A Scout is Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful...and Inclusive?

As you’ve probably heard, the Boy Scouts are considering dropping their ban on gay members.

This is a big step, considering that just last July the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) reaffirmed its policy to exclude homosexual Scouts and Scout leaders—a position that has stirred ongoing protests, caused the organization to lose funding by some companies and foundations, and elicited applause from other groups for the BSA’s willingness to stand up for its beliefs.

A Moms Talk column in 2011 by a local writer discussing her husband's treatment by a local Boy Scout troop elicited strong opinions on several fronts. How do you feel about it?

BSA has had a rough few months, as former Scouts have sued the organization on sexual abuse charges in California, Texas and Oregon, and judges have ordered the BSA to release its internal files on sexual abuse claims within the organization. And recently, the BSA announced that membership in the Cub Scouts fell sharply last year. So what do you think caused the BSA’s change of heart?

The BSA will meet on Feb. 6 to decide whether or not to change its policy; if it does, the national organization will allow local troops to make their own determination about whether or not to allow gay members.

This article is courtesy Los Gatos Patch Moms Talk.