“The Church’s long-established policy for participation in activities is stated in the basic instructional handbook used by lay leaders of the Church: “Young men … who agree to abide by Church standards [are] welcomed warmly and encouraged to participate” (Handbook 2: Administering the Church [2010], 8.17.3). This policy applies to Church-sponsored Scout units. Sexual orientation has not previously been—and is not now—a disqualifying factor for boys who want to join Latter-day Saint Scout troops. Willingness to abide by standards of behavior continues to be our compelling interest.”
https://www.lds.org/church/news/church-responds-to-boy-scouts-policy-vote?lang=eng
Two incidents, happening almost right after another.. The first was when I traveled with a Mormon troop to attend the national jamboree; troops were joking around with each other while atop the Empire State's Building, someone made a comment about a cute girl who was in the elevator with us, and someone else said within earshot of our chaperon that it was a good thing that his girl friend gave him a good [vigorous intercourse] before he went on this trip, or he'd be all over her.
He was on the plane back home before we reached the Italian restaurant for dinner.
The second was right after we returned, I hung around for their awards ceremony, where one of the older scouts on the trip was us was going to receive his Eagle award. That portion of the program was cancelled when his girlfriend became concerned about missing a period, and his response was that he had been wearing a condom.
Turned out that she wasn't pregnant, he was tossed out of the troop, and scout leaders used the time in the program to reiterate the scout oath and how seriously the troop took that oath.
With all due respect I am still not buying it.
Yes, I absolutely have read the church’s statement. I appreciate that its focus is on sexual behavior rather than orientation, that was the de facto and unspoken position of the BSA previous to the new Membership Standards Resolution. I supported that and believed that it was entirely unnecessary to modify the BSA by-laws in the fashion that they did.
However, because the BSA took the route they did and articulated the matter of orientation, it is arguable that they may very well have opened the door to a challenge under BSA v. Dale, the very decision which affirmed the right of the BSA (as a private organization) to restrict a person from membership based on the idea that “the presence of that person affects in a significant way the group’s ability to advocate public or private viewpoints.”
The BSA acted with the support of the LDS membership on the national council and without the support of a super-majority of those involved in Scouting.
Now, that they have expressly articulated that orientation is no barrier to membership as a youth, they are going to have a very, very hard time excluding a homosexual from leadership, despite the fact that they say that policy has not changed. I imagine that the lawsuits are already written for several gay, 17-year-old Eagle Scouts who will turn 18 around the time this takes effect in January 2014. Deny any one of them the privilege of leadership and the lawsuits will fly.
Given that this controversy has largely about the influence of large donors I am very doubtful that the BSA will do anything other than weigh the financial cost of litigation and cave into the pressure groups again.
That moment will be an even more telling one for the Mormon church. Will they accept homosexual leadership? Not likely, given this statement found on (http://ldsbsa.org/): “Where Scouting is authorized by the Church, quorums may participate in Scouting activities during Mutual. Under priesthood leadership, Scouting can complement the efforts of Aaronic Priesthood quorums and Primary classes in building testimonies in young men and boys.”
But here is the problem. Mormon Scout leadership is already not likely to be homosexual and given the preponderance of closed troops and the priesthood requirements, that is not likely to change. So even a vote by the Mormon contingent in support of homosexual leadership for the BSA would not really affect them, but it would have a profound and negative effect on the rest of Scouting. Given their numbers, the entire Mormon contingent could leave Scouting and almost overnight create an LDS version, decimating the rest of Scouting in their wake.
For those of us involved in Scouting through smaller, faith-based organizations that do not necessarily have an alternative (yet), the Mormon capitulation is seen as a hypocritical betrayal of the values of Scouting.