Another bastion of discrimination against gay youth, the Boy Scouts of America, has been caught in the groundswell of support for equality and been forced to permit openly gay youth to participate as Boy Scouts. Sadly, discriminatory policies will be maintained against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender adults as scout leaders.
This recent policy change has once again rocked the far-right bigots whose fear campaigns against LGBT people have been central to their overall program of racism, sexism and attacks on science.
Although it is another step forward for LGBT equality, the BSA policy change has to leave a bad taste in the mouths of all those who savor true justice.
Bigoted mistruths
By continuing to ban LGBT adults as scout leaders, the BSA perpetuates one of the worst and most heinous lies about LGBT people, that they are on an unholy mission to “recruit” and indoctrinate youth and are the foremost perpetrators of child abuse, even though all facts totally discredit these bigoted mistruths.
As a result of this policy, countless scout leaders will continue to be purged from the BSA. Their outstanding contributions to youth will be lost, drowned in bigotry and homophobia.
While LGBT activists and all should celebrate this milestone for gay youth, the struggle for full equality for LGBT people must intensify until complete victory is won. The LGBT movement stands in solidarity with all those courageous and determined scouts who have stood up for what is right.
