The Boy Scouts Absolutely Positively Do Not Want Any Gay Eagle Scouts

On Tuesday, the Boy Scouts quickly snuffed out a flicker of hope that a gay Eagle Scout candidate in California might actually earn the rank after his local council threw their support behind him. That flicker came from news that a local review board vowed to challenge the Boy Scouts’ decision not to award Brian Andresen the Eagle rank due to his sexual orientation. But just hours after that report went live, a Boy Scouts executive reaffirmed the initial decision on Tuesday and told CNN that Mount Diablo-Silverado Boy Scout Council rejected the Eagle Scout application for 18-year-old Ryan Andresen due to “membership standards,” specifically “duty to God, avowed homosexuality, and the fact that he is now over 18 years of age.” The boy’s father, Eric Andresen, said in response, “It’s pretty upsetting, and it’s wrong. The whole thing has been wrong since day one.”

Writing as a devil’s advocate, nobody is forcing Andresen to be an Eagle Scout. It’s not like he he has to go.

The BSA is a voluntary, private organization that sets policies that are best for the organization. The BSA welcomes all who share its beliefs but does not criticize or condemn those who wish to follow a different path.

From one point of view it makes kinda makes sense because the Boy Scouts are filled with young, impressionable boys and the organization is probably doing its best to head off any predators. From another point of view, this won’t matter. Avowed predators don’t exist.

Elsewhere:

• Along side deacons and priest, gay bishops have a place in the Church of England once more. No monkey business though, okay?

#LGBT