May 23, 2013

The following article “What Does Scouting Have To Do With Homosexuality” by Chuck Peters is reprinted in its entirety from the Voice of the Voiceless website: New Boy Scout Policy May Lead To Increased Pedophilia. Today the Boy Scouts of America voted to allow openly gay-identified boy scouts to participate the same as heterosexual boy scouts. According to Fox News, of the roughly 1,400 voting members of the BSA’s National Council who cast ballots, 61 percent supported the proposal drafted by the governing Executive Committee. The policy change takes effect January 1, 2014. While this may be a great victory for some gay-identified boy scouts, and an even greater victory for gay activists who support lifting the ban on openly gay adults serving as scout masters, it’s a sad and painful day for me.

As both an ex-gay and Eagle Scout, it brings me back to when I was 11 years-old. Yes, I was molested by my Boy Scout master at this vulnerable age and it has been one of the most painful, damaging, life-confusing, and sexual-disorienting incidents in my life. While I understand that some gay-identified boy scouts may see this as a step towards recognition of their sexual orientation, it scares me to think that the boy scouts are now one step closer to having openly gay scout masters. I believe this would result in more pedophilia from scout masters who are sexually-oriented towards young boys that are gay, confused, and/or questioning their sexuality…just as I was.

To me, this is not just a “gay” issue, it’s an issue of older men who are sexually-oriented towards and preying on young boys. Does anyone really believe that once gay scout masters are allowed to openly serve, the rate of pedophilia won’t increase? It’s also likely that gay scouts serving openly will also increase pedophilia. Indeed, what happened today is concerning on more than one level.

First, boys are just that…BOYS. They aren’t supposed to be concerned about who they will be having sex with! While the boy scout leadership has stated that sexual relations, whether heterosexual or homosexual, are not appropriate activities within scouting, it’s unrealistic to think that same-sex attracted boy scouts will not experiment with each other. Further, if a boy scout openly identifies himself as gay, and his scout master is privately gay, this may leave that boy scout vulnerable for sexual abuse without the scout even knowing it!

When all is said and done, Boy Scouts are about boys camping, learning about nature, and exploring the planet. It’s not about boys exploring their sexual orientation with other boys! In their efforts to be inclusive, the national scout leadership is putting a great deal of boys in harm’s way by instituting a policy based on sexuality.

Do not be fooled! This is NOT about scouting, it’s about activism. This policy change was not spurred by gay-identified scouts, it was instigated by gay activists who want to normalize homosexual behavior in every part of society. Young gay-identified, questioning, and/or sexually confused boy scouts are just a tool that activists are using to advance their mission. How very sad that more boys will now suffer the same type of sexual abuse I once did. The goal of the national scout leadership should be focused on learning, bonding, and fun. Unfortunately, it looks like the goal is now political correctness at the expense of the boy scout’s safety and security.

Chuck Peters is a Research Assistant with Voice of the Voiceless, the only anti-defamation league for former homosexuals, individuals with unwanted same-sex attractions, and their families. For more information, visit: www.VoiceoftheVoiceless.inf