That Scout's So Gay

   Fifteen years ago, when I was still a scout, my troop's Scoutmaster was a Quear. So were his sons. I don't mean they were gay, but that they had been born with an unfortunate last name. Still, they may have just lucked out that the BSA national office didn't catch on to the fact that there were a couple of Quears in the Cicero, IN troop. Fire would have rained down, and rightfully so! The last thing America needs is a bunch of LGBTs teaching and leading the youth of America in ideals like loyalty, kindness, reverence or bravery. What do they know of those things? Does it take loyalty to stand by your partner for 30+ years even though society won't let you legally marry one another? How much kindness does it really take to be a nurse, administering aid to the weak and sickly? Reverence? Ha! Just because it was in his job title for most of his life doesn't mean the Reverend Moman knew anything about the subject. But bravery.... Ok, I'll give them that. It's brave to be who you are even when your society tells you it's wrong. It's brave to defy your religious and political leaders, friends or family and tell them all, "This is who I am and it won't change just because you might want it to." It's brave to face the ridicule, the constant derision and bigotry, the hypocrisy and outright hatred. So maybe they could help our scouts with that. Maybe it's time that the Boy Scouts of America recognized that Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people ARE a part of the cultural make-up of this country and the world, and that since morals are defined by not only religions but also culture, claiming immorality as a reason for exclusion is weak at best. Unless of course they simply misunderstood the section of the Oath that has a boy promise to keep himself "physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight." Whoops.
   Last week, George "Mr. Sulu" Takei wrote on his blog about Jennifer Tyrell, a Buckeye scout leader, mother, and lesbian, who was asked by the BSA national office to cease in her participation in scouting. So, a woman, a mother, who is trying to support her son and his journey toward a balanced manhood has instead been told that due to her biological and psychological structuring she can't take part. The TYPE of person she loves is keeping her from nurturing another person she loves. Would this have happened if Jennifer loved someone of a different ethnic background? What if she was married to someone with autism or another mental/emotional handicap? What if she lived with a hetero lover who she was not married to? Would the BSA call her immoral and demand that she withdraw her support from the organization? If it did, would we stand with quiet voices?
   I know that some people are in favor of boycotting the BSA until they lift the restrictions on LGBTs, and maybe that'll work. In the meantime though, it's not the national office that will suffer. Instead, it will be the boys like Jennifer Tyrell's son, my nephew, and the thousands of other boys that are discovering who they are through Scouts. These boys rely on things like willing adult leadership and fundraising to make the experience worthwhile. And since your local packs and troops don't necessarily feel the same way about socio-political subjects as the national office might, why withdraw that aid from the boys? Instead, write a letter, or a blog, or sign the petition I've linked to below. Make others aware of the injustice that this otherwise wonderful organization is taking part in. Voice your concern over the prejudice and bigotry that the Boy Scouts of America are perpetuating. This Eagle Scout has.

Sign the petition! 

First

   This blog's going to get me in trouble, I can already tell. At some point, what little filter I have will realize that there simply aren't enough of you reading this, and it'll take the rest of the entry off, leaving me with my foot in my mouth. Or my head up my ass. Doubtless some extremity will find its way into an orifice of one kind or another. All I can do is ask, oh so humbly, that you, Friend, Family or Foe, forgive me fast and forthwith for the funny or false framings of my foul and fecund fingertips and their friviously unfettered ... um, phrases? Fuck!
   Anyway, most of you I assume will be my close friends and/or family and knowing me, won't mind too terribly much. Because as Dr. Seuss wrote, "One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish." Which, as I've always taken it to mean: write what you want, rhyme when you can, and make shit up the rest of the time. Hmm. Probably should've rhymed that.    That said, here's the plan: My Facebook musings (or ramblings as some see them) have simply grown too long for Posts, but oftentimes too short for me to say everything I want. Plus, they clutter up everybody's feeds. So, on occasion I'll use this blog to go on and on about the random, trivial, and mundane thoughts that enter my brain as I drive around all day. Hopefully you find it entertaining and at the least thought-provoking. I look forward to any comments you may have.