I'm totally with Mav on this one. I came from a rural community in central California (south of Sacramento about thirty miles) and our scouting experiences were an amazing time to learn about the back country, how to work as a team, how to respect each other and get along, how to identify the qualities of budding leadership. I got to be Eagle, maybe because of my Dad's prompting, but at all times the whole experience was about respecting others and kind of a "don't ask, don't tell" in that everyone knew that there were diverse types out there and it was no one's business to bring it up. This was also because there were an amazing diversity of ethnic types as well. My country troop had East Indian kids, Hispanic kids, poor kids, country club kids, Japanese kids, Chinese kids, Pacific Islanders- the typical California agricultural blend. My scout master and his helpers (including my Dad) were all WW II vets who believed that character trumped everything: money, race, station, etc.
Eagle.jpg
But I think back then there was confusion about the differences between homosexuality and pedophilia. They are obviously two different things but often blurred in the public mind. Not to say there weren't problems in our little rural area: one scout leader was dismissed back then over a 'fondness' for boys and my seventh grade teacher eventually committed suicide over the fact he was about to be arrested for molestation. Point being that these things were on people's minds.
Hiram Meadow.jpg
But today I think we have enough public awareness to understand these distinctions. And I'll offer an completely uninformed opinion: that the LDS does exert undue influence on the look-and-feel of Scouting these days. If I had a kid of that age I am not sure I would encourage them to seek community in Scouting, sad to say.
Those interested in speaking out may want to visit the web site: Scouts for Equality
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.