Obama: Scouts should be open to gays and lesbians
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama says the Boy Scouts of America should open its membership to gays and lesbians when its national executive board discusses the issue this week.
Obama praised the scouts as "a great institution" that promotes young people, giving them lifelong leadership training and opportunities. During a pre-Super Bowl interview on CBS, he said "no one should be barred from that."
The Boy Scouts announced last week it was considering replacing its longstanding ban on gays with a policy to let troop sponsors make their own decision on the issue.
The White House said last summer during the presidential campaign that Obama he opposed the Scouts' policy of excluding gays as members.
Gay rights activists praised last week's announcement, while some conservative church groups expressed alarm.
Obama praised the scouts as "a great institution" that promotes young people, giving them lifelong leadership training and opportunities. During a pre-Super Bowl interview on CBS, he said "no one should be barred from that."
The Boy Scouts announced last week it was considering replacing its longstanding ban on gays with a policy to let troop sponsors make their own decision on the issue.
The White House said last summer during the presidential campaign that Obama he opposed the Scouts' policy of excluding gays as members.
Gay rights activists praised last week's announcement, while some conservative church groups expressed alarm.
...... A child does not have "Sexuality". I don't believe in discrimination, MY God tells me ALL mankind was created Equal, but a child does not yet know who he/she is. If my own son turned out gay later in life, I may have a hard time swallowing that pill but as an adult, I would have to respect his choice. But I'll NOT let someone gay lead him meanwhile, as children are very impressionable and would likely affect my child's development negatively. I'm not about to raise my kids with the same morals as someone that parades butt naked down town to flaunt gayness in everyone's face every year. It's one thing to understand that someone likes the same sex, it's another entirely to shove in someone's face that sexuality.Â
I have more problem with the pedophiles in the Boy Scouts than with the slight possibility that a gay person might influence my child's thinking.
If my son was old enough to belong to a troop I would have a problem with a homosexual troop leader. I would have a problem with the homesexual pushing/exhibiting their morals on/to my son verses the morals that myself, church and my faith taught him. I am a Christian and I don't believe that homosexuality is either healthy or what God had in mind when He created us. I have to agree with (acepaul) When I decide to choose a group for my son to participate in, as any parent would, I will choose a group that has similar beliefs and morals as my own.
The BSA are federally chartered under Title 36 of the United States code, there are few Corporations thus chartered. They are totally funded by donations. As a Title 36 charter the get some tax deductions others do not get. There is no Government money supporting them, with the exception of the Sea Scouts, who are sometimes allowed to tie up at certain docks on navy bases, but so do high school NROTC which is supported by the government.
You need to read more of the posts. A number of examples are given where the Scouts have received benefits (not money) that other groups are not entitled to.
Our Armed Forces need to stop giving preferential treatment to members of this bigoted PRIVATE organization.
I am a Christian and don't believe that practicing homosexuality is either healthy or what God had in mind when He created us. Some people agree with me and others find my beliefs foreign and illogical. I respect both groups and strongly support the concept of freedom to believe what you will. I have no animosity towards those who call themselves homosexuals. I have had gay relatives and have worked for several individuals in the gay and lesbian community.
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When I decide to choose a group for my son to participate in, as any parent would, I will choose a group that has similar beliefs and morals as my own. I heartily endorse the right of others to do the same. Since the BSA is in line with what I believe, my son is a Boy Scout. I also volunteer my time to the organization.
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I do not spend my time trying to convince homosexual advocacy groups to change their beliefs to correspond with mine and I would expect the same treatment from them. But for some reason, the advocacy groups feel the need for EVERY person and group to accept them and their lifestyle. They are not satisfied with claiming their own corner of the social spectrum, they must force others to agree and support them. Even though I don't agree with it, I can understand them pursuing their agenda in the public forum, but it is time to leave the private organizations alone. Time for them to stop playing the bigot card every time a group or person disagrees with them.
If the Boy Scouts existed on private money, I would agree with you. But they get a lot of benefits from the government, and therefore are obligated to be open to all individuals. If they stopped receiving those benefits, then they're free to do whatever they want.
 @factchekr No. They. Don't. Why did you call yourself "factchekr"? They are a private organization, privately funded.
 @factchekr The pertinent word was "if". Like I said, I have never seen this treatment, and even an Air Force veteran chimed in saying he never saw it happen. I suppose the BSA may have received a donation of military surplus in the past. Can't blame the BSA for that. It is not their responsibility to turn down donations. I can imagine that the military and federal government has given donations and aid to several groups over the years. Your stance of blaming the BSA for this is just not credible.
Acepaul, you state "it is not the BSA's fault if the military wants to throw a few donations their way." You flopped with that statement. You must finally be admitting to yourself that they DO receive favoritism. As a "non-profit" they should turn down those offers or lose their charter. That's the law.
 @LocalLady  @acepaul: I looked for your money post but could not find it. As a former Air Force person I have never seen scouts on a Air Force plane.
 @LocalLady Must be nice being in one of the special troops that benefits from this. My troop has not, and no troop I have ever seen has either. Nor do we need it. It is not the BSA's fault if the military wants to throw a few donations their way. And if you want to pass a law preventing "special treatment" for the BSA, go for it! I would not oppose it. But quit cramming your views down our throat.
If you were simply Joe Public, would YOU have the opportunity to go on flights in Air Force planes? BSA does, the public does not.Â
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If you were Joe Public, would YOU be allowed to host a week long camp out in the remote areas of Fort Lewis? BSA is allowed, the public is not.
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If you were Joe Public, would YOU be allowed to go for cruises on Navy ships? BSA is allowed, the public is not.
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If you were Joe Public, would YOU be alloewd to tie up at Bangor & come ashore unescorted & use the facilities? BSA is allowed, the public is not.
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Perhaps rather than continuing to deny the facts, you might want to click on the link I provided that will enu,merate the MANY benefits bestowed on BSA by the military that are not available to the general public. You claim it is "historical" information" - if that were the case, why do the manuals for the armed services have sections pertaining to BSA written in them? It is ongoing, and has been for decades.
 @acepaul:Â
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YES. THEY. DO.
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See my postss above. They have received MILLIONS in in kind donations & surplus supplies.
 @factchekr I have yet to see the "all sorts of benefits from the government" you keep referring to that do not apply to to other groups. And I am not talking about historical unsolicited donations of military surplus and whatnot.
They CALL themselves a private organization, but they gladly receive all sorts of benefits from the government. You can call yourself a warthog, but that doesn't make you one!
 @acepaul "Since the BSA is in line with what I believe, my son is a Boy Scout."
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Are the Boy Scouts' "perversion files" in line with what you believe? Do you really think your son is safe in that organization?
 @Sutekh The "perversion files" covered the time from the mid 60's to the mid 80's and the events that happened certainly did not reflect the values and ethics the BSA stands for. A few bad apples almost ruined a great organization. Thankfully, the current BSA youth protection policies are outstanding and, when followed, will provide a safe and healthy experience for boys. I doubt you can point to a current policy or belief in the BSA that puts my son in danger, but you can try if you want.
 @theToucan The BSA has every right to have a moral objection to the PRACTICE OF HOMOSEXUALITY. This is the distinction that so many people do not get. I really do not care if you believe that homosexuality comes from genetics, is a learned behavior or both. It is the practice of living the lifestyle where the objection is. As a man, I was genetically programmed to mate with as many females as possible. Those are my natural urges that, because of social conditioning and the learning of morals and ethics, I have managed to suppress. Some men do not learn this or do not have the self control to curb their urges, and such behavior is typically considered immoral.
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This is very different from racism or sexism. Being born a certain nationality that affects physical features or being a woman does not involve a choice of behavior. There are not, nor can there be moral objections to these features.
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A true Christian does not hate people with homosexual tendencies, nor do they "denigrate" them. The urges or tendencies towards homosexuality in and of themselves are not even considered immoral. True Christians certainly would not keep such a person from attending church with them as we all have challenges. But they do not approve of the act of living the lifestyle. There is always a choice of how to live. You make think that is harsh and that everybody should be free to love whoever they want however they want, and you are free to believe that. But Christians and the BSA are also free to believe that the practice of homosexuality is immoral and exclude people who PRACTICE the lifestyle from leading a group of impressionable young men. In our troop, we would not let a person living in an adulterous situation be a leader either.
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 @acepaul Sure, and what one group calls beliefs another calls oppression. Thankfully, over the long haul this country does eventually learn how to make things right for ALL, which is why doing harm against someone for their gender/race/religion/SEXUAL ORIENTATION is considered a hate crime. Rights trump religion in this country. If your religion...
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...promotes slavery, it's still wrong and will be fought.
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...promotes subjugation of women, wrong and will be fought.
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...promotes denigration and avoidance of those who are sexually different (but legally within the law), wrong and will be fought (as is happening now)
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...promotes racism, wrong and will be fought (can't believe this is still an issue in this country)
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Private organizations have even less standing in treating people 'unequally' than does a church/religion so I'm pretty confident the BSoA will end up 'orientation neutral'.
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While I don't like "in your face, accept me" statements and actions of those who are standing for a cause, neither do I like it from religions either. Keep you and yours to your house (or house of worship) which the BSoA is not.
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 @theToucan What one person describes as "advancing with the times", another may call the degradation of society. That is the beauty of a country where people and private groups are entitled to their own beliefs.
 @acepaul  @Sutekh The files now being requested up to 2011 now. Looks like the BSA has just as many 'dirty little secrets' as does the Catholic Church. Birds of a feather...
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I like the BSA, was in scouting for 6 years (zero religious affiliation here). Lots of good there, but they really need to advance with the times as has the rest of the country.
The Boy Scouts of America is a private organization open to boys ages 11 thru 17. Â It is not open to homosexual boys or homosexual adult leaders. Â The Boy Scout oath reads as follows.
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On my honor I will do my best To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; To help other people at all times; To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.
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You know this going into the scouting program and if you don't like it then pick another program to associate with. Â It is not that complicated.
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There are other options out there such as Girl Scouts and Campfire.
 @Utsalady There is nothing in the quoted statement that precludes gays from participating (except some made-up misunderstanding of what 'duty to God' and 'morals' means):
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"On my honor I will do my best To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; To help other people at all times; To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight."
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Good, solid morals existed for centuries before religion ever came about. Those co-opted by religion had been 'tried-and-true' for many people before them, and will be for many after them. It is simply a 'policy' for the BSoA to not allow 'gays' and one that will fall before long.
 @theToucan  @Utsalady 1Timothy 1:10
 @theToucan Make no mistake, I know exactly what morally straight means.  I will not be influenced by or manipulated by anyone into believing that allowing homosexuals into Boy Scouting is acceptable.  That policy is one of many that protects the scouts.  It does not need to be compromised for money.
Then the Scouts need to stop taking government money and benefits. They will be free to operate any way they want after that.
I am always amazed at the hate speech KOMO allows.
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There is a difference between an educated debate and just being a bigoted loser with nothing better to do than crap on other people.
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 @Melissa Angevine "...being a bigoted loser with nothing better to do than crap on other people."
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Hypocrisy in action?
fix the economy, lower the price of gas, leave the BSA alone.
 @Steve Johnson Have them release their tax exemption, fund themselves and they can do what they want.
 @Melissa Angevine The BSA do fund themselves. And if "doing what you want" requires giving up tax exempt status, no church or advocacy group would be allowed to be tax exempt. Do people think before they post?? Are you an advocate for a government imposed belief system enforced through tax breaks? Please follow the logical conclusion of your ideas.
 @acepaul:Â
And if you believe that, I have a piece of waterfron property to sell you ...
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I can speak from experience that BSA is alloewd FREE ACCESS to government installations for scouting activities. They do not have to pay any sort of fee for this. When I was in Sea Explorers, we went to Bangor EVERY YEAR for our Regattas, We also had them at Sand Point when it was still a Naval Base. My Dad's BS troop went to Jambnprees held on Fort Lewis - also at no charge to the BSA.
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I doubt ANY other orgination of any kind would be alloewd to do the same. But hey, if you can prove otherwise, let's hear it.
Not true! If you scroll down through the responses, LocalLady has done an excellenct job of pulling out lots of facts showing special privileges to the Boy Scouts that other groups don't get.
 @factchekr They don't get any benefits that other non-profits don't have available.
The Boy Scouts fund themselves as far as cash goes, but they receive all sorts of benefits from the government that are not in the form of cash. For example, the free use of government lands to hold events.
I just wrote a very angry letter to the Boy Scouts. They better stick to their guns.
@Steve Johnson:Â
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And I wrote one too, telling them that as a former Scout, I demand that they come into the 21st century and be open to ALL young people who want to join, so that ALL young people can be afforded the learning, the skills and the opportunities that I was afforded.Â
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I also called my older brother, an Eagle Scout, and he is writing a letter as well to support openess & inclusivity in the BSA. He is also going to get in touch with the group that have surrendered their Eagle rank in protest of the continued exclusion of LGBTQ people by BSA.
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So, my 2 letters will cancel out your one. and put "my side" one ahead.
Why don't the gays start their own scouting program? that is my question why force them selves on others?
 @Exiled_Patriot It's just like when the gays went nuts over that Christian dating website because it didn't have any options on there for "men seeking men" or "women seeking women". Rather than just creating their own dating website for gays (and those kind of sites already existed anyway), they made a big fuss over it and got the government and media involved in an attempt to pressure the site owners into changing it to include homosexual relationships. Gays always preach "live and let live", yet they are never willing to actually practice it.
@Silver_Shot @Exiled_Patriot That would be the bullying liberal left, actually, not just the GLBT culture.
So not only does the Obamination want gays in the Boy Scouts, but gay women in the Boy Scouts, too? So I suppose he'd like dirty old men in the girl scouts as well now? Next maybe he'd like to teach young Scouts of all genders how to parade down their town's streets arm-in-arm in the nude as well? He calls himself a Christian? What a terrible joke!
If he had a son would he let him be a boy scout. (with out a armed guard )
if so, then the what is it called ? gender of choice need not be throw about, preached or beckoned . we really arent ready for this, big sigh ,, then bring the bible ,MODERNIZED in to our schools, TEACH manners at school give parents a break ! and children a fair choice . fair is fair
Lesbians in the boy scouts? Mr. Obama; Didn't you get the memo? There is a girl scouts of America now. Maybe you meant that group should have lesbians? And there really is only 50 states and not 51 states as well. UGH.Â
@snow surfer:Â
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No, obviously YOU "didnt get the memo".
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There was a Mom back east who had a second grade son who wanted to join Cub Scouts. They needed a Den Mother so she volunteered. But, she was turned down and her son not allowed to join because she is a lesbian. So, what does his Mom's sexual orientation have to do with him? Why deny him the right to join? And what about a lesbian leading a group of second graders is so threatening?
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People need to grow up.
Seeing as how being gay is so openly accepted, marriage is allowed, and their parades are allowed to screw up traffic for HOURS just so they can show the world how "special" they are, I have an idea. Rather than try to force their agenda on the world, I say they "grow a pair (and the lesbians can buy a rubber pair)" and start their OWN clubs. I am the son of a transgender male that thinks all of this screaming for "special treatment" is ridiculous. If gay boys want a "club", start the "Gay Scouts of America." Same with lesbians. They can start "Boy Scouts of America Part two. Whatever you want to call it, I don't care. WHY try to force yourself on a group of individuals that don't WANT you there, rather than just start your OWN club, and go out of your way to be BETTER than the ones that shunned you? OR......are you just flaunting it for publicity? Grow the hell up.
 @Harley-H.S.C. A perfect example of an uneducated, offensive, juvenile and bigoted comment.Â
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Disagreement is one thing, name calling and be a total child is another. "I say they "grow a pair (and the lesbians can buy a rubber pair)".  What a mature response to something that makes you uncomfortable. That is something my 15 year old nephew would say.
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When you can be an adult, feel free to rejoin the conversation.
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BTW, nobody has asked for special treatment, but, the BSA asks for tax exemption.......hmmmm.
 @Melissa Angevine "...but, the BSA asks for tax exemption.......hmmmm." And don't you think any other not for profit group has tax exempt status? Tax exempt is not special treatment. You will find many "LGBTQ" advocacy groups on the list.
 @harley-h.s.c.:Â
".... Â If gay boys want a "club", start the "Gay Scouts of America." Same with lesbians. ..."
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Actually, per their Congressional Charter, they "own" the name "scouts". There used to bne other groups with "scouts" or "scouting" in their names, but BSA went after them & forced them to stop using legal action & the power of their monopoly that ws given to them by the charter.
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And why should there be a "seperate" anything? How is that fair to the kids? All their friends from school belong to one group, but because they have parents who are the same gender they are excluded? How do you explain the "fairness" of that to a second grader? You can't, because it is NOT fair. There was a SCOTUS ruling you might want to be aware of - Brown v. Board of Education, which states "seperate but equal is NOT equal". It applies to what you are proposing.
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BSA receives MILLIONS in "donations" of goods from the US military, as well as access to bases, use of planes, ships & pther equipoment - all things that other public groups have NO chance of receiving. By accepting these donations of goods & services, they are basicalkly taking taxpayer money. As such, they should be considered a "public accmmodation", and therefore be subject to ALL anti-discrimination laws.
@LocalLady @harley-h.s.c.: "How is that fair to the kids?" Life isn't fair. There are winners and there are losers. The sooner we start teaching that to kids and pull out the rediculous "everybody wins" crap, the better off we will be as a nation.
 @thebronze:Â
Yes, there ARE winners & losers. But, when an organization is GRANTED a monopoly on a name (scouts) then uses that charter & monopoly charter to crush anyone who would organize a parallel organization, then they have to be responsible for the fact that they have created the situation they are in. There have been MANY groups over the years that hvae wanted to create similar organizations, but BSA refused to allow it.
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So, what THAT teaches is not "winners/losers"Â but that if you can wrangle a monopoly, you can use it to vanquish anyone who may want to be similar or parallel to you.
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ALL kids deserve the chance to be scouts.
@Harley-H.S.C. but you force your "straight" agenda and it's ok?
 @Common Sense What gay club  is he trying to join?