Boy Scouts homophobic policy needs update

I earned the rank of Eagle Scout from The Boy Scouts of America almost one month before my 18th birthday. I remember the day like it was yesterday, the pride in my parents’ faces and this overwhelming sense of accomplishment.

That was my first real accomplishment, but with the recent denial of Ryan Andresen’s Eagle Scout award because of his sexual orientation, quite a bit of pride has been taken out of the work I did to earn that rank.

I painted equipment and put a flower bed in the park, and made it nicer and safer for children to play on. Since I was “in the closet” at that age I was accepted as a member of this exclusive club, and now that I am a member and I know more about myself, I have to decline.

I sent my award back to the national Boy Scouts of America office and asked them that if they ever repeal their homophobic rules to send it back.

However, I will not look for it in the mail any time soon.

I have been active in the BSA since I was in kindergarten — from Tiger to Eagle is what I always said— and the BSA had nothing to do with how my sexuality turned out.

I knew from a very young age that I preferred men, but in today’s society it is not widely accepted.

I worked for my Eagle Scout just like everyone before me.

So did Andresen, but seeing as he and I do not fit their definition of “morally straight,” we are not good enough.

Morally straight always meant to me that you have your morals set out and you use those morals to do a duty to yourself, not being heterosexual.

Through my experience in the Boy Scouts I learned how to survive in the wilderness, got CPR certified multiple times, overcame fears like swimming—finding out I’m not too terrible at it as well— met numerous life-long friends, shared experiences that I might not have had otherwise and saw not only a lot of this country, but had the opportunity to visit Canada, as well.

These experiences shaped me into who I am today and gave me the drive to go after whatever I want. They taught me that I am not always going to succeed but when I fail I just have to get back up and try again.

The BSA potentially kept me from walking down a life of being a father at a young age and getting into drugs.

However, had I been the person back then that I am now things would not have worked out so well. The BSA has a notorious reputation for getting rid of LGBT leaders and youth.

My advice to the BSA is to reconsider any and all homophobic rules and laws within the organization because members of the LGBT community need the same lessons that I was taught, as well as the opportunity to earn awards and experience new things.

This is 2013 and we are living in an ever-changing world, marriage equality is becoming more and more accepted.

I wish I had been strong enough to be open about my sexuality at 18. That shows a lot of bravery — one point of the Scout Law — to do what Andresen has done.Thank you for having the courage to be open about it.

The 2000 U.S. Supreme Court case Boy Scouts of America et al v. Dale said that the BSA is allowed to deny membership to anyone if “the presence of that person affects in a significant way that group’s ability to advocate public or private viewpoints.”

The Supreme Court ruled that the BSA is allowed to oppose homosexuality because it is a part of their “expressive message.”

I had high hopes that of all organizations out there, the BSA would surely reconsider the ruling 13 years later when the issue was on the table again, but it was upheld and they continue to exclude a group of young adults.

As Fall Out Boy says, “And I want these words to make things right, but it’s the wrongs that make words come life … One night and one more time, thanks for the memories even though they weren’t so great.”

I apologize for being too fabulous for this award, I relinquish my duties as an Eagle Scout, because I do not stand for discrimination and that is exactly what this is.

By BRYAN JONES

Senior Editor 

jonesbry@umail.iu.edu