Boy Scouts of America, Essay Example

Lifting the ban on accepting gay boy scouts in America was an important decision for many reasons. First of all, it clearly demonstrates that society can have an impact on organizations’ behavior. Second, it highlights how companies, organizations, sponsors, and churches use their social and financial leverage when they lobby against or for a case. Most importantly, however, it signifies a step towards creating a new Boy Scouts organization that accepts and tolerates modern values. The author of the current essay argues that it was time to end the ban, and while it is important that Boy Scouts preserve their values and norms, they also need to adapt to the modern society. Even the pope stepped into a Mosque this year; something that was considered as an insult to Christianity hundreds of years back.

Boy Scouts do not exist in the 18^th Century, but in the 21^st. It needs to adapt to the norms and standards of the society. Today’s children know more about homosexuality, and it is covered in school in various classes. Tolerance to “being different” is one of the traditional values of the American society. The majority of Americans is a descendant of immigrants. There are several remarkable gay people in the community, and some of them are celebrities who come out publicly about their sexual orientation. A hundred years ago, when Boy Scouts was founded, the topic of sexual orientation was a social taboo. Today, it is accepted, just like disability or racial diversity. Boy Scouts’ education program is based not only on outdoor skills, but social skills as well. By only meeting and learning to get along with straight boys, the impact of the value-based education would be reduced significantly. While boys leaving the program would be competent in dealing with straight males, their skills of empathy and understanding about gays’ values, preferences, and problems would be limited. Exclusion of gays from taking part in the leadership training would be equivalent to not allowing Blacks in white schools.

Further, the organization does not exist in a blank space, but within the society. It is influenced by several stakeholders. If Boy Scouts was only sponsored by the Catholic Church, it could make rules based on the religion’s ethical guidelines. However, the educational society relies on companies, civil organizations, and private donations as well, to provide ongoing support and learning facilities for young boys. Some of the organizations that fully embrace diversity and have strong values regarding gender, sex, and racial equality stepped up to force Boy Scouts to lift the ban. By keeping the regulation in place, the organization was disadvantaging one segment of the society. While it is likely that the reason for this was to maintain the traditional values that are taught within the troops, it was still a form of discrimination. Further, it potentially caused problems for boys who were gay and scouts. As the ban was only relevant to those who were “openly gay”, the rules did actually encourage scouts to lie about their sexual orientation.

The main purpose of Boy Scouts is to educate young people about tolerance, respect, and humanity. Discrimination would interfere with human rights values, and it is also unethical. While lifting the ban was a positive step towards a fairer organization, it is not enough. The ban on openly gay leaders needs to be lifted, as well. If companies are not allowed to discriminate against individuals based on their sexual orientation, Boy Scouts should not, either. While the organization is based on religious foundations, and traditional values, its conservatism prevents many people from becoming leaders and taking part in educational activities. This statement is true if we look at the organization as an educational society, instead of looking at it as a religious group. Some conservative religious leaders in America assume that the same values and rules apply to the Boy Scouts as the Catholic Church. However, the organization is supposed to be independent, and welcome children from all walks of life. Its values are not based on dogmas, but traditional ethical principles. Moreover, the values of Boy Scouts are based on helping everyone, not only those who are “straight”. The only part of the Scout Oath that might have been misunderstood is the one that states that “To keep myself physically strong,
mentally awake, and morally straight”. However, morally straight is not equivalent to being sexually straight, and – even according to current Christian values –  being homosexual is not a sin. By not admitting openly gay people in the troops, the organization was stating that these people were unable to stay mentally fresh, physically active, and moral. This is a straight case of prejudice, which is an immoral and unethical form of behavior.

As a conclusion, the author would like to state that in the future Boy Scouts America should aim to balance its efforts to maintain its traditional values and embrace tolerance at the same time. It is an organization that is sponsored and supported by various groups and companies, and this means that it should serve a wider group, not only straight young boys.

References

Richter, M. (2013) Boy Scouts of America votes to end century-old ban on gay scouts. Reuters. May 24, 2013.