Times Have Changed; So Should the BSA

Ever since 1910 when the Boy Scouts of America was founded, they have had a policy against allowing gay boys to join. They have fought to keep this policy by referring to their first amendment right, that “congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble” (Amendment 1). The BSA official policy reads, “While the BSA does not proactively inquire about the sexual orientation of employees, volunteers, or members, we do not grant membership to individuals who are open or avowed homosexuals or who engage in behavior that would become a distraction to the mission of the BSA”. They have also stated that their reason for not allowing gays into their private organization is that homosexuality is not conducive to its moral framework. Although they are a private organization, they receive non-economic support from the public and are recognized by congress as a federally charted organization. For Boy Scout events such as the annual Scout Jamboree, the Secretary of Defense is allowed to provide transportation, military equipment, and accommodations. The US Navy also allows service members who have earned the honor of Eagle Scout to enlist in a higher pay grade. These benefits and many others are denied to gays.

The BSA has received a lot of pressure from the public to change their policy. This is what probably led them to reconsider their ban on gay members and leaders into the organization. They planned to let each group decide for themselves whether or not they would accept gays. A week after news outlets reported these discussions, the Boy Scouts announced that they would postpone their final decision until they held their national meeting in May. As the United States has become more accepting of gay rights, the Boy Scouts have received more and more criticism for their controversial policy. Grass roots pressure from local scout chapters have been the most effective and influential on the BSA reconsideration of the policy.

Personally, I believe that the BSA no gay policy is outdated and institutionalizes homophobia. A large number of the American population is gay, and there is absolutely no problem with that. They have the right to express themselves and should be able to participate in and enjoy everything that a straight citizen can. This policy to me is no different from discrimination against race or religion. The BSA is not fostering a mutual respect for all, but instead a homophobic and unfair discrimination. Pat Robertson of the 700 Club demonstrates the opposing argument to this by saying that if gay boys were allowed into the organization it would result in “predators as Boy Scouts, pedophiles who will come in as Scoutmasters”. This is an unfair statement; you cannot assume that just because they are gay, they will molest other boys and act inappropriately.

An example of the BSA discrimination is the story of James Dale, who joined Cub Scouts when he was eight years old. James continued with Boy Scouts where he earned 33 merit badges and the Eagle Scout Award at age 17. He was elected into the Order of the Arrow, receiving the Vigil Honor and serving as chairman of his Lodge’s Vigil Honor Selection Committee. He was also asked by the council to speak as a youth representative at fund raising events. While attending Rutgers University and being co-president of the school’s lesbian and gay alliance, he served as an assistant scout master to troop 73. When a scout executive found out about this, he revoked his registration with the BSA and terminated his position. Even though James had done nothing wrong and had lived out the Boy Scout ideals his whole life, he was abruptly and unfairly stripped of all that he had earned. We have an evolving society that is becoming more understanding and accepting of Gays, and it is time that the BSA change along with it and become the accepting and nourishing community that they should be.

Author: GOV_KatieR

Gay Marriage State Laws on the Road to Change

State Laws are beginning to change in the state of Texas as legislators try to approve gay marriage state by state. With Texas being one of the states further right getting this to pass will not be an easy task.

The controversy of gay marriage has been going on for decades and has caused quite an uproar between the two political parties. The democrats are in favor of gay marriage while republicans have share the Christian values that marriage should be between a man and a woman. Gay marriage going against Christian values has been the leading factor to people being opposed to same sex marriage.

For the house and the senate to pass a law saying it is okay they would need more than two thirds of the vote being pro-same sex marriage. President Obama recently stated in his Inauguration speech: “Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law.” As The Daily Caller says, Obama is not the only politician in favor of gay marriage, many other highly ranked politicians have spoken out on the issue. People who spoke out against Obama stated that he was not doing enough for homosexuals and needs to become more involved in the process of getting gay marriage legal around the country.

Advocates have recently taken the streets in Texas trying to “repeal the ban” on gay marriage. Texas is mostly a republican state making gay marriage a huge issue here. Convincing Texans to be for gay marriage will not be a simple task. “Whether it takes the form of a domestic partnership registry or civil unions or something else, we are going to start working here in the Legislature to build capacity in this body so that we will have success, whether it’s this session or a future session,” said Rep. Rafael Anchia, D-Dallas (Dallas Morning News). Texas is so against gay marriage they do not want any legal status to be available to gay people and their relationships.

Legislators are now working in Texas to go against a part of the Texas Constitution that states that: “union of one man and one women” should be the only marriage status allowed. With all the controversy in Texas this process will not be an easy one. If two thirds support the constitutional amendment then it will be passed and same sex marriage will be allowed in the state of Texas.

When dealing with getting gay marriage approved all across the United States, legislators will have to take this problem state by state. One of the biggest issues with this is whether or not it can be categorized as constitutional or unconstitutional. Many Republicans will fight against the crowd and say it is no constitutional for the same sex to be married and that is violates many Christian values and beliefs. Democrats believe that this is constitutional and anyone that is in love should be able to get married and do as they wish.

Until these issues are solved and democrats and republicans can began working together, gay marriage will have to be taken state by state. Times are becoming more modern and people are becoming okay to the idea of same sex marriage. Younger people have recently shown that they are fine with same sex marriage, while older people tend to be against it. As we modernize and the generations change, so will some of the narrow-minded ideas obtained by many Americans.

Times Have Changed; So Should The BSA

Ever since 1910 when the Boy Scouts of America was founded, they have had a policy against allowing gay boys to join. They have fought to keep this policy by referring to their first amendment right, that “congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble” (Amendment 1). The BSA official policy reads, “While the BSA does not proactively inquire about the sexual orientation of employees, volunteers, or members, we do not grant membership to individuals who are open or avowed homosexuals or who engage in behavior that would become a distraction to the mission of the BSA”. They have also stated that their reason for not allowing gays into their private organization is that homosexuality is not conducive to its moral framework. Although they are a private organization, they receive non-economic support from the public and are recognized by congress as a federally charted organization. For Boy Scout events such as the annual Scout Jamboree, the Secretary of Defense is allowed to provide transportation, military equipment, and accommodations. The US Navy also allows service members who have earned the honor of Eagle Scout to enlist in a higher pay grade. These benefits and many others are denied to gays.

The BSA has received a lot of pressure from the public to change their policy. This is what probably led them to reconsider their ban on gay members and leaders into the organization. They planned to let each group decide for themselves whether or not they would accept gays. A week after news outlets reported these discussions, the Boy Scouts announced that they would postpone their final decision until they held their national meeting in May. As the United States has become more accepting of gay rights, the Boy Scouts have received more and more criticism for their controversial policy. Grass roots pressure from local scout chapters have been the most effective and influential on the BSA reconsideration of the policy.

Personally, I believe that the BSA no gay policy is outdated and institutionalizes homophobia. A large number of the American population is gay, and there is absolutely no problem with that. They have the right to express themselves and should be able to participate in and enjoy everything that a straight citizen can. This policy to me is no different from discrimination against race or religion. The BSA is not fostering a mutual respect for all, but instead a homophobic and unfair discrimination. Pat Robertson of the 700 Club demonstrates the opposing argument to this by saying that if gay boys were allowed into the organization it would result in “predators as Boy Scouts, pedophiles who will come in as Scoutmasters”. This is an unfair statement; you cannot assume that just because they are gay, they will molest other boys and act inappropriately.

An example of the BSA discrimination is the story of James Dale, who joined Cub Scouts when he was eight years old. James continued with Boy Scouts where he earned 33 merit badges and the Eagle Scout Award at age 17. He was elected into the Order of the Arrow, receiving the Vigil Honor and serving as chairman of his Lodge’s Vigil Honor Selection Committee. He was also asked by the council to speak as a youth representative at fund raising events. While attending Rutgers University and being co-president of the school’s lesbian and gay alliance, he served as an assistant scout master to troop 73. When a scout executive found out about this, he revoked his registration with the BSA and terminated his position. Even though James had done nothing wrong and had lived out the Boy Scout ideals his whole life, he was abruptly and unfairly stripped of all that he had earned. We have an evolving society that is becoming more understanding and accepting of Gays, and it is time that the BSA change along with it and become the accepting and nourishing community that they should be.

Author: GOV_KatieR

Gay Marriage, Gay Rights

This year in our government class we have connected current event stories back to what we learn in our everyday class; weather that be by topical debates or blogging about our personal thoughts on an issue. By talking about these issues it helps put more of an idea in my mind of what is going on in the world outside of Dallas. Stories that have caught my attention lately would be any stories having to do with gay rights. There are many discussions and life changing decisions being made lately on this topic.

To start off our Constitution never straight out says gay marriage is wrong but on the other hand it also never says gay marriage is right. Either side has a fair chance on sharing why they believe citizens should have the right to gay marriage or why citizens shouldn’t have the right. Depending on the people you grow up around have a big influence also how a person interprets exactly what the constitution says. The decision on gay marriage is handled by each state. Recently President Obama stated that he was for gay marriage saying “treat others the way you want to be treated”. Obama can only persuade other people to be for gay marriage he has no other legal power to make gay marriage legal. Another recent event concerning gay marriage would be North Carolinas stamp on banning gay marriage. Reports stated that many college students and young professionals came out to vote for gays having the same rights as marriages between one man and one woman. Those that opposed stated they aren’t anit-gay they are pro-marriage and that you just don’t rewrite the nature of God’s design for marriage based on the demands of a group of adults.

Some gay rights activists insist that homosexuality is a genetic medical condition that individuals have no control over. Gay marriage is only becoming more popular in today’s generation, I believe if a person is happy and wants the same rights as a marriage with a man and a woman, why shouldn’t they have the same rights? I really don’t see how it affects other people. Yes occasionally people might see them out or live near them and feel uncomfortable when they do see them but is that one minute of feeling uncomfortable worth taking away someone else’s happiness?

The Time Has Come

April 9th, 2012 was a day for history books.  That was the day when our American president finally chose that upholding the constitution should be raised against all personal biases people my hold.  At 3:30 PM, Obama stated in a press conference that he supports gay marriage, a statement that has the ability to change the course of society.  Obama told ABC News today that he backs gay marriage and believes that anyone who is willing to fight in the army should be allowed to marry who they love.

 

For a long time now, gay marriage has been condemned by many groups, making them a minority that is hated by people from rednecks to religious Christians.  This hatred, however, can slowly evolve to become a power in court ruling. In 1986, the Boy Scouts of America created a huge controversy over gay rights.  This battle has continued and as of last year, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of allowing the Boy Scouts to continue discrimination against gay men. 

The woman above was recently asked to leave as a Boy Scout troop leader due to her being gay.  This controversy is absurd and unconstitutional.  During a previous ruling by the Supreme Court during the Loving v. Virginia case, it was stated by the court:

“Marriage is one of the “basic civil rights of man,” fundamental to our very existence and survival…. To deny this fundamental freedom on so unsupportable a basis as the racial classifications embodied in these statutes, classifications so directly subversive of the principle of equality at the heart of the Fourteenth Amendment, is surely to deprive all the State’s citizens of liberty without due process of law. The Fourteenth Amendment requires that the freedom of choice to marry not be restricted by invidious racial discrimination. Under our Constitution, the freedom to marry, or not marry, a person of another race resides with the individual and cannot be infringed by the State.”

While this may have been specific to racism in this case, the truth is that the fourteenth amendment protects all men as equal, no matter their gender, race, religion, age, or sexual orientation.  Obama’s new ruling will undoubtedly become a major factor in future court cases involving the rights of gay men and women.  This is why Obama’s words will make a difference.