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 ...
No more cub scouts?
His “tolerance wall” was about bullying in the schools and had tiles created by several students.
Not a project that really shows leadership or other scout traits but where he lives may have something to do with the acceptance of such a project for Eagle.
In my son’s district, several scouts have been rejected for Eagle and it is not unusual. None have gone on to complete it after being rejected. Usually, it is for not taking the requirements seriously enough and/or not completing them all.
I suspect that his being gay has little to do with his rejection. This one smells like more pressure to get the gay agenda forced upon the B.S.A. - again.
The bullying also sounds like either a lack of leadership at his troop level (unlikely) or hypersensitivity from a scout that has an entitlement mentality.
>> His project, a “tolerance wall,”
I’d seriously like someone to explain to me why that “tolerance” BS only goes ONE way.
So I hate faggots! TOLERATE it, beyotch. I’m not gonna change. I was born that way.
Those would be I believe, a part of the Cub Scouts...Between the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, you have the Webelos...
Boy Scouts start at age eleven...
Dear God....No comment....
This is complete BS. This queer is simply looking for attention for his mental disorder.
University of San Francisco...Now there’s a surprise....Obviously the kid is soliciting a scholarship
This is complete BS. This queer was never abused and is simply looking for attention for his mental disorder.
Here is the current sequence for the various Scouting organizations: 1st grade (age 6) - Tiger Cub to Bobcat; 2d grade (age 7) - Cub Scout, Wolf rank; 3d grade (age 8) - Cub Scout, Bear rank; 4th grade (age 9) - Webelos, 1st year; 5th grade (age 10) - Webelos, 2d year, transition to Boy Scouts at age 10-1/2, usually in the spring of the 4th grade; Boy Scouts, up to age 18, ranks Tenderfoot to Eagle; Venture Scouting (coed), outdoor adventure program, ages 14-21; Explorers (coed), career exploration (aka Learning for Life) for ages 14-21.
As to this person’s “Eagle project”, I agree with those who think it is woefully short of the project requirements I knew when I was a Scoutmaster and Troop Committee Chair. It never should have been approved by the troop or the District Advancement committee. The primary reason it does not appear to meet the requirements is the lack of a leadership element. He did this pretty much on his own.
>> Between the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, you have the Webelos...
Hmm... “Webelos”... maybe that’s what attracted this Andreson kid. Only he didn’t think it was spelled like that...
First of all, I disagree with homosexuality and agree with keeping it out of boy scouts. With that said, however, the troop’s leadership failed not only boy scouting in general, the troop but also the boy as well.
- If the scoutmaster approved the project, then unfortunately he owes that final signature. The scoutmaster could have rejected it at the start and told the scout to think of a different project
- when the scout came out of the closet, the troop should have expelled the boy at the time but instead let him continue in the project and the troop
A few thing can be done differently in this case.
“Tolerance wall” my ass! These same people will drive a nail in your tire when the see a Romney sticker on your car. Boy Scouts should’ve kicked him out long ago.
Meet the age requirements. Be a boy who is 11 years old, or one who has completed the fifth grade or earned the Arrow of Light Award and is at least 10 years old, but is not yet 18 years old.
“Pack” is the larger group for Cub Scouts with the smaller groups called “Dens”; “Troop” is the larger group for Boy Scouts with the smaller groups called “Patrols”. IIRC, the Girl Scouts call all levels “Troops”.
Who on earth in his RIGHT mind would actually "hope" to go to the University of San Francisco???
(...unless he thinks there's a happy hunting ground there).
Leni
Precisely.
Agreed.
I would bet this kid was declined for Eagle because his project is so lame.
I’ve worked with quite a few homosexuals, and every single one of them has had some sort of accompanying mental or emotional disorder——or childhood sexual abuse in their past.
As for this boy, it’s beneficial for him to understand that homosexuality IS something to be ashamed of.
Gays never grasp the concept that “no means no”, and when they turn activist, they wouldn’t know the truth if it hit them between the eyes with a hammer.
His hazing drama screams BS, his “tolerance wall” and sob story of supposed victimization are blinking “ATTENTION HO” in pink neon.
The only attention this lie needs is a firm depression of the flush handle.
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