The Pros And Cons Of Boy Scouts

“I don’t know if all Boy Scouts are gays, they could probably tie the knot in, like, fifty different ways.” Bo Burnham begins his song I’m Bo, Yo with those lyrics, and while it may be fun to make jokes about the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), their short shorts, wacky handshakes, and neckerchiefs all being prime targets, the issue of homosexuality in the organization has always been a serious one. In fact it’s such a big issue it has its own Wikipedia page. And it’s old, going back to the organization’s founding. But over the last three years the organization has changed several policies. In 2013 the decision to accept gay boys into the organization was made, and last month gay leaders were officially allowed. Of course, just because they weren’t officially allowed
Now by officially accepting openly gay members, the BSA has become a much healthier space for queer boys. The initial inclusion of openly gay boys in 2013 was designed to lift a burden from their shoulders. But if you’re from where I’m from in the Midwest, that wouldn’t be enough; accepting gay boys to join a community run by evangelizing conservative Christians is worse than having them play straight. It makes them targets. Now gay boys can turn to people capable of understanding them. With these steps the LGBT+ movements has firmly rooted itself in the BSA, and the next big step should be clear: Transgender Boy Scouts. When someone defined female at birth decides to redefine themselves and then wants to join the Boy Scouts, what can they do? According to the BSA, go join the Girl Scouts. Akin to the exclusionary policies that kept gays from becoming scouts, the BSA officially does not accept transgendered individuals. However, the Girls Scouts do – gay, queer, and trans peoples are all welcome. Less progressively minded people will argue that ‘girls’ do not belong in the Boy Scouts.