We uphold the Boy Scouts of America’s right as a voluntary, private organization to set policies that are best for their organization. We commend the Boy Scouts openness to welcome all who share their beliefs. We support their decision not to criticize or condemn those who wish to follow different beliefs. We believe the current Boy Scout policy on membership is a wise policy. It reads, “While the BSA does not proactively inquire about the sexual orientation of employees, volunteers, or members, we do not grant membership to individuals who are open or avowed homosexuals or who engage in behavior that would become a distraction to the mission of the BSA.” Several important facts speak to the wisdom of the current membership policy. They are:

1. It is common for young males to be confused about sexuality and their sexual identity. Pre-puberty and teen years are difficult times for some young males as they try to understand the changes that take place in their body and feelings. Boy Scout leaders who model the Boy Scout Oath, Law, and Motto provide mentors for boys to emulate. (1)

2. Homosexual behavior is linked to grave health risks. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated in 2010 that men who have sex with men (MSM) make up 2 percent of the population, yet they accounted for 61 percent of the 48,079 HIV infections diagnosed in 2010. (2) From 2006-2009 HIV infections in young males who have sex with males (aged 13-29) increased 34%. (3) In addition, newly released CDC statistics show that MSM accounted for 72 percent of primary and secondary syphilis cases in 2011. (4) MSM are also at higher risk of alcohol and drug abuse, anxiety, major depression, and thoughts of suicide. (5

3. Sexual orientation is determined by a combination of nature and nurture. (6) There is no gay gene. One of the most consistently observed characteristics of male homosexuals is the feeling since childhood that they did not fit in with other boys. (7,8) A Boy Scout leader has the potential to help these boys believe they do fit in with other boys. “Boys in groups have a unique power to actualize masculine potential in each other.” (9)

Therefore, we petition the Boy Scouts of America National Executive Board to continue to uphold their current policy which promotes traditional values as embodied in the Boy Scout Oath, Law, and Motto. We are aware that great political and financial pressure has been brought against the BSA to include homosexual men and women as scout leaders. We ask the Executive Board to exemplify courage in this time of trial and put the interests of the boys before the interests of the gay political movement.

The Petition and signatures will be forwarded to BSA leadership.

Signed

[contact-form 2 “BoyScout”]

References used in the Petition:

(1) Nicolosi, Joseph and Linda Nicolosi, A Parent’s Guide to Preventing Homosexuality. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press (2002), 76-7.
(2) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (last modified March 12, 2012). “HIV Surveillance – Epidemiology of HIV Infection (through 2010).” PowerPoint presentation slide 4. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/surveillance/resources/slides/general/index.htm on June 7, 2012.
(3) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (last updated May 18, 2012). “HIV among Gay and Bisexual Men.” Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/msm/index.htm on June 6, 2012.
(4) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “CDC Fact Sheet: STD Trends in the United States 2011 National Data for Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, and Syphilis.” Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/std/stats11/trends-2011.pdf on February 12, 2013.
(5) Phelan, James E., Neil Whitehead, and Philip M. Sutton (2009). “Response to APA Claim: There Is No Greater Pathology in the Homosexual Population Than in the General Population.” Journal of Human Sexuality, Volume 1, 53-88. Retrieved from http://www.unav.es/icf/main/top/diciembre09/Narth_What-research-shows-homosexuality.pdf on May 23, 2012. One of the studies referenced was Gilman, S. E., et al. (2001). “Risk of psychiatric disorders among individuals reporting same-sex partners in the National Comorbidity Survey. American Journal of Public Health, 91, 933-939.
(6) Byrd, Dean (April 7, 2007). “’Homosexuality Is Not Hardwired,’ Concludes Dr. Francis S. Collins, Head Of The Human Genome Project.” Retrieved from http://narth.com/docs/nothardwired.html on February 19, 2013. See also: American Psychological Association (2008). “Answers to Your Questions for a Better Understanding of Sexual Orientation and Homosexuality.” Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/topics/sexuality/sorientation.pdf on February 8, 2013.
(7) Brody, Jane E. “Boyhood Effeminacy and Later Homosexuality.” New York Times, December 16, 1986. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/1986/12/16/science/boyhood-effeminancy-and-later-homosexuality.html?pagewanted=all on January 19, 2012.
(8) Nicolosi, Joseph. Reparative Therapy of Male Homosexuality – A New Clinical Approach. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc. (1991), 58, 63.
(9) Nicolosi, Joseph and Linda Nicolosi, A Parent’s Guide to Preventing Homosexuality. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press (2002), 104.