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