Scouting for Tolerance

Dear Editor:  

Today the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) don’t accept gay members. This must change so that we can teach our children true tolerance.

My two sons have joined the Alameda Pack 1076 as cub scouts over the past couple of years and they love the program.

They built their own toolbox and were so proud. They learned to help others when they sang Christmas carols for the elderly. They realized that it takes a lot of effort to support the environment when they worked on beach cleanups. And all along they made wonderful friendships built on respect and tolerance.

And then there is the BSA anti-gay membership rule looming over us: We all know that a certain number of cub scouts in my boys’ dens will be gay.

One day those boys all of a sudden will no longer be welcomed by the BSA, or even worse, those children will deny their true sexuality to continue to fit in.

It pains me knowing that every day I am responsible for adding to their future pain and suffering by being part of the Boy Scouts.

In May the BSA will vote on its membership policy.

I hope the BSA will realize that sexual orientation has nothing to do with scouting and that the ban on gays must be removed.

Once that is accomplished all the good Boy Scouts do can truly shine again.

Readers who are interested in more information on tolerance in scouting can reach me at theiding@yahoo.com.

Sincerely,

Mark Theiding