Im going to be an eagle scout in soon. Ive been in the scouting program for 10 years, nearly 11 years. My problem is, I'm gay. And I intend not to come out until I am an eagle scout. Is it possible for the boy scouts to take my eagle scout recognition? As I'm sure you know, boy scouts does not allow gay boys. Thanks

I would advise against it. While I don't believe that they should, (you should be allowed to be who you are) Since it is a privately run program they could pull your status.

If it is that important to you to complete it... I would think of it like the army.. don't ask don't tell. :) what they don't know won't hurt them.

I don't intend to tell them, but the adult leaders' sons know me very well, most of them have been with me since the beginning and go to my school and such. So the word will spread to the adult leaders who control it.

Well.. the kids that know you well. Do any of them know? Are they cool with it?
Maybe they won't tell... sorry. That's a tough situation.
My son is starting Weblos I this year, if any of his den (or pack) turned out to be gay.. I would put up a HUGE STINK to keep them in.

Best of luck to you!

No one knows as of now.


Its frustrating because people think gays are attracted to all boys. Is a straight boy attracted to all females? No. And then they think we don't have any self control.

What? You mean.. you Don't want to be with every boy in your class?? What is wrong with you! Lol

Well, do your best to keep it from them... unfortunately, you are right about how people think. Its just comes down to being ignorant.

Im just hoping that I won't lose the award after all I have done

I wouldn't be too worried about it because there was an article talking about gay boy scouts returning their eagle awards in protest several years ago. I am actually in the same position as u where I am gay and want to get my eagle. Because of that I am not out to everyone. I am out to a couple of friends as well as several people affiliated with my schools GSA and I talk about it even more openly with friends from other schools that I have met through an organization called GLSEN the gay lesbian straight education network. I found that I was pretty much ready to start coming out and being who I really am. And I fond that that was the best outlet in which to do that because it was people who really understand me and that I can trust to not tell anyone. I found that way I could talk about being gay and get things without coming out and ruining the boy scout experience for me.

You have worked very hard to become an Eagle Scout. However, the organizations judgement should not force you to pretend to be someone who you are not. If, down the road, they find out that you are gay and revoke your Eagle Scout statis, it should not take away from what you have accomplished. You and your family and friends will still know that you achieved your goal.

I agree with Static Fx that you should be allowed to be who you are.They have no right toi force you to pretend to be some one who you are not.

As long as it is simply a part of who you are and you are not blatantly promoting or flaunting your homosexuality in any way in the scouts. If word gets out and it can not be proven by words or actions (not including gay characteristics) on your part then
I believe it would fall under discrimination if they took it away from you. As long as they can not use anything against you in court then
You can sue them. I am sure the ACLU site can help if it comes down to it.

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Originally Posted by N0help4u

As long as it is simply a part of who you are and you are not blatantly promoting or flaunting your homosexuality in any way in the scouts. If word gets out and it can not be proven by words or actions (not including gay characteristics) on your part then
I believe it would fall under discrimination if they took it away from you. As long as they can not use anything against you in court then
you can sue them. I am sure the ACLU site can help if it comes down to it.

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Discrimination ? Well the question is so what, only discrimination against protected classes of people is illegal. One can discriminate against other things if they wish, esp for their own groups, And in some cases they can even discriminate against protected groups. A girl can not force the boy scouts to accept her, a women can not force the Catholic Church to let her be a priest, and so on.

I understand all that but according to the way the laws are written NOW would it be acceptable for the boy scouts to drop his badge or make him quit?
My point is he is a boy. He is in the scouts. Unless there is a rule in the boy scouts manuals etc... that states and makes a distinction of what to do in case of a gay boy vs a straight boy then it is discrimination. Even if it is in their 'rule books' it could be fought as discrimination. Just as they fought that it was discrimination for gays to not be Scout masters and the Military has its NO ask/NO tell rule (or whatever it is called) I am sure he has as much or more rights in this.
He could even claim they are just rumors and what are they going to do from there??

Fr_Chuck is correct - the Boy Scouts of America is a private organization and as such can set their own rules with respect to whether they allow gays to be members. The Supreme Court ruled on this a few years ago - see:

CNN.com - Supreme Court says Boy Scouts can bar gay troop leaders - June 28, 2000

The BSA also won't let atheists join. I am not defending the BSA position on this, just their right as a private organization to have a position. Personally I think the Girl Scouts have a better policy in this than do the Boy Scouts - the Girl Scouts do not have a rule forbidding gay or lesbian members.

Hello in:

I heard all the people who THINK you should be able to keep it, but these people don't know about the homophobia that exists amongst these fearless (ha!) leaders... They ain't scared of wild animals... but they're scared of little gay boys... I don't know. Go figure.

Dude, they're Going to take your eagle away from you, and they're going to bad mouth you besides. The world ISN'T all warm and fuzzy.

excon

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Originally Posted by instinct4392

Im just hoping that i wont lose the award after all i have done

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I'm sure a lot of good can be said about the BS ofA. BUT, not allowing gays into their little group just burns me up. It tells me they don't know what a real man is. It's narrow minded and ignorant. And, if they did take the Eagle Status away from you, that does NOTHING in terms of reducing the honorable recognition you deserve. Just shows how small the association can be. They can take the award back but they can never take back your achievement. Don't "announce" that you are gay, but don't ever deny it or apologize for it if they find out. Be proud of who you are. Frankly, it's none of their business.:rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by ebaines

Fr_Chuck is correct - the Boy Scouts of America is a private organization and as such can set their own rules with respect to whether they allow gays to be members. The Supreme Court ruled on this a few years ago - see:

CNN.com - Supreme Court says Boy Scouts can bar gay troop leaders - June 28, 2000

The BSA also won't let atheists join. I am not defending the BSA position on this, just their right as a private organization to have a position. Personally I think the Girl Scouts have a better policy in this than do the Boy Scouts - the Girl Scouts do not have a rule forbidding gay or lesbian members.

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Unfortunately fr chuck IS correct. That is a terrible way for a supposedly christian group to behave. Just because they HAVE the right, doesn't mean it IS right.:mad:

I'm late on here, but I did the same thing. I was so fed up with hiding myself that during my board meeting to get eagle they asked "what does it mean to you to get eagle?', i told them it ment nothing, i knew i was a great scout that cared more for nature and all that it hold the same or more than any one else in the troop. that the rank its self was worthless because i knew i was a good scout. THey didnt konw i was gay and still gave me my eagle but i did give a small message. ANd if they do take a rank back you can still say later in life "you I got eagle in scouting but they took it away from me because I wanted to be an honest person can not hide who I was". That should show some character, or at least more character than the eagles who do nothing and still get it because they are well rooted in the troop.

Yeah, I'd say don't tell them. Get your Eagle Scout award - once you've earned it, that accomplishment it yours. They can say it didn't count or try to take it back but you'll know that you earned it fairly.

I wouldn't necessarily feel you need to go back and come out to everyone you've ever known, either. It's not dishonest or hiding to keep your personal business to yourself and people you trust. Generally, if someone will take your private information and use it to try to hurt you, they don't need to know!

Congratulations on your accomplishment in scouts!

Hi, I'm doing some research on this subject. If anyone is willing to talk to me more about their experience or knows where I can find more official information about the BSA's policies on homosexuality I would really appreciate it. You can email me at [email protected].