Bigotry–in the Cub Scouts and in Central Vermont

Uncategorized

Here's a letter to the editor in today's Times Argus that is revealing of the attitude of the Boy Scouts of America:

My partner and I [have lived] in East Montpelier for over ten years. We have two children and full-time jobs. We attend school and community events, we vote on Election Day and we pay lots of taxes. We even attend church. 

When this couple met with their local Cub Scout leader to introduce themselves and to volunteer to help with the countless tasks running a Cub Scout “pack” entails, you would think they'd be greeted with open arms, right?

No, there's a catch. Because the parents were a lesbian couple the local leader told them they could not help with leadership because “we wouldn't want you pushing your lifestyle on the boys” and he crossed our names off the volunteer list.

The bigotry by the Boy Scouts is no surprise: that's what they do; they exclude atheists, they exclude gays and lesbians, and the list of people they exclude probably goes way beyond what i'm even imagining.

What's as disturbing here, though, is the comments from Times Argus readers. We have the temptation to feel smug, what with marriage equality and the BFP naming Beth Robinson Vermonter of the Year, but this is a real reminder of the bigotry in our midst. 

7 thoughts on “Bigotry–in the Cub Scouts and in Central Vermont”

  2. The online comments are not terribly surprising. There are a handful of very determined, very obnoxious right-wing commenters habituating the T-A’s website. (And many other newspaper websites, for that matter.)

    Sure, there are still bigots around, but they’re a tiny minority of the population.  

  3. about not wanting our boys to grow up to be lesbians.  But I decided against it because the more I think about it, the more the whole thing pisses me off.  

    Are these bigot indoctrination clubs still allowed to use our schools and other public buildings for their meetings?  Are they still allowed to recruit in our schools?  

  4. . . . So the fact that they discriminate against atheists and gays should come as no surprise to anyone. More than 90 percent of BSA chapters are sponsired and organized by churches. And, of course, the 12th Law of the BSA is “A Scout is reverent toward God. . .”

    It’s high time that the BSA be required to identify itself as a religious organization, so that everyone will know exactly why they discriminate agaisnt gays and atheists.  

Comments are closed.