Reflections on Boy Scouts now allowing openly gay Scouts

     The news today that the Boy Scouts will allow openly gay scouts to enter and remain in the program has been met with mixed feelings around the country. When I read a comment on Facebook that I saw my niece “Like,” I knew I had to comment on it myself, since many people are saying similar, or worse things about the decision.
     Here’s what my niece’s friend said: “Boy Scouts of America has decided to allow openly gay boys to join Scout troops. Part of the Scout Oath says: ‘I will do my best to keep myself morally straight’ .. How’s that going to work for them?”

   Here’s my answer: It’s going to work just fine, in fact better than before, and that’s why the decision is a good one.
     According to the official Boy Scout website that explains the Scout Oath (http://www.usscouts.org/
advance/boyscout/bsoath.asp) the part that says …and morally straight, is explained this way: “To be a person of strong character, your relationships with others should be honest and open. You should respect and defend the rights of all people. Be clean in your speech and actions, and remain faithful in your religious beliefs. The values you practice as a Scout will help you shape a life of virtue and self-reliance.”
      Wow…. Nowhere in there does it equate morally straight with sexually “straight.” In fact just the opposite, it says, “respect and defend the rights of all people.” And even more importantly and clear it says Scouts should be “honest and open.”
      There have always been gay Scouts, but now they can be “honest and open.” And for those who are concerned about gay Scouts being predators or sexually active… the same rules on chastity and appropriate behavior apply for them as for heterosexual Scouts.
      How sad to read some of the comments around the web concerning this decision.
      Here is a comment under the above post: “I’m sure glad my grandson got out before that goes into effect…the moral fiber of America has again been impuned (sic) by the leftest (sic) agenda to morally corrupt our youth. It’s a sad day in our country.”
      Encouraging young men and women to be honest and respect others does not corrupt youth.
      Some of the comments being made in opposition to this decision are being made by members of the LDS Church, one of the largest supporters of Scouting. It’s obvious that those making comments are not aware of recent changes/clarification on the official LDS Church policy on the treatment and inclusion of gay people.
      On a new official website for the LDS Church (www.mormonsandgays.org), Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Twelve Apostles, explains the purpose of the website. Also on the website is this comment: “Senior Church leaders in this website represent the official position of the Church.”
     Here is what Elder Christofferson says in part: “…I’d say though we don’t know everything we know enough to be able to say that same-sex attraction in and of itself is not a sin…when people have those desires and same-sex attractions, our attitude is ‘stay with us.’ … It’s important that there be love… Love is not to say acceptance or endorsement, but it is to say inclusion and not ostracism.”
     Sounds like the Boy Scouts of America understand, at least for troop members, what "inclusion and not ostracism" means. It's too bad more people don't.