an opportunity to light a new path forward into the twenty-first century. We hope to see them on the other side.

For more information visit www.scoutsforequality.com.

Twenty House Members Submit Letter to the Boy Scouts of America Urging Passage of Resolution

May 22, 2013 (USA) – Today, Scouts for Equality praised twenty members of the US House of Representatives for their support of the resolution being considered by the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) that would end discrimination of gay Scouts. All twenty members signed onto a letter calling for the passage of the resolution and the end of discrimination of gay Scouts by the BSA.

“We applaud these leaders for taking a stand on behalf of all of the amazing young men who have been denied the opportunity to be a part of the Boy Scouts of America,” said Zach Wahls, Eagle Scout and Founder of Scouts for Equality. “As one of the most highly regarded organizations in America, it is time that the Boy Scouts live up to the values that they taught all of us and create a stronger, more inclusive organization.”

The 1400 voting members of the BSA will decide on Thursday at the National Meeting if the longstanding ban will be eliminated. Scouts for Equality, together with the Inclusive Scouting Network, GLAAD and the Human Rights Campaign, are hosting the Equal Scouting Summit directly across from the National Meeting.

To register for the summit or to schedule an interview with any of the participants go here.

A copy of the letter can be found here

Members who signed onto the letter are:

Rep. Adam B. Schiff (D-CA), Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-CA), Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO),
Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA), Rep. David N. Cicilline (D-RI), Rep. Raul M. Grijalva (D-AZ),
Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), Rep. George Miller (D-CA), Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN),
Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA), Rep. Bruce Braley (D-IA), Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR),
Rep. Marc Veasey (D-TX), Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Rep. Dave Loebsack (D-IA),
Rep. Jose Serrano (D-NY), Rep. Alan Lowenthal (D-CA), Rep. Scott Peters (D-CA),
Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: press@scoutsforequality.com

May 16, 2013 – Next week, as the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) considers for the first time ending discrimination of gay Scouts, Scouts for Equality (SfE) and the Inclusive Scouting Network (ISN), will host the “Equal Scouting Summit.” with support from GLAAD and the Human Rights Campaign. Being held across from the BSA National Meeting, the Summit is an opportunity for supporters from across the country to come together to discuss next steps in building the foundation of an inclusive BSA.

Speakers at the Summit will include Zach Wahls, Mark Noel, Jennifer Tyrrell, Greg Bourke, Will Oliver, Pascal Tessier, Dave Rice, and Dave Knapp whose personal experiences of the BSA’s discriminatory policies moved them to become leaders of the equal Scouting movement and led to the collection of more than 1.8 million Change.org petition signatures calling for an end to the BSA’s ban on gay members. Events during the Summit will include a welcome ceremony for Eagle Scout Dave McGrath and his son Army Specialist Joe McGrath as they ride into Texas and complete their 1,800-mile bike ride for equality and the culmination of the Voice of the Gay Scout project. Gay Scouts across the country have submitted letters of what they would say to the National Council voters if they had the opportunity and during the Summit those letters will be read out loud.

All events are OPEN to the press. Additional details will be released in the coming days.

WHAT: Equal Scouting Summit
WHEN: Wednesday, May 22nd – Friday, May 24th
WHERE: Great Wolf Lodge, 100 Great Wolf Drive, Grapevine, Texas
WHO: Scouts for Equality, Inclusive Scouting Network, GLAAD, Jennifer Tyrrell, Greg Bourke, Dave Rice, Dave Knapp, Will Oliver, Pascal Tessier, Eagle Scout Dave McGrath, Army Specialist Joe McGrath, Scouts, Scout Leaders, Parents & Supporters

Press Information: Members of the press can register to attend and submit requests for interviews at www.inclusivescouting.net/media/2013-summit-registration/

For more information go to www.scoutsforequality.com/summit

Scouts for Equality

Founded in 2012 by four straight Eagle Scouts, Scouts for Equality (SfE) is a Boy Scouts of America (BSA) alumni association dedicated to ending the ban on gay members and leaders. As Scouts, SfE believes discrimination goes against the values the Scouting movement teaches and has no place in BSA’s future. Since its inception, SfE has played a significant role in shaping this debate and has personalized this issue by giving it a “face” or more accurately the “faces” of the boys and young men whom this issue most directly impacts. Over 11,000* people from across the country have joined SfE and the organization, working in partnership with GLAAD and the Human Rights Campaign, has collected almost 1.8* million Change.org petition signatures supporting the elimination of this ban. (*As of May 15, 2013)

For more information, go to www.scoutsforequality.com

The Inclusive Scouting Network

Founded in 2000 shortly after the Supreme Court decision in Boy Scouts v. James Dale, The Inclusive Scouting Network (ISN) is a national network of members, leaders, and alumni of the Boy Scouts of America, scouting parents, and American citizens working to ensure that the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) fulfills its original promise that “every American boy shall have the opportunity of becoming a good scout.” ISN offers resources to help educate the public and create a safe and welcoming environment for everyone in scouting, regardless of religious beliefs or sexual orientation. ISN’s signature “Inclusive Scouting Award” patch is a small, multicolored square knot worn on the uniform that identifies the wearer as an ally to anyone who feels at risk of being expelled under BSA’s current policies. Since its introduction in 2002, the Inclusive Scouting Award has spread to every state and several foreign countries, where it is now worn by over 10,000* scouts and scout leaders, with hundreds more ordered every week. (*As of April 19, 2013.)

For more information, go to www.inclusivescouting.net.

GLAAD
GLAAD amplifies the voice of the LGBT community by empowering real people to share their stories, holding the media accountable for the words and images they present, and helping grassroots organizations communicate effectively. By ensuring that the stories of LGBT people are heard through the media, GLAAD promotes understanding, increases acceptance, and advances equality.

For more information, go to www.glaad.org.

Human Rights Campaign
The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.

For more information, go to www.hrc.org

Change.org
Change.org is the world’s largest petition platform, empowering people everywhere to create the change they want to see. There are more than 30 million users in 196 countries who use our tools to transform their communities – locally, nationally and globally.

For more information go to www.change.org

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