Posted on 05/28/2014 10:30:17 AM PDT by Morgana
IRVING, TX, May 27, 2014 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who led the military to end Don't Ask, Don't Tell, says that he would have allowed homosexual leaders for Boy Scouts of America.
Gates, who was elected to head the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) for a two-year term last week, said that he "would have supported having gay Scoutmasters, but at the same time, I fully accept the decision that was democratically arrived at by 1,500 volunteers from across the entire country."
A year ago, BSA allowed openly homosexual scouts for the first time. The policy reads that "No youth may be denied membership in the Boy Scouts of America on the basis of sexual orientation or preference alone.” The policy took effect on January 1, 2014.
Gates, who said he "was prepared to go further than the decision that was made," declared in a public statement last week that he did not intend to reignite the very public, months-long controversy. According to Gates, "to try to take last year's decision to the next step would irreparably fracture and perhaps even provoke a formal, permanent split in this movement - with the high likelihood neither side would subsequently survive on its own."
However, a "formal" split has already taken place. Due to last year's vote, the organization Trail Life USA was created. The new group says it aims "to be the premier national character development organization for young men which produces Godly and responsible husbands, fathers, and citizens."
Furthermore, the decision by BSA to allow gay scouts has led to criticism from people on both sides of the debate. Homosexual activists say the group did not go far enough, whereas many Christian parents and groups say BSA is bowing to public pressure from homosexual advocates to affect its membership, despite its Christian roots.
Corporate pressure has been especially aggressive. Earlier this year, Walt Disney World threatened to not allow employees to volunteer for BSA as part of its VoluntEARS program in 2015 if the organization does not allow gay Scout leaders. Diversity Inc. reports that Merck & Co., Ernst & Young, Major League Baseball, and AT&T are just some of the other companies that have pressured BSA to change its policies.
Even President Obama has gotten involved, saying in 2010 that "gays and lesbians should have access and opportunity the same way everybody else does, in every institution and walk of life."
Trail Life said it had 500 groups join it as of December 2013. Over 70 percent of BSA's membership consists of faith-based organizations, and many of its Catholic, Mormon, and United Methodist-affiliated troops have expressed concern about the new policy. The Southern Baptist Convention, which has 4,000 troops affiliated with it, condemned last year's change.
BSA says its policies will protect its members from abuse by Scout leaders, whether homosexual or heterosexual. Those policies include a mandate that at least two adults are present at all times, and leaders are not allowed to touch Scouts.
This is the reason they picked up Robert Gates.
They went full retard
No, it’s not acceptable, and my boy will not be anywhere near this pervert organization.
The Scouts cannot be saved. Don’t let your kids near either Girl or Boy Scouts. Simply, move on and let them be part of a fond past which is no longer a present reality.
Time to dig out all my old Scout badges and burn them, I guess.
Just checking to see if John Semmons wrote this first. Hell we all predicted this. We knew it was incrementalism to put homos in charge of the flock to find new NAMBLA fodder...
Gay Scouts. Homo Scouts. Perv Scouts. It’s all about “love”, isn’t it?
Robert Gates. Another legacy of the George W. Bush administration.
Scouting for Boys.
stop handing out pensions for the military and it'll get back to being a time honored patriotic organization with high character leaders....not money grabbers....
as it is right now, we have so many "hangers on" who wouldn't make it in the real world...
Then let your grandsons spend the night with one and let us know ow it goes.
General Boykin wasn’t available? What an asshat Gates is.
Your old Scout badges are momentos of a Scouting organization that was good;destroying those items won’t affect the present mess.
BSA ,1908-2012, R.I.P.
Gee, what could go wrong?
Worked out great to have gay pastors in the churches, right?
I do worry about fatherless young boys having homosexual "leaders"....
“Time to dig out all my old Scout badges and burn them”
No remember it the way it was.
another GOPe leftist done destroying our military and now loosed on our children. get your kids out.
Aaaaaand there it goes. Can’t say we didn’t call it.
Trail Life USA
It won’t be long before ALL scout leaders are queer.
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