IRVING, Texas — The Boy Scouts of America, who are considering revising their ban on gay scouts, have sent a questionnaire to Scout families, asking them how they’d feel about having openly scouts or gays and lesbians serving as Scout leaders.
According to the Dallas Voice, the Scouts emailed the survey to members and their parents on Sunday, in an effort to gain input on group’s current anti-gay policy.
“The Boy Scouts of America is in the process of a careful and deliberate review of our membership policy, as it relates to the national membership restriction regarding sexual orientation,” the BSA wrote in an email announcing the survey.
“We are dedicated to the integrity of this process. In an effort to listen to our members’ perspectives and concerns, we ask you to answer some questions about this topic and about your overall Scouting experiences.”
The Dallas Voice obtained copies of the brief survey, which includes these questions:
Bob is 15 years old, and the only openly gay Scout in a Boy Scout troop. Is it acceptable or unacceptable for the troop leader to allow Bob to tent with a heterosexual boy on an overnight camping trip?
Johnny, a first grade boy, has joined Tiger Cubs with his friends. Johnny’s friends and their parents unanimously nominate Johnny’s mom who is known by them to be lesbian, to be the den leader. Johnny’s pack is chartered to a church where the doctrine of that faith does not teach that homosexuality is wrong. Is it acceptable or unacceptable for his mother to serve as a den leader for his Cub Scout den?
The questions come in advance of a May national meeting at which Scout leaders are expected to vote on whether to end the long-standing ban.
”We are currently in the ‘Listening Phase,’ where the BSA’s committees engage key stakeholders for input and develop a summary report,” said Scouts spokesman Deron Smith.
The Scouts will use the survey results to inform a report that the organization is creating on the issue, including on the potential financial and legal issues around ending the ban, he said.
The survey was distributed to approximately 1.1 million registered volunteers and parents of Scouts. In the next few days, the Scouts will send surveys to Scouting alumni, said Smith.
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they dont need surveys unless they are to afraid to make a decision on their own
they are asking such ridiculous questions that incite fear and doubt in parents . i say as a proud gay man I would never or never did want to join the damm boyscouts and i dont see why we want to join such a hateful ridiculous organization.
then the Boys have no balls. How nice.
“Bob is 15 years old, and the only openly gay Scout in a Boy Scout troop. Is it acceptable or unacceptable for the troop leader to allow Bob to tent with a heterosexual boy on an overnight camping trip?”
What a bunch of crap! The heterosexual boy has nothing to worry about, he isn’t Gay!
Thought the Boy Scouts were always prepared…why do they need to ask anything?
And still they balk. For Shame!
This organization like many others was originally formed including a strong Christian core.. which is one reason for the ban on gay scouts,leaders… I don’t agree with barring anyone …
I am extremely relieved BSA is seeking input from its membership. But, the nature of the question asking if it is acceptable to allow an openly homosexual boy to tent overnight with a heterosexual boy is in poor form. The way it is asked suggests the gay boy is deviant and going to force the straight boy into sexual activities he doesn’t want. That is not how LGBT behave. Sexual predators regardless their orientation behave this way, don’t think the survey is objective enough to be valid.
I left the BSA in the 80s as a Cub Scout because the straight troop leader was rude, crude, hateful and dishonest. When confronted on his stealing from me, he cussed my dad out and used the F work in front of me. That is not appropriate Christian behavior.
I don’t think the BSA really needs to fear LGBT members as much as it does its ability to be ethical… That is have a leadership that demonstrates the morals of the BSA.
They are afraid if they let gays in, they would have someone to molest
About time
Might as well be: “Bob is 15 years old, and is a colored Scout in a Boy Scout troop. Is it acceptable or unacceptable for the troop leader to allow Bob to tent with a white boy on an overnight camping trip?”
Speaking as a straight man, I’ve noticed that very few gay men hit on straight men, because they know what the answer will be, even if they DO find that straight man attractive.
Oh, and BTW, for anyone who thinks that gays can’t control themselves, you are the same as people who claim that rapists couldn’t stop themselves, which is complete and utter bullshit!!!