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."

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| 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  |
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