Congressional group critical of Scouts' leadership policy
Toolbox
By SUSAN ALLEN STAFF WRITER - Published: February 10, 2010
MONTPELIER - Vermont U.S. Rep. Peter Welch and 25 of his congressional colleagues have called on the Boy Scouts of America to reverse its discriminatory policy against homosexuals, citing a decision by the organization to block an East Montpelier lesbian couple from serving as Cub Scout leaders with their son's troop.
"As deeply troubling as the exclusionary policy is, the message that the policy sends is perhaps most damaging," the members of Congress wrote in a Jan. 29 letter to Robert Mazzuca, chief scout executive. "The Boy Scouts are teaching America's youth at impressionable ages that lesbians and gays are to be excluded because they are different, and not 'morally straight' as per the Boy Scouts' official stated position."
The letter specifically refers to the experience of Cate and Elizabeth Wirth, a civil-union couple who were turned down as Cub Scout leaders because the are lesbians.
"We think the Boy Scouts would encourage all parents to take an active involvement in their children's Scouting life," the letter read. "Cate and Elizabeth had volunteered before without problem, such that the Boy Scouts happily accepted their service again until learning of their sexual orientation."
Welch called the Boy Scouts "a tremendous organization" the creates opportunities for kids. But, he added of the Wirths, "This is a very good Vermont family and my hope is there will be a way for them to participate."
The letter was spearheaded by U.S. Reps. Gary Ackerman of New York, a former Eagle Scout, and Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin.
"I'll always be a proud Eagle Scout, but this discriminatory
policy must end," said Ackerman in a statement. "Rejecting a Cub Scout's mothers from volunteering just because of their sexual orientation doesn't comply with the Scout law I recited at Scout meetings."
Deron Smith, the national spokesman for the Boy Scouts of America, said in an e-mail to the Times Argus on Monday, "This is a longstanding societal issue. It continues to be discussed and debated in a variety of ways and by a number of organizations. The BSA respects everyone's right to have and express a different opinion. Along with the rest of the nation, the BSA is learning and growing through this discussion.
"The BSA recognizes that some do not agree with its position on this issue and values the opinions of everyone as it teaches its members to use courtesy and respect at all times. To disagree does not mean to disrespect," Smith said.
He acknowledged receipt of the letter from the congressional members, adding, "This letter is being shared with BSA leadership, and like all input it will be carefully considered. In the meantime, the BSA will continue to strengthen common interests, while respecting differences and will focus on its mission and on reaching as many youth as possible in order to help them grow into good, strong citizens."
Cate Wirth said Monday she was happy when Ackerman's office called about her situation after reading about the incident online in a Times Argus article.
"I was very pleased that they would consider this serious enough, these congressmen, to draft a letter," she said. The initial article, Wirth said, had already generated discussion of the issue of the Boy Scouts' policy and comments of support for herself and her family.
"We had lots of feedback, all positive, to my face," she said. "Some people who didn't know about this policy with the Boy Scouts, some who did. Everyone said how absurd this was."
She said the family appreciated the words of support they had received since the incident was made public.
Citing the Wirths' experience with the Boy Scouts, the letter stated:
"This policy of discrimination and exclusion is contrary to the Boy Scouts own stated values. According to Scout law, "A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent." We fail to see how it is friendly, courteous or kind to bar loving parents from volunteering for their child's Cub Scout pack just because of who they love. Furthermore, it is difficult to imagine how singling out the parents of one Scout for exclusion is an example of Scout loyalty."
The letter ends, "We urge you to honor the Boy Scouts' own stated values and reverse this exclusionary and discriminatory policy by providing the opportunity for Cate and Elizabeth Wirth and all other interested Scouts, Leaders, and volunteers to participate, regardless of sexual orientation."
Wirth explained that her 10-year-old son had been involved with Cub Scouts for several years. In that time, she and her partner have volunteered without openly disclosing their relationship.
At a meeting late last year, when she and Elizabeth volunteered to serve, they disclosed their relationship to the district director.
The director responded, "Basically we can't have you be in a leadership role, something like that ... because we wouldn't want you to be pushing your lifestyle on the boys," Wirth said in an interview with the Times Argus in December recounting the experience.
"Scouting is a proud and honorable tradition in this country, but discrimination is not," said Baldwin, who co-chairs the LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender) Equality Caucus, in a statement. "Children with same sex parents deserve the same opportunities to have their parents involved in their scouting experience as their classmates do and I urge the Boy Scouts of America to end this discriminatory policy."
The U.S. Supreme Court, in a 5-4 ruling in 2000, declared the Boy Scouts of America can bar homosexuals from being troop leaders.
Wirth said she doubts the letter will change Boy Scout policy, adding, "It would be nice if the letter meant something to the Boy Scouts and they did re-open looking at that policy. I don't really expect that to happen."
She said although her son hoped to continue in Scouts, and she and her partner supported that decision, they were not aware of any Cub Scout group operating.
"We haven't heard anything about Scouts. I don't know whether the Cub Scouts still exist in this area or not," she said. "I don't think they would have excluded him. Maybe there weren't enough parents to keep it going."
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