FL district cuts Boy Scouts-affiliated program

Most (American) Boy Scouts are underaged, so it stands to reason that they would prohibit sexual activity

......Which isn't a concern. Nobody wants them to let scouts have sex with each other.

Dumbo

Because sex is bad, m'kay.

If you don't like a single Frank Ocean song, you have no soul.

I remember a question or two about that when I went up for Eagle scout, but aside from that, no one in my troop could care. Very few of us went to church on a regular basis; we rarely said grace or did prayers on weekend campouts, and I know I didn't get any religious merit badge.

This. Scouts do a lot of volunteer charity work, above and beyond the common Eagle Scout projects. Especially since this program they cut isn't actually part of Scouts ...

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Well, really, I could see why they'd use the rationale as the military currently (attempts to) use(s): fraternization is bad for unit cohesion.

Granted, it's not nearly such a big deal in a Boy Scout Troop as it is in a military organization, but I can say with a high degree of certainty that campouts would be much more difficult in such a set-up.

However, like the military, the counterargument is that they should simply have rules against romantic activity while in Troop activities (because you're not there to do romantic activities, homosexual or heterosexual) and allow homosexuals to be in the units. I could definitely support that...

Well, in this case, more like "sex would probably be illegal."

I am now known as Flyboy.

You guys seem to be misunderstanding- it is something not often enforced, but the official rules are still thus: no homosexuals and no aetheists/agnostics. I personally know people who have been kicked out for the former and heard of those being kicked out or denied advancement for the latter.

Yes, local troops tend to look the other way if you don't say anything/keep it a secret. Doesn't change the official policy or what happens if it gets out to the wrong people.

@ USAF: It has nothing, absolutely nothing, to do with sexual activity. Orientation is enough.

And you can be a member of the BSA up to age 18, so, yeah, I would think there are plenty of people who are old enough to be affected. 12-13 is old enough to know one's sexual orientation, on the low end.

Look, you can't make me speak in a logical, coherent, intelligent bananna.

USAF; they're not even attacking the Boy Scouts in this situation. They're cutting funding from an affiliated program where being a boy scout isn't even a requirement for being in it. The only ones being hurt are the public program. The Boy Scouts won't be affected by this budget cut, so they have no reason to change their policy. It's a pointless attack on an innocent group that won't change anything.

...but it does stir up folks in here. For some reason I can't fathom.

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It stirs us up because the group is only loosely affiliated and there's no evidence they have the same sort of discriminatory policies.

Look, you can't make me speak in a logical, coherent, intelligent bananna.

Such is why my argument is "they should allow homosexuals but ban romantic activities within the Scout program, both heterosexual and homosexual. You're there to Scout (do outdoor activities, community service, and generally grow as a person), after all, not have romantic drama. You have the other parts of your life for that."

If they don't want to do that, it's bigotry, and they lack a good counterargument. Not that I doubt it's based on bigotry.

I realize that, and agree with you.

I am now known as Flyboy.

The Scouts aren't very tightly controlled, so there's some variance from official policy. I know the ones in California deliberately ignore any and all rules related to gays and atheists. I don't know about the ones in Florida, though.

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Really? They deny agnostics and atheists ranks?

This sounds like one of those outdated laws that only exist because no one cares enough to get rid of them. We have a ton of those in america, you can look it up.

Homosexuals? Why should it matter? And why should the eagle board be asking you about your sexuality, for that matter?

Go play Kentucky Route Zero. Now.

Moral Guardians, I imagine. It would just be some outdated rule if they weren't enforcing it anywhere, but they surely are enforcing it in not a few places...

I am now known as Flyboy.

I already told you why, it stems from poor interpretations of the Scout Oath and Scout Law. No, they do not enforce it everywhere. Yes, they will likely ask you questions about your religion at some point during your advancement, particularly Eagle Scout. Yes, on a national level they do enforce these rules. Yes, if the wrong person finds out you're homosexual or aetheist you'll be kicked out.

I'm not sure what's so confusing about this. I personally knew someone who was kicked out for homosexuality and I heard stories about people being denied advancement for being openly aetheistic. I know what I'm talking about.

I'm just repeating myself at this point. If you're still confused, reread the posts I've made so far.

Look, you can't make me speak in a logical, coherent, intelligent bananna.

No, I hear ya. It's just that I am a boy scout, and this is so far away from what I have seen them do, that it seriously surprises me.

Quite frankly, Boy scouts is often Political Correctness Gone Mad, so it surprises me that they still struggle with this.

Go play Kentucky Route Zero. Now.

people do stupid things in the name of advancing their morals. It just so happens in this case its a few people at the top with all the power who believe a couple easily interpreted rules give them license to crack down on "immoral" elements. And is probably, unfortunately, why this random organization got about as much consideration before hitting the firing squad.