Cub scouts was always different. They almost always had “Den Mothers.” By scouts was the male dominated culture through the mid eighties.
Yes, the whole program was about turning boys into men, so it was logical to start the “Cubs” with their mothers. As Cubs transitioned to Boy Scouts (via Webelos) it was clear that as you were becoming a man physically you would also begin to learn and do manly things, and adult men would be your leaders and role models. My perception and experience was always positive (albeit with a lot of hell-raising) but just having typed this I can see how it must have been like a beacon for homos who saw it as a way to “scout for boys”.