The Boy Scouts of America should allow Gay Scouts/Scoutmasters to remain in the program.

My apologies for my previous forfeiture as well- While Round Two can be blamed entirely on "Winter Storm Albert", Round Three was the result of my own sheer negligence. Because of this, I will squeeze as much as I can into this: I will focus on these points of the Scout Law: Friendly, Brave, and Kind. I will expand upon three points, for which I shall submit dictionary definitions: friendï¿½ly adj \ˈfren(d)-lē1- of, relating to, or befitting a friend: as a: showing kindly interest and goodwill b: not hostile ; also: involving or coming from actions of one's own forces [1] If we are to accept this definition from Merriam-Webster, then being friendly involves "showing kindly interest and goodwill". The scout law does not discriminate by race or sexual orientation, therefore I should reflect a Scout's (& Scouter's) behavior towards ALL people, including Homosexuals. By treating homosexual scout leaders (many of whom are fathers) they are not embodying their own Law, for discrimination clearly violates the point of "Friendly". brave adj \ˈbrāv1- having or showing courage [2] A Scout is Brave. Bravery, being one of the 12 points of the Scout Law, is something that the Boy Scouts of America clearly wants to encourage. Being Gay is a personal struggle that many people have trouble dealing with. It results in kids getting bullied, harassed, and targeted. For many of these kids the Boy Scouts of America offers great constructive programs, teaching them life skills that will stick with them forever... To be kicked out because you're gay just adds insult to injury. It forces many to stay in the closet, where they have to deal with pent-up emotions beyond what the average teenager already has. "I had a lot of desperate days.... I was ashamed" [3]- says one boy who feared for what his parents and friends would think if he revealed he was gay. He had a legitimate fear of being disowned by his parents. For any boy to reveal their own homosexuality takes courage and bravery that most teens do not have to deal with. For many, coming out is a decision which affects their family, school, and social life in many drastic ways all at once. One gay Boy Scout said that "because I knew that I was different, I felt like I had to conform or risk being ostracized." [3] This Scout is a camp counselor, and has dedicated much of his life to serving the BSA. He also said: "It's been a part of my life since I was 6 years old. It's really helped shape a lot of who I am today as far as communication skills, outdoors skills and working in teams. So many of my memories come from scout camp, and some of my best friends are people I've been on staff with. It's a way of life. The ideals of this program are with you forever."[3] I do not believe that any unbiased, rational person can justify exclusion of anyone from the Boy Scouts of America on the basis of an involuntary condition from birth that does no harm to anyone. And on that note I would like to close my argument with the point of "Kind". 2kind adj 2- a: of a sympathetic or helpful nature b: of a forbearing nature : gentle c: arising from or characterized by sympathy or forbearance [5] It is in no way sympathetic or helpful to anybody to denounce gays as incapable to lead in the Boy Scouts. It is discriminatory. Most children do not become aware of their sexuality until their mid-teens... well AFTER they would have joined Boy Scouts at age 11. This discrimination sends a message of fear to them they they are not as good as the other boys, which is simply not true. I have reached my character limit, or I would go further :( [1] http://www.merriam-webster.com... [2] http://www.merriam-webster.com... [3] http://www.abouthealth.com... [4] http://www.voxmagazine.com... [5] http://www.merriam-webster.com...