For those of you who don't know, the Boy Scouts of America is almost ready to bow before the incessant pressure placed upon them by LGBT groups and allow gay leaders and youth into the program. As a current Scoutmaster and lifelong fan of Scouting, I feel that the time has come to rise to my Organization's defense. They're making their final decision tomorrow, so I decided that they at least need to know how I feel.
To any of my Gay and Lesbian friends out there: I'm not a hater. I'm really not. I accept everyone regardless of their behavior. But please don't confuse my acceptance of an individual with an acceptance of their behavior.
Here's what I said:
I understand that the BSA has a big decision to make--one that could affect all those of us involved in Scouting. I'll admit that I don't usually use my voice during times like these, but when it comes to this issue, I simply cannot stay silent. There's too much at stake.
I strongly urge you NOT to repeal your own decision to keep homosexual adults and youth out of the Boy Scout program. Your decision to do so will fundamentally change everything we hold precious about Scouting.
Please know that I believe, along with millions of other Americans, Boy Scouts, and Boy Scout Leaders, that the practice of homosexuality is aberrant, perverse, and immoral. Acceptance of openly homosexual individuals into the program is a stamp of approval on that behavior. If Scouting were only about acceptance and inclusion (which, or course, it is), then I'm all for it. But Scouting is about so much more. If Scouting were only about inclusion, why do both our Scout Oath AND Scout Law center on behavior? Do we need to omit the word "clean" from the Law, and "morally straight" from the Oath, just to accommodate the raucous cries of special interest groups?
The issue at stake is not exclusion or inclusion. The issue is this: Is homosexuality wrong? If you honestly believe the answer to this question is no, then I would understand a decision to repeal. But if the answer is yes, then the path to take should be obvious.
The fact that homosexuality is so wrong is only one of my concerns about allowing such a dangerous influence into Scouting. Welcoming homosexuals also opens the door for using Scouting as a tool to push the LGBT agenda. BSA could become yet another platform for pushing their message to the world. And what might come of that? A chapter in the Boy Scout Handbook about the choosing your own gender? New camp songs about how much fun it is for Boy Scouts to act like Girl Scouts? An LGBT merit badge? If we let this hurricane through the levees just a crack, we're opening ourselves to the entire flood tide. Scouting is an organization for boys--NOT a political platform, and because this issue has so much political momentum, it could become just that.
I'm also deeply concerned about the effect this could have on individually chartered units. I understand that, in making your decision, you will not force chartered organizations to accept gay leaders and youth into their programs. But if you change the policy, that opens the door for LGBT groups to attack chartered groups on an individual basis. And when they focus on smaller groups, it will be easier for them to pressure us. For example, as one of the charters that will NOT accept the LGBT agenda into our meetings, does that mean that we can now expect to cross picket lines in order to start our meetings? Does that mean that smaller charters will have to bow to the pressure just because they don't have the numbers or resources to practice Scouting the way they believe is right? Without the backing of a National Council, the individual groups will be so much easier to pick off… one by one.
I'm not saying that making the right choice will be easy. It rarely is. You have already shown remarkable poise in taking a stand against something that is so fundamentally wrong, and I respect and admire you for that. I only ask you to show the same bravery you've shown for so long.
Please have the courage to choose what is right before conceding to enormous pressure to do something wrong. That kind of courage is exactly what has made Boy Scouts of America, and our United States of America, so strong.
Thank you,
Neal Jenks
Scoutmaster
Troop 1413
Provo Peak District
Utah National Parks Council
It's hard to believe it has been 5 years since Erin passed away. I still have moments when it doesn't feel real, and moments of extreme emotion. I still think about her everyday and talk to her often. She is still my best friend, maybe even more than ever before.
I miss you and love you so much Erin! NLYSYITM
