This message was originally posted to the "eagles" mailing list on 
21 October 1991.  If you're interested in discussing or being updated on
the issues of gays in scouting, send email to eagles-request@flash.usc.edu.

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Since the controversy with gays in the BSA came to the forefront last
year, a number of us spent significant time discussing (electronically)
how and why BSA should change its policies.  We came up with the 
following letter, which a large number of us sent to the BSA National 
Office and to local BSA councils.

The BSA claims to have received 2000 letters in support of their
anti-gay policy, including one letter with a donation of $10,000.00.
Here's your opportunity for you and your friends to offset that.

I'd like to encourage each of you to read the letter, and send copies
of it to:

	(a) 	Mr. Ben Love, Chief Scout Officer
		Boy Scouts of America
		1325 West Walnut Hill Lane
		P.O. Box 152079
		Irving TX 75015-2079 

	(b)     Kenneth W. Dam, acting President
                United Way of America
                701 N. Fairfax St.
                Alexandria, VA 22314

	(c)     Your local scout council (look under "Boy Scouts of America"
	        in your local phone book).


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Dear National Chairman:


I still believe in Scouting's principles set forth in the scout oath
and law, and as a scout--particularly through the various 
Citizenship merit badges--I was taught to express my view and 
fight for what is right.  I am writing you today to tell you 
that the BSA's policy regarding gays in scouting is not right.  
It is a policy of discrimination that is clearly inconsistent
with the ideals of scouting.

A recent Department of Health and Human Services Study concluded
that young gay men are many times more likely to attempt suicide
than other young men.  Many believe that this is due to a lack
of positive gay role models in organizations like the BSA.
The BSA should take a responsible role in building self esteem
among all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation.
The current BSA policy is destructive torwards the self-esteem 
of young gay men.

All reputable studies have shown that sexual orientation is 
an innate feature of an individual's personality by early 
childhood.  As such, it is not something that can be chosen 
or easily changed--either by adults or boys of scouting age.  

A task force of 50+ scouters and ex-scouts recently discussed 
this issue, and made the following recommendations:
     
     (1) The BSA should destroy all local and national "blacklists" 
	 that exist to discriminate against gays.
     (2) Eliminate any policies that prohibit gay men and boys
	 from being scouters or scouts.
     (3) Issue a policy statement that states that scout leaders
	 are to be selected on their ability to serve as responsible
	 adult role models, and their ability to protect the safety
	 of the young people involved--and that sexual orientation
	 is an irrelevant factor in this decision.
     (4) Defer all issues of leader selection to the local (council
	 or troop level) so that they are resolved in a manner
	 consistent with the values of the local community. 
     (5) Adopt, as policy, that it is unAmerican and inconsistent 
	 with the scout oath and law to advocate the violation of 
	 any law, including discrimination laws.
     (6) To cease and desist participation in any lawsuits that 
	 seek to justify BSA's violation of discrimination laws, and 
	 to use the money instead to support worthwhile programs 
	 within BSA.

I strongly urge the BSA to discontinue its use of sexual orientation 
as a basis for excluding any individual from participating in or 
leading any BSA group and look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours in Scouting.