Boy Scouts of America membership controversies

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The Boy Scouts of America (BSA), the largest youth organization in the United States, has policies which prohibit certain people from membership in its Scouting program. Some of these policies are controversial and have resulted in adult leaders and boys having their membership revoked for being an atheist, agnostic, or homosexual.^[1]

Advocates of the Boy Scouts of America contend that these policies are essential in its mission to instill in young people the values of the Scout Oath and Law.^[2][3] Others believe that some or all of these policies are wrong and discriminatory.^[4][5]

The organization's right to set such policies has been upheld repeatedly by both state and federal courts. Moreover, in 2000, the Supreme Court of the United States affirmed that the Boy Scouts of America is a private organization which can set its own membership standards. In recent years, the policy disputes have led to litigation over the terms under which the BSA can access governmental resources including public lands.^[6]

Additionally, the BSA does not allow girls to participate in Cub Scouting and Boy Scouting.

Contents 1 Scout Oath and Law 2 Boy Scouts of America's values affect membership criteria 2.1 Position on atheists and agnostics 2.2 Position on homosexuals 2.3 Position on gender 3 Mainstream Scouting membership policies 4 Litigation over the membership policies 4.1 Governmental sponsorship of Scouting units 4.2 Access to governmental resources 4.3 Recent litigation 4.3.1 Active 4.3.2 Inactive 5 Opposition to Boy Scouts of America's membership policies 5.1 Loss of support 5.2 Efforts to change the membership policies 5.3 Scouting and youth organizations with different policies 6 Support for the Boy Scouts of America 6.1 Support from within Scouting 6.2 Support from government 6.3 Support from others 7 Related issues 7.1 Scouting membership in the United States 7.2 BSA membership size 7.3 Unitarian Universalist religious emblems program 7.4 Historical membership controversies 8 See also 9 References 10 External links

[edit] Scout Oath and Law

These are the Scout Oath and Law used by Boy Scouting in the BSA:
Scout Oath
On my honor I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country
and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong,
mentally awake, and morally straight.

Scout Law
A Scout is: trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.

[edit] Boy Scouts of America's values affect membership criteria

According to its mission statement, the Boy Scouts of America seeks "to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law".^[2] All members are required, as a condition of membership, to promise to uphold and obey both of these pledges.^[7] The texts of the BSA's Scout Oath and Scout Law have remained unchanged since they were approved in 1911.^[8]

Religion has been an integral part of the international Scouting movement since its inception. As early as 1908, Scouting founder Baden-Powell wrote in the first Scout handbook that, "No man is much good unless he believes in God and obeys His laws. So every Scout should have a religion."^[9] The World Organization of the Scout Movement with few exceptions, requires all member National Scout Organizations, including the BSA, to reference "duty to God" in their respective Scout promise (words such as "my religion" or "Dharma" are sometimes used instead of the word "God").^[10] In Cub Scouting, Cub Scouts working on the Bear rank must complete a requirement about their faith although they, like Boy Scouts, are not required to adhere to an organized religion.^[11]

Some religious organizations have developed and administer optional denomination-specific religious emblems programs to encourage youth to grow stronger in their faith. Since 1939,^[12] the Boy Scouts of America has allowed an emblem awarded by a religious organization to be worn on the Scout uniform if BSA has approved the emblem program and the program requirements have been completed to the satisfaction of the religious organization.^[13]

Officials from various religious organizations -- including the Latter-day Saints (Mormon), Catholic, Methodist, Lutheran, and Presbyterian churches -- are included on the BSA National Executive Board, its Advisory Council, and the BSA Religious Relationships Committee. Religious organizations host/sponsor over 60% of the Scouting units in the United States and use the Scouting program as part of their youth ministry; most have organizations dedicated to Scouting, such as the National Catholic Committee on Scouting^[14], National Lutheran Association for Scouters^[15], and National Association of Presbyterian Scouters^[16].^[17]

In reciting the Scout Oath, a Scout promises to be "morally straight" and to do their "duty to God"; the Scout Law holds that a Scout is "clean" and "reverent". As early as 1978, the Boy Scouts of America circulated a memorandum among national executive staff stating that they held the Scout Oath and Law to be incompatible with homosexuality.^[18] Similarly, since at least 1985, the BSA has interpreted the Scout Oath and Law as being incompatible with agnosticism and atheism.^[19] In both instances, the organization asserted that it was not a "new policy" to expel atheists and gays -- rather, the BSA argued it was just enforcing long-held policies which had never been published or publicly challenged.^[20]

[edit] Position on atheists and agnostics

The Boy Scouts of America's position is that agnostics and atheists cannot participate as Scouts (youth members) or Scouters (adult leaders). According to the Bylaws of the BSA, Declaration of Religious Principle:

"The Boy Scouts of America maintains that no member can grow into the best kind of citizen without recognizing an obligation to God. In the first part of the Scout Oath or Promise the member declares, ‘On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law.’ The recognition of God as the ruling and leading power in the universe and the grateful acknowledgment of His favors and blessings are necessary to the best type of citizenship and are wholesome precepts in the education of the growing members."^[3]

The Boy Scouts of America requires youths and adults to subscribe to the precepts of the Declaration of Religious Principle and to agree to abide by the Scout Law and Scout Oath, which includes the words, "To do my duty to God". The BSA believes that an atheist or agnostic is not an appropriate role model of the Scout Oath and Law for boys, and thus will not accept such adults as leaders.

[edit] Position on homosexuals

Since 1981, openly gay adults have been officially prohibited from joining the Boy Scouts of America.^[21] The BSA "believes that a known or avowed homosexual is not an appropriate role model of the Scout Oath and Law".^[22]

The language used to describe the BSA's policies on homosexuals has evolved over time. Prior to 2004, the policy stated:

"We do not allow for the registration of avowed homosexuals as members or as leaders of the BSA."^[23]

In 2004, the BSA adopted a new policy statement:

"Boy Scouts of America believes that homosexual conduct is inconsistent with the obligations in the Scout Oath and Scout Law to be morally straight and clean in thought, word, and deed. The conduct of youth members must be in compliance with the Scout Oath and Law, and membership in Boy Scouts of America is contingent upon the willingness to accept Scouting’s values and beliefs."^[22]

The BSA stated in a 2000 press release that, "Boy Scouting makes no effort to discover the sexual orientation of any person."^[24] BSA application forms for youth membership and adult leadership positions do not inquire about the applicants' sexual orientation and do not mention the BSA's policies regarding homosexuals.^[25] However, there exist reports of Scouting leaders improperly questioning members about their sexual orientation, sometimes resulting in their expulsion.^[26] In 2005, a high-level employee of BSA was fired by National Council after the organization somehow obtained a copy of his bill from a gay resort at which he had vacationed.^[27]

BSA local councils and Scouting units are required to adhere to National Council policies as a condition of their charters;^[28] however, there is inconsistency in the way some have interpreted and implemented official policy on homosexuality. Several local councils have stated that they have implemented the policy in a way that is similar to the U.S. Armed Forces' "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.^[29] In this view, homosexuals should be allowed to remain members as long as they do not disclose their sexual orientation, and the BSA should not question or investigate their sexual orientation. There is, however, disagreement as to whether "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is consistent with National Council's official policy.^[30][31]

[edit] Position on gender

According to the BSA, "The Cub Scout and Boy Scout programs were designed to meet the emotional, psychological, physical, and other needs of boys between the ages of 8 and 14."^[32] The organization does not admit girls to these programs although girls 14 years of age and older may join Venturing, a coeducational program.

[edit] Mainstream Scouting membership policies

The World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) now serves the mainstream Scout Movement along with the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS). WOSM has a membership of 155 National Scout Organizations with more than 28 million individuals.[1][2] Only one Scouting organization per country is recognized by WOSM. In about ten percent of the countries, the National Scout Organization is a federation composed of more than one Scout association; some of the associations in a federation may be segregated by religion (France, Denmark), ethnicity (Bosnia, Israel), or native language (Canada).[3] The WOSM National Scout Organization in the United States has been the Boy Scouts of America since it became a member in 1922.

The value system of the BSA and other Scouting associations may differ; this is evident in the different Scout promises and laws used by associations (see Scout Promise and Scout Law). Correspondingly, the membership policies of Scouting associations may differ as well.

For example, in contrast to the BSA's policy, homosexuals are not restricted from membership or leadership positions in Scouts Canada and most European associations, including The Scout Association in the United Kingdom, Ring deutscher Pfadfinderverbände of Germany (German Scout Federation), and the Swedish Guide and Scout Association; all are WOSM members.^[33][34] In countries where homosexuality is legal, there is usually at least one Scouting association that allows homosexuals as members and leaders.

"Duty to God" is a principle of worldwide Scouting and WOSM requires its member National Scout Organizations to reference "duty to God" in their Scout Promises (see WOSM Scout Promise requirements). Scouting associations apply this principle to their membership policies in different ways. The Boy Scouts of America takes a hard-line position by excluding atheists from membership. Scouts Canada defines "duty to God" broadly in terms of "adherence to spiritual principles" and does not have any explicit policy excluding non-theists.^[35] According the the Equal Opportunities Policy of The Scout Association in the United Kingdom:

"To enable young people to grow into independent adults the Scout Method encourages young people to question what they have been taught. Scouts and Venture Scouts who question God's existence, their own spirituality or the structures and beliefs of any or all religions are simply searching for spiritual understanding. This notion of a search for enlightenment is compatible with belief in most of the world's faiths. It is unacceptable to refuse Membership, or question a young person's suitability to continue to participate fully in a Section, if they express doubts about the meaning of the Promise."[4]

The membership policies of Scouting organizations also vary regarding the inclusion of girls, see Coeducational Scouting. There are also Scouting associations that are not members of WOSM or WAGGGS and they have their own membership policies (see Non-aligned Scouting and Scout-like organisations).

[edit] Litigation over the membership policies

The Boy Scouts of America has been involved in a number of lawsuits challenging its membership, leadership, and employment standards.^[36] Some of the lawsuits dealt with the BSA's standards that require Scouts and Scouters to believe in God and not be homosexual, and the exclusion of girls from membership in some programs.^[3][22][37]

There has been some opposition to single-sex membership programs and organizations in the United States including some programs of the BSA.^[38] The Boy Scouts of America admits only boys to its Cub Scout and Boy Scout programs. Several lawsuits involving girls seeking admission to these programs have resulted in court rulings that the BSA is not required to admit girls.^[32]

During the 1980s and 1990s, there were several high-profile lawsuits in which individuals asked the courts to require the BSA to include gays or atheists. In 1981, Tim Curran, an openly-gay former Scout, sued asking that he be accepted as an Assistant Scoutmaster (see Curran v. Mount Diablo Council).^[39] In 1991, twin brothers William and Michael Randall, who had refused to recite the "duty to God" portion of the Cub Scout and Boy Scout Promises, sued to be allowed to continue in the program (see Randall v. Orange County Council).^[40] In addition, there were at least five or six other lawsuits involving basically the same issues.^[41] Ultimately, the Boy Scouts of America won every case.

In the wake of these rulings, the right of the BSA to set their own membership standards has been firmly established. The Courts have repeatedly held that the Boys Scouts of America, and all private organizations, have a right to set membership standards under the First Amendment protected concept of freedom of association. In particular, in Boy Scouts of America v. Dale, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2000 that the BSA's right to freedom of association gave them the authority to expel a gay assistant Scoutmaster.^[8]

Since the Supreme Court's ruling, the focus of lawsuits has shifted to challenging the BSA's relationship with governments in light of their membership policies. A number of lawsuits have been filed by or with the assistance of the American Civil Liberties Union over issues such as government association with the BSA and the conditions under which the BSA is allowed to access governmental resources.^[42]

[edit] Governmental sponsorship of Scouting units

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has taken legal action to stop governmental organizations from serving as the chartered organizations (sponsors) of Scouting units. The U.S. Department of Defense announced in 2004 that it would end direct sponsorship of Scouting units in response to a religious discrimination lawsuit brought by the ACLU (stemming from the BSA's exclusion of atheists).^[43] The BSA agreed in 2005 to transfer all charters it had issued to governmental entities to private entities in response to a request from the ACLU.^[44] Previously, about 400 Scouting units had been sponsored by U.S. military bases and over 10,000 by other governmental entities, primarily public schools.^[45] (See Scouting units and chartered organizations.)

[edit] Access to governmental resources

The conditions under which the Boy Scouts of America can access public and nonpublic governmental resources have become controversial and have resulted in litigation.^[46] Historically, the BSA (and the Girl Scouts of the USA) have often been granted preferential access to governmental resources such as lands and facilities.

When a private organization such as the BSA receives access on terms more favorable than other private organizations, it is known as "special" or "preferential" access whereas "equal" access is access on the same terms. For example, state and local governments may lease property to nonprofit groups (such as the BSA) on terms that are preferential to or equal to the terms they offer to commercial groups, in other words they may give nonprofit groups either special or equal access. Special access includes access at a reduced fee (including no fee) or access to places off-limits to other groups. The categorization of access as "special" or "equal" is not always clear-cut.

Some cities, counties, and states have ordinances or policies that limit government support for organizations that practice some types of discrimination. Since the BSA's membership policies may sometimes be contrary to these laws, some government organizations have moved to change the terms under which the BSA is allowed to access its resources. Private individuals have filed lawsuits to prevent governmental entities from granting what they see as preferential access.^[47] The BSA on the other hand has sued governmental entities for denying what it sees as equal access.^[42]

In response to these changes and litigation, the federal government passed laws mandating the BSA's equal access to local and state-level governmental resources. The Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act, enacted in 2002, requires public elementary and secondary schools that receive U.S. Department of Education funding to provide BSA groups equal access to school facilities.^[48] The Support our Scouts Act of 2005 requires state and local governments that receive HUD funding to provide BSA groups equal access to governmental forums (lands, facilities, etc.). State and local governments still have flexibility regarding the provision of special access to the BSA.^[49]

[edit] Recent litigation

Recent litigation has been primarily about access to governmental resources.

[edit] Active

• A US District Court's ruling against the BSA on the favorable terms under which the City of San Diego leases public land to the BSA is being appealed (see Barnes-Wallace v. Boy Scouts of America).

[edit] Inactive

• In July 2003, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a decision by a U.S. Disctrict Judge that excluded the BSA from an annual workplace charitable campaign run by the state of Connecticut because of the BSA's policy on homosexuals. In March 2004, the United States Supreme Court declined to review the case.^[50]
• In March 2006, the California Supreme Court ruled in Evans v. Berkeley that the City of Berkeley did not have to continue to provide free dock space to the Sea Scouts.^[51] In October 2006, the United States Supreme Court refused to review Evans v. Berkeley.^[52]
• In September 2006, the Oregon Supreme Court ruled that recruiting by BSA in public schools did not violate the state's nondiscrimination laws.^[53]
• The U.S. Army gives the BSA special access to a base, Fort A.P. Hill, for its national Scout jamboree and the U.S. Department of Defense spends approximately $2 million per year in taxpayer funds to assist the BSA in staging it. On April 4, 2007 the US Court of Appeals overturned a lower court ruling thus allowing the 2010 and future Jamborees to go forward with continued DOD support. (see Winkler v. Rumsfeld).^[42][54]

[edit] Opposition to Boy Scouts of America's membership policies

A number of individuals and organizations oppose the BSA's membership policies. Perhaps the most vocal opponent of the policies has been the American Civil Liberties Union, which has brought or been a participant in fourteen^[55] lawsuits against the Boy Scouts of America from 1981 to March 2006. A few members of the U.S. Congress have also spoken out against the BSA's policies.^[56]

Some within the Scouting movement, as well as long-time Scouting supporters, parents, chartered organizations, and religious organizations have expressed opposition to the policies in a variety of ways, ranging from protests to starting organizations that advocate inclusiveness. Some advocate for change from within, while others disassociate themselves from the BSA or urge others to do so.

Since the Dale decision, some Eagle Scouts (about 100) have returned their Eagle Scout badges to the BSA in protest.^[57][58] In 2001, the National Council "revoked the charter of several Cub Scout packs in Oak Park, Ill., because the sponsors, a parent-teacher group, adhered to a nondiscrimination policy."^[28] Also in 2001, nine local councils requested permission to sign certain nondiscrimination statements, but were denied by the National Council.^[28]; since then, at least one council in New Jersey has signed such a statement.^[59]

The Unitarian Universalist Association has vocally opposed the BSA's membership exclusions. This dispute ultimately led to a controversial dissolution of any ties between the two organizations (see below). In 2001, the Union for Reform Judaism's Commission on Social Action, citing a commitment to ending discrimination in all forms, issued a memorandum recommending that congregations stop hosting BSA troops and that parents withdraw their children from all of the Boy Scouts of America's programs.^[60] Additionally, the General Synod of the United Church of Christ issued a statement urging the BSA to change policy and stated that, "Discrimination against anyone based on sexual orientation is contrary to our understanding of the teachings of Christ."^[61]

[edit] Loss of support

Some public entities and private institutions have stopped supporting the BSA as a result of their membership policies. About 50 local United Ways, including those in Miami, Orlando, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Seattle, have withdrawn all funding.^[62] The BSA has also lost all funding from several large corporations that used to be regular donors, such as Chase Manhattan Bank, Levi Strauss, Wells Fargo, Fleet Bank, and CVS/pharmacy.^[62] In another case, Pew Charitable Trusts, which had consistently supported the BSA for over fifty years, decided to cancel a $100,000 donation and cease any future donations.^[62] A number of public entities (including the cities of Chicago, San Diego, Tempe, Buffalo Grove, Berkeley, and Santa Barbara, as well as the states of California, Illinois, and Connecticut) have canceled charitable donations (of money or preferential land access) that had historically been granted to the Scouts.^[62][63][64]

Eagle Scout filmmaker Steven Spielberg had been a long-time supporter of Scouting, depicting a young Indiana Jones as a Boy Scout in the 1989 film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. In 2001, Spielberg resigned from the BSA Advisory Council in protest, saying, "it has deeply saddened me to see the Boy Scouts of America actively and publicly participating in discrimination."^[65]

[edit] Efforts to change the membership policies

There have been numerous efforts (other than litigation) to change the BSA's membership policies regarding gays and atheists but all have failed. At the BSA annual meeting in Boston in 2001, nine local councils submitted a resolution to give more discretion for membership standards to local councils and chartered organizations.^[66] This resolution and two others were considered by the BSA National Executive Board but the initiative failed in 2002.^[67]

A number of current and former Scouts and Scout leaders formed organizations that advocate the inclusion of gays and atheists. In 1991, William Boyce Mueller, a former Cub Scout and grandson of original Boy Scouts of America founder William Dickson Boyce, helped start an advocacy group of gay former Scouts called the "Forgotten Scouts".^[68] The Coalition for Inclusive Scouting was another organization.^[69]

Scouting for All seeks to promote tolerance and diversity within the BSA.^[70] Scouter Dave Rice co-founded Scouting for All in 1993, initially for the purpose of changing the BSA policy on sexual orientation. In 1998, the Boy Scouts of America dismissed him after 59 years of membership for "involving Scouting youth" in his effort. Rice, who is not gay, stated that he obeyed all rules and guidelines and that he never misused his leadership status or promoted an agenda during troop meetings. He maintains that the Boy Scouts of America violated its own rules by summarily dismissing him without granting him a chance to present evidence to a regional review board as is required by the BSA's "Procedures for Maintaining Standards of Membership".^[71][72]

[edit] Scouting and youth organizations with different policies

There are Scouting organizations with membership policies that differ from those of the Boy Scouts of America as can be seen in the Mainstream Scouting membership policies section. The Girl Scouts of the USA accepts homosexuals and allows its members to substitute another word in place of "God" when reciting the Girl Scout Promise.^[73] Other American youth organizations do not have policies that exclude homosexuals and atheists, such as Camp Fire USA, SpiralScouts International, 4-H, and the BSA's Learning for Life program.^[74]

These youth organizations have less restrictive membership criteria than the BSA by choice and/or because of nondiscrimination laws in their country. Some of these organizations have criticized the BSA's membership policies.^[75][76] Other critics use these organizations as an example in attempting to disprove the BSA's claim that Scouting values, and the needs of youth organizations in general, require the exclusion of atheists and/or homosexuals.^[77]

[edit] Support for the Boy Scouts of America

The membership controversy and subsequent litigation, some of which has been in response to the 2000 ruling in BSA v. Dale, has prompted a number of expressions of support for the BSA organization, program, or policies:

[edit] Support from within Scouting

A number of people within the Boy Scouts of America have voiced strong and unequivocal support for the policies. In 2002, the National Executive Board of Boy Scouts of America reiterated its support for the policies and affirmed that "the Boy Scouts of America shall continue to follow its traditional values and standards of leadership".^[78] Also in 2002, a group of current and former members of the BSA created the group Save Our Scouts in order "to support and defend the principles of the Scout Oath and Law".^[79]

Columnist Hans Zeiger, an Eagle Scout, has founded the Scout Honor Coalition, a grassroots organization dedicated to supporting the policies.^[80] According to Zeiger, "Scouts' honor is under attack in American culture". Zeiger applauds what he sees as the BSA's courage in resisting political pressure to admit gays, saying, "Regardless of what leads to homosexuality, it is a thing that has an agenda in our society and is very harmful to the traditional family and is causing a tremendous amount of harm to young men. The Boy Scouts are one of the few organizations that have the moral sense to stand against the homosexual agenda".^[81]

The American Heritage Girls is a Scouting organization that provides an alternative to the Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA). American Heritage Girls' policies on gays and atheists are similar to those held by the BSA though it is, unlike the BSA or GSUSA, an explicitly Christian organization. It was formed by parents who were unhappy that GSUSA accepted lesbians as troop leaders, allowed girls to substitute a word more applicable to their belief for the word "God" in the Girl Scout Promise, and allegedly banned prayer at meetings.

[edit] Support from government

President of the United States William Howard Taft began serving as the first Honorary President of the Boy Scouts of America in 1911. The tradition has been followed by each succeeding U.S. President to this day.^[82]

The U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate have overwhelmingly passed resolutions in support of the Boy Scouts of America. In November 2004, the House passed a resolution, by a vote of 391 to 3, recognizing "the Boy Scouts of America for the public service the organization performs".^[83] Then, in February 2005, the House passed a resolution by a vote of 418 to 7, stating that "the Department of Defense should continue to exercise its long-standing statutory authority to support the activities of the BSA, in particular the periodic national and world Scout jamborees."^[84]

The U.S. Congress has twice passed bills directly affecting the governmental resources access controversy. In 2001, the U.S. Congress passed the Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act, which encouraged the BSA's access to educational facilities. In July 2005, the Senate voted 98 to 0 in favor of the Support Our Scouts Act, enacted in December 2005, which encourages both governmental support of the Boy Scouts in general and federal support of the national Scout jamboree.

Sen Bill Frist, one of the sponsors of the Support Our Scouts Acts, spoke highly of the BSA, saying:

"This unique American institution is committed to preparing our youth for the future by instilling in them values such as honesty, integrity, and character."

Of the Act, Frist explained:

"This legislation will allow the Boy Scouts to fulfill its mission without the distraction of defending itself against senseless attacks."^[85]

In August 2005, President George W. Bush addressed the National Scout Jamboree and, although he did not directly discuss the controversies, reiterated his support for the organization. At the Jamboree, Bush commended the Scouts for upholding "values that build strong families, strong communities, and strong character" and said that the Scouts' values "are the values of America."^[86]

[edit] Support from others

A wide range of individuals, commentators, and conservative groups spoke out in support of the Boy Scouts of America. The BSA legal website provides a list of editorials written in their support.^[87] In addition, a conservative civil libertarian group, the American Civil Rights Union, set up the Scouting Legal Defense Fund, and routinely helped with lawsuits.^[88] In a legal brief filed in support of the BSA, the American Civil Rights Union argued that "To label [the BSA's membership policies] discriminatory and exclusionary, and a civil rights violation, is an assault on the very freedom of American citizens to advance, promote, and teach traditional moral values."^[89]

One online petition, which had received over 375,000 electronic signatures, showed support for the Scouts from those who are "deeply troubled by the recent attacks which have come against the Boy Scouts simply because the Scouts have taken a stand for faith and moral values." The petition further asserted that, "As a private organization, the Boy Scouts has every right to set standards for leadership and morality."^[90]

A number of religious organizations, particularly those in the United States, regard homosexuality as immoral (see Homosexuality and religion). Religious institutions are the chartered organizations (sponsors) of over 60% of the approximately 123,000 Scouting units in the United States.^[91][92] In general, these religious groups and their members have been strong supporters of BSA's membership policies.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a longtime supporter of the Boy Scouts of America, teaches that homosexual activity is immoral and sinful.^[93] The Church has threatened to withdraw from the Scouting program if it was ever compelled to accept openly homosexual Scout leaders.^[94][91] The Church is the largest single sponsor of Scouting units with over 30,000 units nationwide, which comprise about 13% of BSA's youth members.^[91][95]

Following the Dale decision, a number of independent reasearch organizations conducted polls to determine American public opinion on the controversy. In these surveys, more respondents supported the BSA position than opposed it.[5]

[edit] Related issues

[edit] Scouting membership in the United States

Main article: Scouting in the United States

The Boy Scouts of America is by far the largest supplier of Scouting to boys in the United States of America. The BSA is the only Scouting association of significance in the United States that boys can join and there are no comparable alternative organizations available to them throughout most of the country.

The situation is different in some countries where there are a number of Scouting associations with varying membership criteria. Some of these associations may be segregated on the basis of ethnicity, language, or religion; and some may have more inclusive membership criteria than the BSA (see Mainstream Scouting membership policies).

Scouting began in the United Kingdom in 1907. After the founding of the Boy Scouts of America in 1910 and having received the endorsement of Baden-Powell, the BSA began an active campaign to absorb all other Scout-type youth organizations in the United States.[6] As a result, essentially all competitors had ceased to exist within a few years.

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[edit] BSA membership size

BSA records show that the number of Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts has dropped in recent years.^[96][97] It is unclear why membership has dropped and whether the membership policy controversy has had an effect on membership levels. Scouts Canada, which has less restrictive membership policies, has also experienced a substantial membership decline.^[98]

During the same time period, membership increased in other youth organizations, such as the Girl Scouts of the USA and the BSA's Learning for Life program.^[99] Both the US Census Bureau and the US Department of Education recorded an increase in total available youth during this time frame.^[97]

Some local councils have reported membership size numbers in excess of their actual number of members.^{[100][101][102]} "Volunteers say paid Scout leaders have created fictitious 'ghost units' for years to pump up membership numbers to trick donor groups and charities, including the United Way, into giving them more money."^[100] To help ensure that membership numbers are reported correctly, the BSA adopted new membership validation procedures for use beginning in 2006.^[103]

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[edit] Unitarian Universalist religious emblems program

Main article: Religious emblems programs

The Boy Scouts of America's stance on homosexuality and atheism has brought them into conflict with the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) — a "theologically liberal" religion that lists "affirming the inherent worth and dignity of every person" as one of its central tenets.^[104]

The Boy Scouts of America recognizes and encourages various religious emblems programs, in which Cub and Boy Scouts can work with their religious leaders to earn an emblem created by their religious organization. In 1998, the BSA removed recognition of the UUA programs for Cub and Boy Scouts, feeling the UUA program "contains several statements which are inconsistent with Scouting’s values".^[105] Most of these statements expressed the UUA's disapproval of BSA's membership policies on gays and atheists.

In 2005 the Boy Scouts of America recognized a new Unitarian Universalist religious emblem program developed by the Unitarian Universalist Scouters Organization. The Unitarian Universalist Association does not recognize this emblem program and instead continues to support its original emblem program.

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[edit] Historical membership controversies

There were membership controversies in the past that have been resolved such as the exclusion of women from leadership positions, those related to the break up of Exploring, and those resulting from racial segregation. See History of the Boy Scouts of America for further information.

[edit] See also

• Religion in Scouting
• Scouting controversy and conflict
• Welsh v. Boy Scouts of America

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Sites supportive of the Boy Scouts of America's policies

• Boy Scouts of America's official legal site
• Eagle Scout Rally for Tradition Foundation
• Scouting Legal Defense Fund
• Save Our Scouts

Sites critical of the Boy Scouts of America's policies

• Scouting for All
• Discrimination in the Boy Scouts of America
• Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance's Webpage on the BSA

Other sites

• Definitions of Scouting terminology