Editorials / Opinion

Seattle Times letters to the editor

Leadership is behind the times

James Oliver, left, hugs his brother and fellow Eagle Scout, Will Oliver, who is gay, as Will and other supporters carry four boxes filled with a petition to end the ban on gay scouts and leaders in front of the Boy Scouts of America headquarters in Dallas, Texas. (AP Photo / Tony Gutierrez)

The boy scouts are being criticized once again for their exclusion of gays, but they have come up with a compromise [“Boy Scouts might accept gay youth, but not adults,” News, April 20]. They have stated that they will accept gay youth, but not adults who are gay.We look at the Boy Scouts as a great organization for children to get involved with, but with the youth growing up in a more liberal world, we don’t want them to hide things from us. We also want them to be accepted by everyone, including organizations they are a part of. Everyone should be able to achieve the same positions regardless of their sexual orientation.The Boy Scouts are living in the past with their exclusions of gays. I believe they need to move forward and lift the ban completely if they want to see an incline in membership and donations from organizations, potentially including gay-rights activist groups.

Their compromise can be considered a step in the right direction, but they will be living in the past until the ban is lifted.

Heather Zuchowski, Kenmore