Almost-Eagle Scout denied award because he is gay

[Danny_boi 16]

Really Boy Scouts!? Stuff like this is so awful:mad:
_________________________________________________________________-
Courtesy of the Andresen family




By Miranda Leitsinger, NBC News

-- Ryan Andresen had recently completed the requirements to earning his Eagle Scout award, including his final project of building a "tolerance wall" for victims of bullying like himself, but his Scoutmaster would not sign off on honoring him with the Boy Scouts’ highest ranking because he is gay, his mother said.

And late Thursday, the Boy Scouts of America said in a statement that because of Andresen's sexual orientation and that he did not agree to Scouting’s principle of "Duty to God," “he is no longer eligible for membership in Scouting.”

The Boy Scouts of America have a longstanding policy denying membership to gay leaders and Scouts, which they reaffirmed earlier this year after a two-year confidential review of the controversial ban. The Scoutmaster for Troop 212 in Moraga, Calif., told Andresen’s father, Eric, the troop's chief administrator, on Sunday that Ryan wouldn’t be able to get the award, his mother, Karen, and Eric Andresen told NBC News.

[West Coast Sheriff]

That's terrible.

[FreeFall]

Poor kid.

This is hideous prejudice, and in the boy scouts for crying out loud! What's next? People rejecting girl scout cookies if they're being sold by lesbian members?

[West Coast Sheriff]

Poor kid.

This is hideous prejudiced, and in the boy scouts for crying out loud! What's next? People rejecting girl scout cookies if they're being sold by lesbian members?

Haha. Nice. Lol. :yeah:

But seriously what assholes can people be. :mad:

[FreeFall]

Haha. Nice. Lol. :yeah:

But seriously what assholes can people be. :mad:
Apparently enough that they can crush the hopes of homosexual Boy Scouts and not even care.

[Mortal Coil]

This particular rule is shitting on the very beliefs that the Boy Scouts was founded on. This is disgusting and pathetic. Poor kid.

[Jess]

what the hell? this is freaking pathetic...

poor kid. stupid Boy Scouts >:/

[MisterSix]

I think its good that The Boy Scouts of America are standing up for what they believe in

[Danny_boi 16]

I think its good that The Boy Scouts of America are standing up for what they believe in


I disagree with this comment. A young man was going to receive the highest award in the Scouts, that very few people reach. And all his hard work is now thrown away, because he is who he is.

[Iron Man]

This honestly doesn't surprise me. I feel bad for him though.

[The Mockingjay]

I think its good that The Boy Scouts of America are standing up for what they believe in

I think it's bad that what they believe in is crushing the hopes and aspirations of a teenage boy just for being gay ;)

[TigerBoy]

If you want to show support there's a petition here apparently started by his mother:

http://www.change.org/petitions/boy-scouts-don-t-let-your-anti-gay-policy-deny-my-son-his-eagle-award

[Noirtier]

In the wake of the Den Mother controversy, I suppose I should have seen something like this coming. It's horrible and shows massive prejudice for the BSA to do that, and one would have thought such an organization would be above discrimination on such a high level. I feel sympathy for the boy, but I also don't think the BSA will be able to keep this up much longer, especially with two major issues and petitions being created in a matter of a few months.

[Drew5]

I don't get it. If they don't like a gay guy, why did he join them?

I just don't understand joining a group of people who don't like gays when youre gay. People say they've always known about their sexuality so how could this bad result be a surprise?

Note to that gay guy, you may not want to join:

the mormons or LDS
the catholic church = it would be worse than the scouts.
a football team - won't be happy if you don't tell them up front
navy seals

Some groups just don't want you and that's their loss. Don't worry, everybody has a group that wouldn't want someone for some reason or the other.

[pmaz8]

Thats So Mean Why Do People do That :"(

[The Mockingjay]

I don't get it. If they don't like a gay guy, why did he join them?

I just don't understand joining a group of people who don't like gays when youre gay. People say they've always known about their sexuality so how could this bad result be a surprise?


http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mba5psXab41r4t7nto1_250.gif

You have no idea how ridiculous that statement was.

This guy joined when he was a little kid, of course he didn't know he was gay. Even if he was attracted to men then, the very thought probably terrified him at that age, and he was in denial or something. :P

[Foamy]

building a "tolerance wall" for victims of bullying like himself,

Apparently the Boy Scouts haven't made their own tolerance wall. This is absurd. They should give it to him and more after what they've done to him.

[xChrisVx]

That's absolutely ridiculous. If he put the work in, he should be accredited for it. I think the Scouts need to take a look in the mirror and realise what an effect they are having on this young guy by withdrawing an award he has worked so hard for

[Drew5]

image (http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mba5psXab41r4t7nto1_250.gif)

You have no idea how ridiculous that statement was.

This guy joined when he was a little kid, of course he didn't know he was gay. Even if he was attracted to men then, the very thought probably terrified him at that age, and he was in denial or something. :P

I'm sure it takes some time to become an eagle scout so he was aware of their stance on gays being in the scouts. So he continued with them anyway? I guess what I'm saying is that they are a club with some tradition that's never embraced the gay community, so why would he want to be a part of that? I think any normal gay person wouldn't want to be part of the scouts, but this kid kept going with it anyway and that's what I don't get - being part of an intolerant group that doesn't like the kind of person you are.

[Zarakly]

I'm sure it takes some time to become an eagle scout so he was aware of their stance on gays being in the scouts. So he continued with them anyway? I guess what I'm saying is that they are a club with some tradition that's never embraced the gay community, so why would he want to be a part of that? I think any normal gay person wouldn't want to be part of the scouts, but this kid kept going with it anyway and that's what I don't get - being part of an intolerant group that doesn't like the kind of person you are.

I have to agree with this. If you see the rules I guess, it says that gays, atheists, and agnostics aren't allowed to be in. If you were to become and eagle scout wouldn't you have known you were gay way before then? I do feel bad for the kid, don't get me wrong, but he should've quit when he realized he was gay.

[Gigablue]

I have to agree with this. If you see the rules I guess, it says that gays, atheists, and agnostics aren't allowed to be in. If you were to become and eagle scout wouldn't you have known you were gay way before then? I do feel bad for the kid, don't get me wrong, but he should've quit when he realized he was gay.

Isn't that blatant and pointless discrimination? There is no reason that he can't be a Boy Scout and be gay. It doesn't detract from his performance in any way.

He probably didn't know he was gay when he joined, since he way probably young. He shouldn't be expected to quit when he realized it.

[Zarakly]

Isn't that blatant and pointless discrimination? There is no reason that he can't be a Boy Scout and be gay. It doesn't detract from his performance in any way.

He probably didn't know he was gay when he joined, since he way probably young. He shouldn't be expected to quit when he realized it.

I understand what you mean, but when he realized he was gay, he should have realized it was against the rules and maybe the oath? I'm not saying it detracts from his performance, I'm just saying, those are rules that they put up. Stupid or not, they have been going on for many years. Maybe they should change. I believe the military changed on the gay people. I'm not sure though. I'm just saying when he had realized he was gay, he should have then tried talking to someone or quit because it went against their principals I guess would be a better word for it. Perhaps if he had talked to someone, he could have started a change and it wouldn't have been as bad?

[Gigablue]

I understand what you mean, but when he realized he was gay, he should have realized it was against the rules and maybe the oath? I'm not saying it detracts from his performance, I'm just saying, those are rules that they put up. Stupid or not, they have been going on for many years. Maybe they should change. I believe the military changed on the gay people. I'm not sure though. I'm just saying when he had realized he was gay, he should have then tried talking to someone or quit because it went against their principals I guess would be a better word for it. Perhaps if he had talked to someone, he could have started a change and it wouldn't have been as bad?

I understand that those are the rules, but I think they are stupid. Rules can be changed, and this is a prime example of something outdated. He shouldn't have to quit. You say he could have talked to someone. I don't really see how that would change something. He would still be gay and the rules would still prohibit it.

[Gordo]

I understand what you mean, but when he realized he was gay, he should have realized it was against the rules and maybe the oath? I'm not saying it detracts from his performance, I'm just saying, those are rules that they put up. Stupid or not, they have been going on for many years. Maybe they should change. I believe the military changed on the gay people. I'm not sure though. I'm just saying when he had realized he was gay, he should have then tried talking to someone or quit because it went against their principals I guess would be a better word for it. Perhaps if he had talked to someone, he could have started a change and it wouldn't have been as bad?

I'm with you. I don't know why he continued once he realized that they aren't that high on gay guys.

[Zarakly]

I understand that those are the rules, but I think they are stupid. Rules can be changed, and this is a prime example of something outdated. He shouldn't have to quit. You say he could have talked to someone. I don't really see how that would change something. He would still be gay and the rules would still prohibit it.

Yes, it would have still prohibited it, but I think if he had said something, maybe they would let him stay in instead of letting him get to the Eagle Scout and then taking it away. They could've already known and either solved the problem as in removing him, or possibly letting him stay in. I'm not sure how they would have reacted. I agree it is stupid as to what they did. But what you say "outdated" how does that work? It has been the same rules for many many years and they have worked well. I don't think it is "outdated" as they are not computers. But there has suddenly been a drastic increase in homosexuals I guess....

[Clawhammer]

It's Boyscouts. The whole world knows their standards and rules. No sense in complaining about it, what are you supposed to expect?
Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against gays. I am a Christian, but I don't think it's right to condemn those who sin differently than you. The point is that that's just what the organization is. That's the way it has always been, did they think it had changed?

[FreeFall]

It's Boyscouts. The whole world knows their standards and rules. No sense in complaining about it, what are you supposed to expect?
Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against gays. I am a Christian, but I don't think it's right to condemn those who sin differently than you. The point is that that's just what the organization is. That's the way it has always been, did they think it had changed?
Honestly I was in blissful ignorance until I saw the news. I thought the Boy Scouts were tolerant of all and accepting of all, I had no clue that they were anti-gay. Twigs, hiking, helping, community, unity, none of that struck me that they'd turn away their homosexual members, I'm still trying to grasp how that works. Poor guy though.

[IAMWILL]

I am good friends and go to school with the Western Chief of Boy Scouts of America. He controls everything west of Texas. Considering this happened in California, he probably is involved in it. I'm going to talk to him about this, see what he says.
Personally I think this is sad but the rules are the rules, and life is unfair.

[TigerBoy]

Stupid or not, they have been going on for many years. Maybe they should change. I believe the military changed on the gay people. I'm not sure though.
Bloodletting used to be standard medical practice and went on for a very long time: the fact that it was almost always going to make a patient worse didn't stop them. Tradition is a piss poor justification for repeating mistakes.

It has been the same rules for many many years and they have worked well.
What data do you have to draw this conclusion? Even ex-scouts of decades past are returning Eagle Scout badges from being upset to learn about their current hard line homophobia : this does not sound like a policy that worked well, but rather an ugly one that had been kept quiet until now.

Yes the military changed in the US to allow gay and lesbian soldiers to be out (the UK and other countries have had out gay personnel for many years previously). Fwiw studies have shown no degredation in US military operational efficiency and a net benefit.

My 2p: it is extremely cruel to expect serving members to quit after years of commitment the instant they realise their sexuality. Furthermore, this attitude appears to me to be hypocritical by being incompatible with the stated values of the organisation.

[The Mockingjay]

Isn't that blatant and pointless discrimination? There is no reason that he can't be a Boy Scout and be gay. It doesn't detract from his performance in any way.

He probably didn't know he was gay when he joined, since he way probably young. He shouldn't be expected to quit when he realized it.

Exactly. If you'd set you heart on an Eagle Award from an early age and worked for it for your entire life, you'd try to keep you're homosexuality a secret at least until you got it.

[wild1]

They know that doing that to that guy is gonna cost him a lot of pain but they do it anyway. To me its being selfish and cruel to that boy. What if he was their kid? Some people can be so holier than thou if it affects somebody else but not them.

[Zenos]

I'm gay but I can understand where they stand and where the Scouts are coming from because they have a set of beliefs and standards that they Adhere too.

I may not agree with them as a gay,but thats their beliefs and standards they have had since their inception,if we gays want to go scouting instead of trying to force them to conform to OUR will we should start our own group.


But this is "America the Politically Correct land of the Free to make others conform to OUR WILL one way are another and the home of the foolish"!

I say that because at this time everyone is lauding everyones freedom to this and to that right,belief and standard,and yet the very first time anyone finds a group that has it's own values etc etc that they disgaree with ,said groups rights and freedoms goes right out the door and the media whips the majority up into a frenzy and we trample said groups rights and freedoms,and yet we still act like they have their freedoma nd white to decide on this and that!

In America there is no longer a MORAL MAJORITY,just a BLIND FOOLISH MAJOIRTY!!


Let the scouts do what they do,doin't trample their rights and freedoms if we gays don't like it we should form our own thing!

[Danny_boi 16]

If you want to show support there's a petition here apparently started by his mother:

http://www.change.org/petitions/boy-scouts-don-t-let-your-anti-gay-policy-deny-my-son-his-eagle-award

I signed the petition

There are a hand full of gay eagle scouts that have came out after the award years later. But the scouts isn't his life he has school and other activities as well. what makes me sick. is that the BSA doesn't care for the kids well being. He came out, and bullied before and after the coming out. So what the BSA is doing is not giving a high award to someone because his different. It like not giving the award to someone who is black, because his black.

Please don't double post, use the Edit or Multi-quote buttons to add something. ~TheMatrix

[TigerBoy]

The guy is now going to appear on Ellen Degeneres' show (http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2012/10/09/us-scout-denied-eagle-badge-invited-onto-the-ellen-degeneres-show/)

The petition passed 370,000 signatures.

If the bigots who are enforcing this discrimination continue to block their ears I can only see them continuing to lose funding and members as society changes around them. It is clear that their leadership is not serving the best interests of its members, so what use are they?

[xXoblivionXx]

that's just sad :/

[ArsenicCatNip]

I'm sure it takes some time to become an eagle scout so he was aware of their stance on gays being in the scouts. So he continued with them anyway? I guess what I'm saying is that they are a club with some tradition that's never embraced the gay community, so why would he want to be a part of that? I think any normal gay person wouldn't want to be part of the scouts, but this kid kept going with it anyway and that's what I don't get - being part of an intolerant group that doesn't like the kind of person you are.

Same reason why gays joined the military when "don't ask don't tell" was in place. They cared more for serving in the military than feeling "unwelcome" same as this young man who loved taking part in boys scout activities despite bullshit rules.

[TigerBoy]

US: Almost-Eagle Scout teenager appears on Ellen, is awarded $20,000 scholarship

After appearing as a guest on the Ellen Degeneres Show, an 18-year-old Boy Scout who was refused the Eagle Scout badge for being gay, has been awarded a $20,000 (£12,476) scholarship towards his college fees.

More here (http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2012/10/11/us-almost-eagle-scout-teenager-appears-on-ellen-is-awarded-20000-scholarship/)