Boy Scouts fire openly gay troop leader

The Boy Scouts of America kicked an openly gay troop leader from its ranks on Monday, citing a policy that prevents adults from “deliberately injecting” their sexuality into the organization.

Geoff McGrath was forced to step down as Scoutmaster of the newly formed Troop 98 in Seattle’s Rainier Beach. The 49-year-old says he was aware of the ban on gay leaders, but had hoped the Scouts’ recent decision to welcome gay youth signaled a change in attitude.

“It’s extremely disappointing to not be fully supported and defended in my membership,” McGrath told NBC News. “They are complaining that the problem [his status as an openly gay man] is a distraction to Scouting and they don’t seem to understand that the distraction is self-inflicted.”
Troop 98 was approved and formed last fall. McGrath says he was approached by clergy from Rainier Beach United Methodist Church, who wanted to start a new youth program in the neighborhood.

Around the same time, the BSA voted to accept gay youth into its fold. As part of the landmark decision, the organization decided to continue its ban on gay troop leaders.

McGrath’s application was approved by Seattle’s Boy Scouts Council without a problem—even though he’s been married to his husband for 20 years. A spokesman said that the organization had no idea that the Scoutmaster was gay.

“Our policy is that we do not ask people about their sexual orientation, and it’s not an issue until they deliberately inject it into Scouting in an inappropriate fashion,” BSA spokesman Deron Smith said in an email.

Another Scouts leader accused McGrath of trying to promote an “agenda.”

“We became aware of his intentions to make a public statement about his orientation and use our program as a means to further a personal agenda,” said Sharon Moulds, a prominent Seattle Council leader.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/boy-scouts-fire-openly-gay-troop-leader-article-1.1741981

I support this.

Who is this supposed to surprise? The BSA has always been a homophobic association. Only recently did they marginally relent and pretend to allow gay scouts. Scouts. Not leaders. The BSA also openly promotes Christianity and deliberately misinterprets the Bible to say that homosexuality is a sin, right up there with eating shellfish and wearing blended fabrics. Should anybody be surprised that some a gay scoutmaster slipped through the cracks and lost his non-paying job?

Well we don't need gay pedophiles teaching children anything.

Two different Conditions all together!
Better fire all those Priest to then!

Good!

+1

I would want to see an openly heterosexual man in the Scouts either. I don't care whether the leader is gay or not just don't be flaunting your sexuality.

really


this assumption that gay men are pedophiles is a more than a little disturbing

well said northpine

I'd rather my kids learn about normal sex than degenerate sex.

maybe the guy just misunderstood the term "boy scout" and thought it was a recruiter position...

Seriously, i must voice my contempt for the term "homophobic". just because someone doesn't like, or want to associate, or participate with a thing doesn't make them "afraid" of it. If you don't like okra are you scared of it?

That being said, I don't think a gay man necessarily wants to be a scout leader because he wants to prey on boys. He was probably a gay scout that grew up to be a gay man that wanted to be a scoutmaster so he could aid boys and young men in developing skills and character.

But I do understand that the sentiments regarding a gay man leading boy scouts would mirror those if a straight man was a girl scout leader.

Parents have the right to choose the environment they want their children to develop in. That has to be respected. Not liked, respected.

Guess it's up to the Organization whom they employ to lead the Scouts!
But now you'll have the one with a Phone and a Pen going all squirrelly again!

That would be L'empreur Barry One.