Imagine being told that you could no longer work for or participate in an organization simply because of the way you were born. Unfortunately, this situation is a real experience for many gay Americans.
The Walt Disney Company plans to cut off funding for the Boy Scouts of America in 2015 because of their policies banning gay adult leaders.
After receiving the news, the Boy Scouts Organization was “disappointed,” which came as no surprise. Deron Smith, a Boy Scouts Spokesman said, “We believe every child deserves the opportunity to be a part of the Scouting experience and we are disappointed in this decision because it will impact our ability to serve kids.”
Disney’s decision came to light after being informed about the news of an anti-gay ban by the president of a scout council in Orlando, Florida.
In response to the Boy Scouts anti-gay ban, gay scouts and supporters have started a campaign called Scouts for Equality. The goal of this campaign is to end discrimination within the Boy Scouts of America.
Eagle Scout and Scouts for Equality co-founder Zach Wahls, released his statement after learning about Disney’s decision. He said, “We’re never happy to see Scouting suffer as a result of the BSA’s anti-gay policy, but Disney made the right decision to withhold support until Scouting is fully inclusive.”
The Boy Scouts are supposed to be an organization to promote strong values and build character. In fact, part of the Boy Scouts of America’s mission statement reads as follows, “…The BSA provides a program for young people that builds character, trains them in the responsibilities of participating citizenship, and develops fitness.”
For the purpose of being clear, I want to outline the hypocrisy of this. An organization intended to build character, promote strong values, and teach young boys to be responsible participants of society…is also shamelessly upholding an anti-gay ban. These two statements do not belong in the same sentence.
Leaders for the Boy Scouts need to re-read their mission statement and ask themselves what kind of example they are setting for the young people they mentor.
They need to ask themselves whether it is responsible to teach young people hate and discrimination. They need to question their character when they are openly excluding an entire group of people simply because of who they are. Finally they need to question the values they are passing down to so many young boys.
Disney has taken a noble stand. By discontinuing their funding to the Boy Scouts of America they are making a statement-they will not support an organization that discriminates, and for this, they should be applauded.
