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The Controversial Policy of Boy Scouts of America

Groucho Marx once said that “Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong remedies.” In 1993, the “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy banned and dismissed individuals engaging in homosexual acts as well as avowed homosexuals from joining or serving the military. The policy was enacted to protect the “moral” and “essence of the military” [Wiki]. After 18 years, the controversial military law was finally overturned. Another similar case, the Boy Scouts of America, a long-standing organization, is also known to be notorious when it comes to issues of homosexuality. Recently, the ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy of the Boy Scouts of America was passed by the US Supreme Court in line with their First Amendment right to choose who gets to be a member of their organization and who doesn’t. In this case, BSA will deny membership to openly gay scouts to stay true to the organization’s mission [Crary]. As a consequence of the decision, protests against the ban sparked in different parts of the country. Boy Scouts of America’s gay policy is discrimination and an ethical violation of its own core values; therefore, the ban must be lifted.

Nevertheless, some opposing views argued that the reason for the Boy Scout’s ban is to maintain the Scout’s values untarnished. Apparently, Gay scouts do not fit the BSA’s criteria as effective leaders to younger scouts. As quoted in Rimer’s, “Boy Scouts Under Fire; Ban on Gays Is at Issue”, Ron Coleman, Atlanta Area Council representative argues that homosexuality does not adhere to the Scout’s principles “To be morally straight, trustworthy, loyal, and clean” [2003]. In other words, homosexuals do not provide a good example to the youth. For instance, single mothers of scouts may yearn for a strong male figure in their son’s lives, and they would not turn to gay scouts for guidance [2003]. For this reason, opponents argue that the ban is crucial for the organization’s core mission which is to produce “morally and ethically correct” scout leaders. Therefore, people who oppose the ban believe that preserving the values of Boy Scouts of America will lead to strong and responsible male figures to younger scouts.

It may be true that in order to become a member of Boy Scouts of America, one must be masculine with strong qualities (as some parents claimed) to instill morals and values in others. However, the ban has also violated the anti-discrimination policy in which homosexuals, lesbians, bisexuals, transgender have the same equal rights as heterosexuals (exception: not all states allow gay marriage). As quoted in Crary’s, “Despite Protests, Boy Scouts reaffirm ban on gays”, Chad Griffin, the leader of Human Rights Campaign points out that “With