Boy Scouts to Review Ban on Gay Scoutmasters -- No Change Anticipated

[mrplunkey]

Boy Scouts To Review Ban On Gays; No Change Imminent

I saw this yesterday and it got me thinking.

1) They are a private organization, so it's really none of anyone's business.

2) BUT... they take public funds, which just sold everyone a ticket to vote on the subject. So to me it's a fair-game public policy issue.

And to me, it doesn't seem like that big of a deal. My kids have never done any significant scouting, aside from a few pinewood derby contests. I'd personally rather them ban anyone "weird" from being scout masters, which would include nerds that look like they live with their moms, guys that look like 45 year old virgins, enviro-naturo-nuts as well as a full-on flaming gay guys. Discrete guys who are gay would be fine, but I wouldn't want a sexually indiscreet heterosexual guy being a scout master either.

But here's a thought that came to me yesterday: Consider the girl scouts. Should they have male scoutmasters? Would you send your 13 year old daughter on a three-day camping trip with two 40-something year old men acting as their scoutmaster?

 

[Colstreamer]

Do they have female scout masters (mistresses?) for boy scouts? I just don't like the assumption that all men are potential sexual predators poedophiles rapists etc

My niece has gone on outings with her church youth group with adult males in charge.

 

[PICK3]

Would you send your 13 year old daughter on a three-day camping trip with two 40-something year old men acting as their scoutmaster?

no

butt i did send my knuckle children to reside on my sock

 

[stosstruppe]

If we go along with the school of thought that sexuality is inherent rather than a "choice" then you shouldn't be concerned if your scout masters are homosexual as it obviously isn't synonymous with paedophilia (I generally go along with this thought as I don't believe paedophiles can be "cured").

I'd rather my kids have a discreet gay scoutmaster that actually lives an outdoor lifestyle (camping, mountain biking / climbing, kayaking etc) than some barely hetero nerd that sits in his parents' basement all day playing WoW & doesn't know the first thing about wet & dry routine or putting up a poncho when the weather goes tits up.

 

[mrplunkey]

If we go along with the school of thought that sexuality is inherent rather than a "choice" then you shouldn't be concerned if your scout masters are homosexual as it obviously isn't synonymous with paedophilia (I generally go along with this thought as I don't believe paedophiles can be "cured").

I'd rather my kids have a discreet gay scoutmaster that actually lives an outdoor lifestyle (camping, mountain biking / climbing, kayaking etc) than some barely hetero nerd that sits in his parents' basement all day playing WoW & doesn't know the first thing about wet & dry routine or putting up a poncho when the weather goes tits up.

I agree, particularly with that last paragraph.

But answer me this: Let's say your 13-year old daughter and her five girlfriends were going on a three-day camping trip with two male scoutmasters in their mid 40's.

Would you have a problem with that?

 

[EnderJE]

Camping makes people gay.

 

[stosstruppe]

But answer me this: Let's say your 13-year old daughter and her five girlfriends were going on a three-day camping trip with two male scoutmasters in their mid 40's.

Would you have a problem with that?

I'm cool with it as the group wouldn't be that small. I had middle aged female scout masters (their sons were in my "pack") in my organisation when I went camping as a minor for x number of days at a time.

They sleep in different areas than the minors & the vetting process is pretty stringent.

The army is similar where female minors undertake "Look at Life" courses that last x number of days supervised by adult NCOs. Again they just sleep in different accommodation.