Boy Scouts Still Full Of Hate For LGBT Community

Upon close inspection the new policy does not require troops that are excluding LGBT leaders to change their policy.  By creating an exception for troops sponsored by Catholic and Mormon churches the policy re affirms the right of troops to discriminate.  With more than 60% of BSA troops based at these churches the new policy allows the continued wholesale discrimination that has long been a center of BSA policy.

Essentially all the new policy does is say, those who wish to continue to discriminate have license to do so.  The only change is that troops not sponsored by these religious organizations no longer face sanctions if they have a gay leader in their organization.

Progress is not made by reaffirming the right of organizations to engage in homophobia. Progress is not made by continuing to disallow LGBT scout leaders to assume their rightful place in more than 60% of scout troops.  Progress is not made by engaging in a PR effort about BSA’s inclusive policy while sweeping under the rug the continuation of hateful policies by the majority of scouting organizations.

Those posting their support for this new policy are well meaning people who want to see progress. They simply don’t see how this effort is a sham designed to lesson the political pressure on the BSA while effectively making no changes in the core policy of the organization.

Simply stated scout troops are free to continue things as they always have been.  My sisters and brothers in the LGBT community deserve better.  It is my belief that liberal social justice organizations should reject this false “change” and continue to press for full inclusion as BSA policy.