4 ms·

The national organization lifted its ban on openly gay leaders about a year ago. I am an Eagle scout who was openly an atheist while going through the program.

by tych0 10y ago

The national organization lifted its ban on openly gay leaders about a year ago. I am an Eagle scout who was openly an atheist while going through the program. A lot of this depends on your local leadership; the national organization stays out of it. The program is a great program as noted above, for all its flaws. If you have a child interested, you can have a huge effect on the local program simply by becoming involved.

hobs 10y ago
I was politely asked to leave my local group under similar conditions (non-belief causing friction), though I was only a webelo at the time. I would probably feel out the group first if you intend to do this, it wasn't a pleasant experience at the time.
nommm-nommm 10y ago
> If you have a child interested, you can have a huge effect on the local program simply by becoming involved Sorry but joining an organization that is openly exclusive to you and your values then trying to change it to be inclusive to you and change their core values seems very wrong. Having your child being an unwelcome outsider during your personal crusade. why not join, create, and support alternative scouting organizations that welcome you and your values?
- matthewaveryusa 10y ago
  Either approach is valid. Not everything is political. On paper the bsa may seem bad but in person you may realize your local troop only really cares about the outdoors aspect. I was in the bsa and it was just a bunch of kids doing kids stuff in the woods. homosexual and religious agendas were so foreign I never knew it was an issue until I read about it in college.
  - nommm-nommm 10y ago
    Even if your local troop doesn't enforce the official BSA policies... There are alternative scouting organizations that have different official policies. Why support one over the other if the other exists? Support alternative scouting organizations is all I am saying.

by tych0 10y ago

hobs 10y ago

I was politely asked to leave my local group under similar conditions (non-belief causing friction), though I was only a webelo at the time. I would probably feel out the group first if you intend to do this, it wasn't a pleasant experience at the time.

nommm-nommm 10y ago

> If you have a child interested, you can have a huge effect on the local program simply by becoming involved Sorry but joining an organization that is openly exclusive to you and your values then trying to change it to be inclusive to you and change their core values seems very wrong. Having your child being an unwelcome outsider during your personal crusade. why not join, create, and support alternative scouting organizations that welcome you and your values?

matthewaveryusa 10y ago
Either approach is valid. Not everything is political. On paper the bsa may seem bad but in person you may realize your local troop only really cares about the outdoors aspect. I was in the bsa and it was just a bunch of kids doing kids stuff in the woods. homosexual and religious agendas were so foreign I never knew it was an issue until I read about it in college.
- nommm-nommm 10y ago
  Even if your local troop doesn't enforce the official BSA policies... There are alternative scouting organizations that have different official policies. Why support one over the other if the other exists? Support alternative scouting organizations is all I am saying.