Even though the Boy Scouts of America will begin accepting openly gay youths starting on New Year's Day, if a 16-year-old openly gay Scout earned his Eagle badge, 3 years later if he applied for a position as a volunteer assistant scoutmaster he would be rejected because of his sexual orientation. A new BSA document even states, "No member may use Scouting to promote or advance any social or political position or agenda, including on the matter of sexual orientation." Adding when it comes to gay pride parades, "Each youth member is free as an individual to express his or her thoughts or take action on political or social issues but must not use Scouting's official uniforms & insignia when doing so." So this is a step forward but merely a step. We still have a lot more work to do. Zach Wahls, founder of Scouts for Equality & the son of a lesbian couple stated, “Scouts for Equality will continue its efforts until discrimination is no longer a word associated with the BSA. Today across the country our members are united by one common goal — to make the BSA organization the strongest it can be.” Jennifer Tyrrell the Ohio mom ousted by the Boy Scouts of America in 2012 stated, "This isn't just about Boy Scouts this is about equality in all aspects of life. Boy Scouts of America needs to realize that they're sending a dangerous message to children by telling them that they're not good enough. I am making sure no parent ever has to look their child in the eye & say we're not good enough. You have no idea how much that hurts because Alicia & I are good enough & these kids, that we're raising, are amazing. Ask anyone." I spoke to Jennifer Tyrrell about this at the GLAAD Awards in NYC in this exclusive audio byte:
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