Gay Boy Scouts of America?

[peacetraveler22]

A few weeks ago I went fishing with my family in a small country town close to DC. The purpose was not to catch dinner, but to offer a day of fun for my young nephew. At the small pond we visited there were a lot of boy scouts on a day excursion. I'm sure most of you are familiar with this organization, which started in 1910. The Boys Scouts of America provides programs for young boys that help develop personal character, community involvement and physical activity through outdoor events such as camping and fishing. I'm not sure if there is a similar organization in Russia?

More recently the organization is in the news because of its prohibition on gay scouts and leaders. Just today over 1,400 local leaders convened for a two day meeting where they will vote on whether to allow openly gay boys in the scouting movement. Of course, there also is constant debate on whether the organization should permit openly gay men to be Scout Leaders. However, this is not on the ballot at the current meeting.


©Associated Press

Anyone who reads me on a regular basis can certainly guess my opinion on the issue. What do you think? Is it okay to have openly gay boy scouts and leaders? The organization is based in Irving, Texas, probably the most right-winged and conservative State in America. I doubt the ban will be lifted, but it's good food for thought.

Comments

[seaman21.livejournal.com]

i don 't think it's normal for that boys to think for that question. they re too young to think of it.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I'm not a guy so I don't know what age they start thinking about sex. But certainly by the time they're in their teenage years. I think you can be a scout up until 18 years old. Today's generation, at least in America, is more accustomed to seeing openly gay people. But this is a conservative organization so it has historically been hesitant to embrace gays. In my mind, it's a sign of progress that they are even voting on the issue.

[mybathroom.livejournal.com]

There was Pioneer movement in the USSR.

I don't think it's alright but that is their choice.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Were you a member of the organization? I received your message and will respond later. :)

[moonrainbow.livejournal.com]

Absolutely not. This permission will make this organization a place where it is allowed to spread sexual relationships with and among young boys. And in a second step, if that turns to be the reputation of the organization, will kill it.

There are many more of people who do not want sexual context to be discussed, needless to say "practitioned" among their kids, than those who want it; but the latter are many times louder.

[togliatt.livejournal.com]

second post about gays today... first in russian version and you. what happened with this world???

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Yes, we disagree on this issue. But I'm happy to see you again. :) What is the Russian post? Can you throw me the link?

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I agree that sexual issues shouldn't be discussed in such an environment, but it's only an issue now because these kids are excluded. If the ban is lifted, there will be no need to even raise the issue of someone's sexuality. We are both brilliant and agree on many things. :) But not this issue.

[mat-uc.livejournal.com]

I suppose that it is terrible.

These boys seems to be a victims of media, TV, news and gay-propaganda.

They are so young to have their own opinion and sexual orientation.



From Russia with love (c)

[mybathroom.livejournal.com]

Yes, I was. And I was in the Young Pioneer camp twice. Some children liked them but I didn't. All was soaked with ideology. I believe that it was politic organization but not for kids.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Interesting, I'll read about this Soviet organization. Thanks for telling me about it.

[mybathroom.livejournal.com]

You're welcome :)

[http://users.livejournal.com/_nevidimka/]

Imho everything is ok as long as it a) it doesn't infringe on other people's freedom b) doesn't become a show. What I mean is I'm ok with gays and lesbians, straight couples, vegetarians, meat eaters, childfree, childlovers etc. as long as they live as they like and don't make a show of it, as long as it's their true self, not a pose.

What I mean is I'm equally tolerant to all of the above and equally dislike if they shout about it too loud.


Sadly, in Russia it's time of search for "interior enemy", as it always happened in history when things aren't going too good, and sexual orientation as long as nationality are becoming a theme for holy war.

On the other hand, I seriously don't understand how it all can work out in America and Europe, the tolerance thing. Ok, for example, one guy is... let's imagine, nudist. He wants to walk around the park nude in hot summer days. He doesn't force others to do it, he just wants to feel the warm sun with his skin, etc.
Other guy is a... Ok, let's imagine, a father concerned with what his small daughter might see. Or is a member of religion forbidding seing other people's nudity. Or smth else. He also loves to have a stroll around the park in the evenings. He has the same right to walk in the park. But if he comes there in the evenings, he'll feel discomfort; if the nudist doesn't come there, then the nudist'll be the deprived one.
And if we talk in terms of tolerance, both have a right to have their point of view, but together they can't use the park. If we say: "Ok, you walk there from 5pm to 6pm, and you - from 6 pm to 7pm" - still each one can feel offended and deprived of the right to walk there when he likes...

What I mean is, still to make them co-exist we need to have some rules - laws of government, of morality, whatever. We can't give full freedom, be totally tolerant to both parties. All we can is give them equally bobtailed rights.
And then both can shout "This is intolerance, your laws are offending my right to be who I am" - and then the law-maker immediately begins feeling ashamed of himself and tries to give the shouter more freedom, but then the other guy is offended... and no end to this.
So tolerane has some borders anyways, no matter how european or american society tries to pose this problem, what do you think?

[http://users.livejournal.com/_nevidimka/]

Oh, it was a huge movement all were OBLIGED to participate in. It was a step in becoming (if all went excellent) a Party member: at 8 you became Oktyabrenok, then Poineer, then, as a teen, a Komsomolets...

It was really shameful not to become one or to be excluded.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_nevidimka/]

...So I wouldn't call it the same as boyscouts. Yes, there were many good aspects of it, but only if it weren't obligatory...

[demonfrost.livejournal.com]

In USSR there were 3 levels of youth movements: early aged (7-9 y.o.) kids "Oktyabryata" ("October Little Kids", October is the month of Revolution-1917 at obsolete calendar), "Pioneers" (9-14 y.o.) and "Komsomoltsy" (acronym of the Communist Union of Youths) 14+ y.o.

In modern Russia, some tries were attempted to establish something like those above, omitting communist ideology, but they all failed. Young people are more attracted by various underground sub-cultures and refuse to follow any offical youth movements.

One of them however still exists. "Nashi" ("Ours") is the youth political movement of ruling party of state thieves "Edinaya Rossiya" (Russia United) but for me it is a complete joke rather than an useful thing. "Nashi" basically only praise Putin, "Edinaya Rossiya" and the authorities anywhere, being paid with the money of the state budget. Most of them are primitive and stupid persons, easy targets for manipulation and propaganda, and they would serve to any power that gives them money and sweet promises.

[demonfrost.livejournal.com]

As to your question about gay scouts , I think there should be a rule similar to one once used in your army: "Don't ask - don't tell". Scouts, as well as any popular youth (especially underage) movement, there isn't appropriate place for gay parades.

[yarowind.livejournal.com]

I hope the ban will not be lifted.

Before the revolution in Russia there was a scout organization. Many ideas have been written off from there pioneers and filled ideology.

[yarowind.livejournal.com]

Russian scout, 1915y


Modern scouts

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I knew your position on this matter. :) Thanks for the photos, and I'll keep you updated on the outcome of the vote.

[yarowind.livejournal.com]

ОК:)

[new-forester.livejournal.com]

50 years ago, it was illegal for a white and black persons to marry. Now, it is illegal for gays to marry. Well, 50 years into the future, people will be surprised this was even an issue.
I'm sure eventually the Supreme Court will do the right thing and allow gay marriage and prohibit any discrimination against gays. I doubt that Texas will succeed over this issue...
Now, if BOA chooses to live in the past, that's fine. However, it is the younger generation who is mostly tolerant towards gays, so BOA will have to reform or fold. This is just history of the Civil Rights movement repeating itself.

In Russia, OTOH, there never was a civil rights movement... So then, not only are people generally xenophobic but also homophobic. Same thing, if you ask me.

[moebiuscat.livejournal.com]

I don't know your opinion on this matter, but I can tell you mine at the risk if antagonizing you: absolutely not, they should not lift the ban. The reason is simple, the same reason boys and girls do not go to camp together or are not allowed to sleep in the same tents and dormitories. Parents and responsible adults do not want to leave kids unsupervised in a situation which can lead to unwanted things, like sexual harassment etc. If you put gays in the same room / tent with normal boys, you will get harassment, beatings and all kinds of scary things that nobody needs, including parents and camp management. Even if all kids will be tolerant (yeah, right) there can be teenage sex there, which is bad and unwanted. I guess it would be OK if gays will form their own units (or what are they called in scouts?), this would also take care of any parent worries about gays influencing their kids sexually in any way. But I just don't see that happening :-) Although I think it would be fair: if scouts are always separate for all sexes, then in fairness there should be boyscouts, girlscounts and gayscouts :-) That way there would not be any discrimination against gays, though why would parents whose kids are gays let them sleep unsupervised with other gay kids in the same room or tent?

Likewise, if they decide to lift the ban - they should just join all the scouts and camps, because once you put boys and gays together, why not boys and girls?

I have nothing against LGBT at all, but although their rights should be equal to everybody else, they should not trump other people rights either, or they should not be "more equal then others". Equal is equal. So I think "no girls - no gays", so to speak. Or just let everybody in. I have to say that as a parent I would be worried to send my daughter to the camp where everybody sleeps together...

[moebiuscat.livejournal.com]

Yeah, gay marriage is a done deal, many states have it now, and rightly so. There is no reason not to give gays equal rights on this issue as on anything else.

Scouts

[(Anonymous)]

As the Mom of a scout, I have very strong feelings about this. I believe a person's sexual "preference" is something he is born with and not a "choice" at all, i.e., whether someone is gay or straight is no more a choice than the color of one's skin. Consequently, I have real problems with banning anyone from scouts (or any other organization) as a scout or a leader based on sexual preference. Would anyone ban straight women as scout leaders based on their sexual preference? No, they would not. Gay men are no different.