Back in late January, the leadership of the Boy Scouts of America announced
they were considering ending their ban on homosexual members and leaders. We are
now about a week away from that decision when over a thousand voting members meet
and vote.

A century ago, the values of the Boy Scouts were lauded and represented the
values of mainstream America. Today, those values are under attack. The organization
has been the victim of an aggressive and well-funded campaign from homosexual-rights
groups.

First, let’s clear up some misinformation. Most news stories say: the Boy Scouts
“bans gays” or “discriminate against homosexuals.” John Stemberger, president of On
My Honor, says that the Boy Scouts do not discriminate against homosexuals. He points
out that BSA membership application does not even ask about sexual orientation. He
says there are Scouts and adult leaders who have same-sex attractions and are still in
good standing within the program because they conduct themselves appropriately in front
of others.

The pressure on the Boy Scouts today is coming from funding groups and
corporations. At least 50 local United Way groups have dropped funding. An activist
group, Scouting for All, claims that companies like American Airlines, CVS Pharmacy
Stores, Hewlett Packard, IBM, and Levi Strauss have stopped funding the Boy Scouts.

The Supreme Court landmark case in 2000 affirmed that the Boy Scouts have the
right to set their own membership standards. This has protected the organization from
lawsuits from various state and local governments with “non-discrimination” laws.
Many worry that if the organization changes its policies, it will no longer have that legal
protection.

What will various Boy Scout charters do if the policy is changed? More than 70
percent of all Boy Scout troops are chartered with churches or other religious
organizations. It is hard to imagine they will maintain their affiliation if BSA caved to
pressure.

The Boy Scouts are supposedly in “listening mode.” So this would be a good time
for you to speak out.