The Brief: Top Texas News for Feb. 6, 2013
The Big Conversation
As the Boy Scouts of America prepared to reconsider its ban on gay membership, a slew of Texas officeholders jumped into the debate on Tuesday.
Days after Gov. Rick Perry publicly urged the organization to keep its policy refusing gay members and leaders, more than 40 Republican state officials did the same, signing on to an open letter released yesterday by Jonathan Saenz, president of the conservative group Texas Values.
"As state elected officials, we strongly encourage the Boy Scouts of America to stick with their decades of support for family values and moral principles," the letter ...
Comments (7)
Johnny Hughes via Texas Tribune on Facebook
One article I wrote was Learning to Steal in the Boy Scouts of America. Google that.
Jalapeño Schwartz via Texas Tribune on Facebook
As an Eagle scout, I am thrilled at the current idea of allowing self determination at the troop level. Scouting is first and foremost a local community org. and should be run as parents feel comfortable in their own chartering institutions. It is the only reasonable solution.
Bambi Clark via Texas Tribune on Facebook
"Liberal social agenda"? Or just life?
Pun Nio via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I'm sure nature agrees, how hypocritical.
Alexandra Richmond via Texas Tribune on Facebook
quit having gay kids, straight people. control yourselves.
Jim Hsu via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Signed, BigotWithHeadStillCementedFirmlyInHomophobic1950s
Eric Bittner
I'm an Eagle Scout with two sons in Scouting & a Scout leader. At the very least, it should be at the discretion of the local chartering organization whether they are willing to host openly GLB leaders. That stated, I see no reason for an out-right ban or exclusion of any individual based on race, color, creed, or orientation. Why should we exclude Scouts who may need the support of good mentorship and a supporting environment at a time in their live when they need that sort of structure and support? Furthermore, looking back in my old Scout handbooks from the really early day of the organization, questions were raised about having Blacks, Jews, and other minorities involved in Scouts and it was left to the chartering organization to adopt a policy regarding these groups. That is NO LONGER the policy and we're a stronger organization as a result.
We do more harm than good by clinging to an out-dated policy that excludes members. A Scout is a friend to all.