with the short shorts and neckerchief.....

[46Tbird]

Most parents consider the scouts to be a place where you can keep your boy with trustworthy, earnest adult role models. This may come as a shock, but most parents are hetero (DUH) and don't want their kids spending time with gays as role models for their children. Simple as that.

[yellowstang]

I loved the outdoors and doing the campouts, hikes and shit. Was a great part of my childhood.

As for church, i was done with that shit by 5 yrs old.



Depends on the troop. Mine wasn't. Life is full of grey, so it sucks when people force things into black/white.

I loved the outdoors too, but did all that shit with my family. Maybe growing up in Colorado was different, but we were always outside. All I needed as a kid was a bike, sling shot or my Red Ryder BB gun, and some friends to get into mischief with! And an older brother and sister who got me beer when I was 15.

[Lason]

First off this thread went full auto ignorant when someone suggested gay=pedo. WOW!!!

Second of all, I wouldnt care one bit if any of my 3 boys were in a troop with a gay scout leader. I have met plenty of straight people who had far shittier morals than alot of gay people I have met.

Third, boy scouts should allow who ever they want. Like I was telling my wife today who was going on and on about this. Both boy scouts and girls scouts discriminate as it is. Girl scouts will turn away boys who want to join and visa versa. No one complains about that but as soon as they discriminate against who can be troop leaders then everyone gets their feelings hurt. So discriminating against a persons sex is ok but not against their sexual orientation?

[Binky]

As a kid, I had zero interest in cub/boy scouts or church.

I loved the outdoors and doing the campouts, hikes and shit. Was a great part of my childhood.

As for church, i was done with that shit by 5 yrs old.

One of the main things is the "creed" the boy scouts follow includes being Christian

Depends on the troop. Mine wasn't. Life is full of grey, so it sucks when people force things into black/white.

[racrguy]

Some goofy shit going on in this thread.

Its a private organization. Since when is it anyone's damn business who they want to allow? There are many other private organizations that do not/would not employ or be forced to employ someone they don't want. Let someone else come up with an organization to allow other lifestyles to run.

One of the main things is the "creed" the boy scouts follow includes being Christian. I don't want to get into a religous debate but there is that issue.

[Ted]

As a kid, I had zero interest in cub/boy scouts or church.

x2

[mustang_revival]

I understand where OP is coming from. Unless you have a child, you don't really understand 110%.

[yellowstang]

As a kid, I had zero interest in cub/boy scouts or church.

[YALE]

Paul, teaching your son that people aren't to be looked up to because they're gay is kind of shitty. It's totally your business, but you can't be accepting and disapproving when it's basically something that doesn't have anything to do with you. If you don't accept gays as equals, then be clear about that. Your opinion is valid either way. Either teach him to be unnaccepting of gays, or teach him to be accepting of them, but don't muddy the water unnecessarily. Also, odds are the den mother won't be gay, and neither will the scout leader, so there's really not a point in making a decision until you come to it. If all his buddies are joining, and he wants to join, and you're cool with troop leadership, what's the problem?

[Kimmypie]

We're y'all going to sign your sons up in the first place? We're you a Scout? If you weren't planning on your kid joining, why do you care?

Do you still take your kids to church because based on what I've heard about some of those, I'd be very concerned letting my kid go to church camp, etc...

[A+]

So do people feel like gay folks will be bringing their gay shenanigans around their kids and they dont want their kids around shenanigans of that nature? I can sympathize i guess.
When is the last time you ever heard of a gay guy touching a kid? Every time i hear of such a case its a straight priest or a straight football coach. People have a misconception of gays. They think theyre all flamboyant weirdos. I agree that since this organization is private, they should have the right to do whatever the hell they want but, whatevs.

[Mike]

I find it interesting that gay = pedophile.

X2, that's a new one to me.

I wouldn't let me son participate for the same reason Elvis listed.

[ELVIS]

I find it interesting that gay = pedophile.

just for clarification, i personally have said nor think anything of the sort.

god bless.

[Binky]

It is a private organization - they can do what they want. With choice comes responsibility for those choices. I have no children, so I've got no dog in this fight. IMHO the kids don't care - its the parents fears and prejudices that are making this an issue.

Being gay does not equal being a pedophile. Hell - the Boy Scouts are fighting the wrong fight - they should be as viligant about keeping child molesters out as they are gays.

I'd rather a young boy learn respect for all people - both who and what they are - than sit in judgement of them. That's what helps make a boy into a man.