Posted on 10/05/2012 7:27:25 AM PDT by Zakeet
Ryan Andresen has spent a decade completing the requirements for the coveted Eagle Scout award, and now that he is just about turn 18 -- the cut-off date for attaining the highest honor -- his Boy Scout troop won't approve it because he is gay.
His project, a "tolerance wall," was inspired by the years of hazing he endured in middle school in Moraga, Calif., and later at Boy Scout summer camp, where his nicknames were "Tinkerbell" and "faggot."
"I had I had no idea what gay was at that point," said Andresen, who described hazing that included, among other rituals, having the word "fag" written in charcoal across his chest.
"It was really embarrassing and humiliating," he said. "And I was terrified."
[Snip]
A senior and honors student who hopes to go the University of San Francisco, Ryan joined the Boy Scouts at age 6. "He just liked the outdoors and hiking," said Karen Andresen, 49.
Ryan came out to his parents when he was "around 16," said his mother. In July, he wrote a letter to the troop in response to a bullying incident and "thought he could help," disclosing he was gay.
But just this week the scoutmaster of Troop 212, Rainer Del Valle, refused to give the final signature on Ryan's project, one that he had initially approved, according to the Andresens.
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
I have pasted in below the email sent out by our council scout executive on this. It is pretty self explanatory and factually correct as far as I can tell. I understand that this made the Today Show this morning.
We want to let you know that 1 of our Scouts proactively notified his Troop leadership and Eagle Scout Counselor that he does not agree to Scouting’s principle of “Duty to God” and does not meet Scouting’s membership standard on sexual orientation. I want to assure you that the BSA did not proactively ask for this information, but based on his statements, and after discussion with his family he is being informed that he is no longer eligible for membership in Scouting.
As you know, the BSA does not proactively inquire about the sexual orientation of employees, volunteers, or members. Representing millions of youth and adult members in diverse communities across the nation, each with a variety of beliefs about this issue, BSA does not have an agenda on this matter, and its membership policy is not meant to be a blanket statement or a social commentary. We recognize there are many different opinions on this issue and that no single policy can accommodate everyone.
Also, a belief in God is the foundation of Scouting’s strong, continuing commitment to encouraging moral, ethical, and spiritual growth. It is the position of the Boy Scouts of America that no 1 can reach their full potential without belief in a higher power. The ideals and principles of “Duty to God” and “reverence” set forth in the Scout Oath and Law are central to the mission of teaching young people to make better choices over their lifetimes.
We will continue to teach our members to treat those with different opinions with courtesy and respect at all times and to adamantly oppose the mistreatment of others based on any perceived difference. Please forward any media inquiries directly to my attention.
The troop in which young Andresen was a member is chartered to Moraga Valley Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) in Moraga, CA. Moraga is a suburb of San Francisco, about 15 miles to the east, on the sunny side of the Berkeley hills. Andresen’s father resigned as assistant Scoutmaster after it was confirmed that Ryan wouldn't receive the award. There is speculation that the charter organization, i.e., the chuch, could step in and cause a ruckus since PCUSA supports ordaining open homosexual pastors and just this year barely fought off changing the church rule on re-defining marriage to be between 2 "people". The website of the charter organization, MV-PCUSA, revealed they're currently in the midst of a Pastor search.
Posted: Friday, 10/5/2012: 11:10:30 AM
by eisely
Senior Forum Member
Registered: 11/9/2000
I have pasted in below the email sent out by our council scout executive on this. It is pretty self explanatory and factually correct as far as I can tell. I understand that this made the Today Show this morning.
We want to let you know that 1 of our Scouts proactively notified his Troop leadership and Eagle Scout Counselor that he does not agree to Scouting’s principle of “Duty to God” and does not meet Scouting’s membership standard on sexual orientation. I want to assure you that the BSA did not proactively ask for this information, but based on his statements, and after discussion with his family he is being informed that he is no longer eligible for membership in Scouting.
As you know, the BSA does not proactively inquire about the sexual orientation of employees, volunteers, or members. Representing millions of youth and adult members in diverse communities across the nation, each with a variety of beliefs about this issue, BSA does not have an agenda on this matter, and its membership policy is not meant to be a blanket statement or a social commentary. We recognize there are many different opinions on this issue and that no single policy can accommodate everyone.
Also, a belief in God is the foundation of Scouting’s strong, continuing commitment to encouraging moral, ethical, and spiritual growth. It is the position of the Boy Scouts of America that no 1 can reach their full potential without belief in a higher power. The ideals and principles of “Duty to God” and “reverence” set forth in the Scout Oath and Law are central to the mission of teaching young people to make better choices over their lifetimes.
We will continue to teach our members to treat those with different opinions with courtesy and respect at all times and to adamantly oppose the mistreatment of others based on any perceived difference. Please forward any media inquiries directly to my attention.
The troop in which young Andresen was a member is chartered to Moraga Valley Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) in Moraga, CA. There is speculation that the charter organization, i.e., the chuch, could step in and cause a ruckus since PCUSA ordains open homosexual pastors and barely fought off a rule change this year to change the definition of marriage from 1 man and 1 woman to 2 people. The website of the charter organization, MV-PCUSA, revealed they're currently in the midst of a Pastor search.
There are standards. He fails to meet the moral one.
Next?
Have you seen the arrow?
What happened to Lion rank? You know, as in age 10? You know, Wolf-Bear-Lion-WolfBearLion=WeBeLos?
Not sure when it went away as it was part of the program when I was in Cub Scouts in the early-to-mid-60s but it was history by the time my own son went through it in the late 80s, crossing over into Boy Scouts in spring 1990. Also, the word Webelos was formed around We Be Loyal Scouts, not just the ranks.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.