It’s been a while, and I apologize, although I hope you’ve been enjoying the other posts I’ve put up, there’s some fun stuff there.

If you read nothing else, and watch nothing else, read this amazing article from Rob.  Here’s the crux:

You’re safer leaving your son in the care of  a man who says that he’s gay than with a man who says that he’s not.

Next up, Literally Unbelievable, one of my favorite blogs hits it out of the park (and so of course, so does The Onion):

 

And here’s the deal, some kids know they’re LGBT when they’re in kindergarden.  Some people don’t figure it out until they’re in high school or college.  Some anti-gay, Republican lawmakers still haven’t figured it out (Larry Craig), the point is we’re each on our own journey.  What we should be worried about is supporting all kids, giving them a place they feel safe and helping them become better community leaders.

Lawmakers in California are mulling stripping the BSA of their tax exempt status.  Now to be fair, that policy should be extended to all groups that discriminate, not just the BSA, nor do I think it will pass, but it’s interesting to see.  Non-profits work on a shoe string budget, and this would certainly cause some cuts to be made.

You may have heard that the BSA will hire convicted criminals, but not anyone who is LGBT.  This looks like it’s just a local council application, but, it is actually illegal to deny employment (at least I think it is) based on criminal background.  You can certainly find something else, but that can’t be the official reason.  The reason the BSA can discriminate against the LGBT community is because they are a 501(c)3, which are normally exempt from non-discrimination laws, such as what we have in Allegheny County.

There was a rally in Texas where Scouts (in uniform) were used as a backdrop to support the ban, Gov. Perry let us know he supports the ban, and Ameriblog looks at the connection between DADT, the BSA, the Mormons and pro football:

“Now that the armed forces ban on openly gay service members has been lifted, and polls show increasing acceptance of same-sex marriage, most American voters think it’s time to open up the Boy Scouts, too,” said Peter Brown, assistant director of Quinnipiac’s Polling Institute.

James Dale, from the original lawsuit, has spoken out again in support of lifting the ban:

With this one letter, the work to which I had dedicated more than half of my young life came completely undone. I was devastated. Yet, it was precisely the sense of leadership, respect, equality and community that the Scouts had instilled in me that would not allow me to accept this injustice, done not just to me but to countless other young gay people who had found a home in the Boy Scouts of America. Not fighting my expulsion from the Scouts would have been a betrayal of all I’d learned in the Scouts….

…If sexual issues are not brought up in the Scouting environment — and in my experience, they never were, until an outside party publicized my homosexuality — that’s all the more reason that it should not matter if some members happen to be gay. It has no impact on their ability to earn an American heritage merit badge, join the Order of the Arrow or achieve lifelong Eagle Scout status.

And just remember, the hateful policy affects people, but we carry on.  An Eagle Scout and EMT was killed by a drunk driver. Flags were at half mast and the community has been rocked.  And he made a moving It Gets Better video:

As the vote that didn’t happen approached, 1.4 million signatures were delivered, President Obama reaffirmed his stance that the program should embrace equality (so did Romney by the way) and the Human Rights Campaign has said what we’re all thinking though, that the end of the ban as proposed, still would leave rampant discrimination.  I don’t think it will happen, and I think their proposal is a small first step, but a step in the right direction.  I guess I’m torn, but I’ll take any progress.

Two gay brothers share their Scouting story:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFdmNx9drzE

Ameriblog also covers the Mormon Church.  They have a chance to make a difference, to embrace their own dogmatic change they made last year (proclaiming that LGBT persons can be members of their church), but time will tell.  I’m not holding my breath.

Zach Wahls, from Scouts for Equality eviscerates a homophobic parent on CNN and Carol Costello does the same to the head of the FRC.

Zach also spoke to Democracy, Now:

And this is just a reminder, there always have been LGBT members of the BSA and there always will be.  We’re just pushing for equality, trustworthiness and an organization that tells an entire swath of the population that they are broken.

And that’s what we have to change.  I fight for this change, not for me (although I would like to go back to volunteer at camp), but for the kids coming after us.  They all need our support, straight and gay, and the BSA needs to be a program that is inclusive and affirms that all youth, no matter their sexuality, have worth.

All my best,

Mike

Aside from a few exceptions, all the blog posts that I wrote have now been released.  I wrote more than I thought I did, over 350 articles.  Now granted, I did try to focus on one subject for each one, unlike my other blogs, which tend to go out on tangents quite frequently.

I put the date of when I wrote them at the top of each one.  I’m still working out some of the bugs and wanted to make sure that the date was recorded to provide some context.  Going forward (there it is again, take a drink, or at least, drink if you read it in the voice of Luke Ravenstahl), I won’t be adding the date, but it should show up on the main blog feed.

The naming convention (starting the titles with ‘Wherein’) will continue, although there are of course, a few exceptions here and there (this special week of posts being one of them).  I’ve also switched from using the penname, to signing each post with my real name, as I’m safe now.  As they say, The King is dead, long live the King.

I didn’t realize how much I repeated myself.  But I guess there are just some themes and stories I keep going back to: they’re important and mean so much, so if you read through the archives, you’ll see them each about three times.

And while I did censor myself periodically, I tried to be as open and honest as I could be.  And that was one of the reactions that I’ve received a lot, how honest I am in my writing.

Writing is very cathartic for me, and being so open, even with myself, was a big help.  As was going back to read each entry, it was interesting to get a glimpse of my headspace at each moment in time, as well as see what’s really important.  There is a lot of emotion and a lot of honesty in my writing, it’s how I cope with things.

I’ll continue to write, trying to be as honest as I can be.  I’ve even felt inspired to do a video, but for now, I’ll probably pass.  Maybe it will become a collaborative effort, but for now, I’m more comfortable behind a keyboard than in front of a camera.  Well, I guess that’s always the case.

There’s still a lot of work to be done, even if the BSA’s ban is lifted, or, the current compromise being floated is put in place.  I’m still anxious to say that this will happen, I don’t want to get my hopes up just to be disappointed once more.  That will make fighting that much harder.  But fight on we must.

It’s not a perfect solution.  In fact it isn’t really a solution, more of a step in the right direction.  But we should celebrate what it is.

Yes, it gives the BSA an easy out.  An easy way to weasel out of having to take a stand (ignoring the fact that they’ve taken a stand for 30 years now), but it is still progress.

And yes, I hope that I can still help out.  I have some ideas how I can directly help the camp directors this year if they need it, as well as work with the Alumni Association.  And as long as my schedule works out, I’d love to go up for Beaver Weekend (and I’d be happy putting up tents if that’s where they want me, honest, I bet I’m still pretty good on a work crew).

There has been a lot of chatter on Facebook about the proposed policy change, almost all of it encouraging.  And it’s nice to know that I have some allies, even now.

The criticism of course, hurts.  The derogatory language and slurs hurt.  And it hurts not just me, but the other staff members and youth members, gay or straight.

Working on camp staff, we were judged by the work we performed, nothing else.  Scouting belongs in the great outdoors, and we should be looking to our camp staffs for guidance on this issue.  They already, almost universally, understand that a person is not defined by their sexuality, but instead their commitment and growth, their willingness to help a fellow Scout, talk with a volunteer and run the resident camp programs that so many use to define the Scouting movement.

These are the leaders not only of tomorrow, but of today.  They are the ones sacrificing their time, oftentimes their entire summers, to lead “the game with a purpose.”  We owe them the respect which they have already earned.  And as they run camping programs across the country, we should instead be focusing our attention to making sure they have the resources they need to put together the best program for the youth who come through the gates of their camps.

Heterosexual staff members can easily take for granted the world to which they’ve been exposed.  And this is not in any way to diminish their own stories and the hard work that they put in.  But LGBT youth carry additional burdens with them: a constant barrage of media telling them they are not worthy of love, that they are destroying society.  Even questioning if their own family and friends will still love them when they come out.

I like to think that I’m a remarkably strong individual, but no one comes out of that landscape unscathed, not even me.  But if a young person feels at home in Scouts, who are we to tell him or her that they’re not welcome, or that they are somehow broken.

Institutionalized discrimination hurts children.  It is a cause of emotional harm and in some cases, leads to their suicides.  I made this point exceptionally clear in my last post (the one with all the footnotes), and I hope that these two posts help those that don’t understand the fight for equality get a better perspective.  No one is asking for you to change your sexuality (since you can’t), but we will take the basic rights, decency and civility that we’ve been denied for so long.

Looking ahead, I’m very excited for the Pride celebrations.  I think I have a lot to be proud of.  Making it this far is exciting, and doing what I have in the past, to help those around me, and the fight now, are all things I’m proud of.  And I’m proud of what the LGBT community has accomplished, demanding the basic civil rights that we’re denied out of prejudice and bigotry.  I’m still totally afraid of large crowds, but I’ll force myself to enjoy it for once, hopefully I’ll run into some people at the events that I haven’t seen in a while.  And here’s the “secret” about Pride: it celebrates radical inclusion.  Everyone is welcome (just like the Episcopal Church), and we mean everyone.  Come down and party with us.

My family and friends of course, have been nothing short of amazing.  They’ve all been supportive and while I still hate the feeling of being the center of attention, I am happy to be a resource and will continue to fight for equality, this week and in the future.

Coming out was tough, but I’m better for it.  I oftentimes forget that it’s happened, both because I was forced to hide for so long, but also because there are much more interesting and important aspects to me.  I still take the hate I see online and in the media to heart, but I feel as though I’m getting better at that.

And you know what would help even more?  Being welcomed back up to camp and spending an hour or so reading on that one rock by the lake that I miss so much.

All my best,

Mike

Even more specifically, I’m grateful for volunteers and staff across the country embracing the Journey to Excellence … together wrapping our arms around this notion that we’re on a sacred mission to serve more young people … and gaining traction on “The Main Thing”—providing a quality Scouting experience to more and more young people.
-Bob’s Blog[i]

Every qualified youth should have the opportunity to join the Scouts.
-Laurel Highlands Council President, Pittsburgh, Pa.

The Boy Scouts should be supporting all youth, and providing a quality Scouting experience to more and more young people, just as Chief Scout Executive Bob Mazucca has said.

We do a disservice to the youth of America by denying membership to LGBT youth, not only by refusing them access to this amazing program, but by contributing to a social climate which degrades and inflicts harm on the very youth we are seeking to serve[ii].  We should not say that “qualified” youth should have the opportunity to join the Scouts; instead we should affirm that all youth should have the opportunity to join the Scouts.

Studies have shown that youth who are surrounded by supportive friends and family are less likely to harm themselves [iii]:

Now the first longitudinal study to look at suicide ideation and self-harm in this population shows support from friends and family offers the most protection in preventing youths from thinking about suicide. Adolescents who know they can talk to their parents about problems and know they have friends who care about them are less likely to consider ending their lives, according to new Northwestern Medicine research.

LGBT youth face higher rates of drug and alcohol abuse, due to the discrimination they feel on a daily basis[iv] and are much more likely to have attempted suicide or be clinically depressed[v][vi], and those feelings continue throughout their entire lives[vii].

Currently, more than half of LGBT youth do not feel safe in their communities and schools[viii].  The BSA however, is in a unique position to make a positive change in the lives of these youth and to create an atmosphere of caring and support.  A recent study found that 94% of LGBT youth have been targeted (bullying, name-calling, harassment or physical violence) because of their sexuality[ix].   Up to 40% of the homeless youth in the country are LGBT, kicked out of their homes for who they are or leaving for fear of their own safety[x][xi].  But having a reach as wide and far-sweeping as the BSA allows us to be the change that these youth need[xii][xiii], to make them feel safer and giving them a place where they belong, bolstering our own ranks at the same time.

Schools with anti-harassment policies, especially those that include provisions to protect based on sexual orientation and gender identify make students feel safer at school[xiv], create fewer reports of missing school, fewer reports of feeling unsafe, greater academic achievement, higher educational aspirations and a greater sense of belonging[xv].  Programs at schools such as Exploring and after-school Scout meetings greatly add to this safe environment.

Currently, the BSA stands in opposition to major associations in keeping its ban in place: The American Medical Association[xvi], The American Psychiatric Association[xvii], The American Psychological Association[xviii], and The American Academy of Pediatrics[xix] have all affirmed the dignity of LGBT persons.  The American Academy of Pediatrics writes:

The overall goal in caring for youth who are or think they might be gay, lesbian, or bisexual is the same as for all youth: to promote normal adolescent development, social and emotional well-being, and physical health. If their environment is critical of their emerging sexual orientation, these adolescents may experience profound isolation and fear of discovery, which interferes with achieving developmental tasks of adolescence related to self-esteem, identity, and intimacy. Nonheterosexual youth often are subjected to harassment and violence; 45% of gay men and 20% of lesbians surveyed were victims of verbal and physical assaults in secondary school specifically because of their sexual orientation.

Nonheterosexual youth are at higher risk of dropping out of school, being kicked out of their homes, and turning to life on the streets for survival. Some of these youth engage in substance use, and they are more likely than heterosexual peers to start using tobacco, alcohol, and illegal drugs at an earlier age.

The BSA, instead of adding to this culture of exclusion, could instead be the leader in welcoming all youth.  But as long as the discriminatory policies still exist, the BSA will continue to lose charter partners and members[xx], awards will be publicly refused[xxi] and Eagle Scouts will continue to make headlines by returning their awards[xxii][xxiii][xxiv][xxv][xxvi].  These events force the BSA to spend time, energy and money on defending ourselves[xxvii], rather than serving the youth of the community and presenting the best program possible.

It is most imperative that the policy change in order to stop the institutionalized discrimination that contributes to the suicide of young people.  And to better serve those youth and reinforce to all young people that they have dignity and worth, we must also stop dismissing adults based on their own sexual orientation.  All youth need adults for guidance and to look up to; LGBT adults provide further evidence of a life worth living, and provide nonheterosexual youth members support and acceptance.  The American Psychological Association and American Sociological Association has reaffirmed that same-gendered parents provide the same level of supportive and healthy parenting as heterosexual adults[xxviii] [ixx].  And the members of the BSA are at no increased risk of youth protection incidents by allowing LGBT leaders:

The vast majority of men who abuse boys either aren’t attracted to adults of either gender, or are straight men with an emotional disturbance that sends them regressing back to kids. In study after study, only the tiniest fraction of these abusers show interest in adult men, a percentage well below the fraction of openly gay men in society. That’s why the American Psychological Association testified to the US Senate: “There is no evidence that homosexuals are more likely than heterosexuals to molest children.[xxix][xxx][xxxi][xxxii][xxxiii][xxxiv]

A good compromise, one that in my experience has the backing of many professional Scouters, and is currently being discussed by the national board, is to allow the Charter Organizations to select their leadership.  While many Charter Organizations may as of yet feel uncomfortable with LGBT leaders, many mainstream Christian denomination, houses of worship of all faiths, community groups and school districts have long since moved on from this issue, affirming the dignity of all youth and adults.  This compromise allows for greater freedom of choice for parents and youth, as well as allowing Charter Organizations to continue supporting units while remaining true to their own beliefs.

This compromise, however, is only a step, and should only allow Charter Organizations to continue to discriminate against adults.  If we truly are to be a youth-serving organization, then we must truly serve all youth.

Again, it is not a perfect solution, but rather a step in the right direction, but one that is badly needed to reaffirm that the BSA is committed to the development of young people and actually concerned for their safety and well-being.  Positive role-models and adult leadership of all sexualities are needed, but at the moment, the priority should be the youth, if that is all that can be changed.

And if that is the reality, while it will be a huge victory, I believe that the ban on adults will not be far behind, as time continues forward and those LGBT youth members become adults, either at 18 or 21 (depending on program).  Which also leads to the other situation which will drive equality forward: LGBT youth in Troops who become adults, but retain youth status in Crews, Posts and Lodges.

But until these discriminatory policies are changed, membership numbers will continue to decline.  Schools, community groups and churches are moving away from the BSA with more and more frequency[xxxv], and with them, the BSA loses their chance to have a positive impact on the youth of our nation[xxxvi].

The world is changing, even the idea of marriage equality, for years a far cry from being accepted, is now embraced by over half the country[xxxvii], and support of business that support LGBT equality continues to grow, and those businesses see very little backlash: instead they see gains to their bottom lines[xxxviii][xxxix].

Because if the discriminatory policy, the Boy Scouts have seen the loss of contributions from major corporations[xlv], such as UPS[xlvi], Intel[xlvii] and Merck[xlviii].  A reversal of this policy would restore these donations, as well as bring in new money from equality-minded individuals and organizations.

Companies with employees who are honest with who they are in the workplace have better interpersonal relationships with their coworkers and are more engaged in the workplace[xl].  Conversely, workplaces that have discriminatory policies in place see wasted money, less trust, less job satisfaction and less job loyalty[xli], costing over $64 billion a year.

If you choose to compare this change in policy to the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, a change to which there are certainly some parallels, more support is revealed.  The armed forces have seen virtually no impact on letting their members live their lives honestly, which they credit not only to the brave men and women serving, but also the leadership who implemented the lifting of the ban[xlii].  In fact, almost 70% of those in the Army asked felt no change whatsoever since the repeal[xliii] and The Commandant of the Marine Corps says that he has not heard of any problems related to the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell[xliv].

I worked full time for the Boy Scouts for five years.  Deciding to leave for another career opportunity was a very hard decision; I truly enjoyed working with the volunteers and staff, as well as doing incredible work with our outdoor adventure team.  What finally make the difference in deciding to leave was the BSA’s discriminatory policies.

I am an Eagle Scout, a Vigil Honor member of the Order of the Arrow and a Jack Ryan Award recipient.  I served on camp staff for 11 seasons.  Yet, if I had ever been honest, I would have been fired.  It is impossible to describe the immense pain that comes from working for an organization that would not even have you as a member.

But I endured, knowing that I was making a positive impact in the lives of those attending and working at our camps.

I’ve said it many times, and I will continue to say it, Scouting saved my life.  The bonds of friendship from camp staff, my Troop, my Crew and my Lodge are still some of the strongest friendships I have.  They are family.  Not once were any of them ever concerned with anyone’s sexuality.

I stayed quiet about my own sexual orientation for years, not only because it had no bearing on the work that I was performing, but also because I never once wanted anyone else to be in a position where they would have to lie to protect me.

I certainly hope that those volunteers and co-workers who valued my contributions fight for this cause, and I hope that the BSA does in fact remove this policy.  But even if the ban stays in place, LGBT members will still be Scouts of all ages, adult volunteers, board members and employees.

I refuse to stand by and let this amazing organization be lost to irrelevancy; the Boy Scouts of America has done so much good, and will continue to do so.  Let us help all the youth in America have the opportunity to join this amazing program and become Prepared.  For Life.

---

[i]Mazucca, Bob. “Holiday Thoughts From the Chief.” Web log post. Bob’s Blog. ScoutWire, 20 Dec. 2011. Web. <http://scout-wire.org/2011/12/20/bob%E2%80%99s-blog-holiday-thoughts-from-the-chief/>.
[ii]Woodford, Michael R., Michael L. Howell, Perry Silverschanz, and Lotus Yu. ““That’s So Gay!”: Examining the Covariates of Hearing This Expression Among Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual College Students.” Journal of American College Health 60.6 (2012): 429-34. Print.
[iii]Paul, Maria. “News.” What Shields Gay Youth from Suicide?: Northwestern University. Northwestern University, 14 Feb. 2012. Web. 29 Jan. 2013. <http://www.northwestern.edu/newscenter/stories/2012/02/gay-youth-suicide.html>.
[iv]Hunt, Jerome. “Why the Gay and Transgender Population Experiences Higher Rates of Substance Use.” Center for American Progress. American Progress, 9 Mar. 2012. Web. 29 Jan. 2013. <http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/lgbt/report/2012/03/09/11228/why-the-gay-and-transgender-population-experiences-higher-rates-of-substance-use/>.
[v]Ford, Zack. “Study Shows Long-Term Consequences To Prejudice-Motivated Bullying And Victimization.” ThinkProgress. N.p., 16 May 2011. Web. 29 Jan. 2013. <http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2011/05/16/177418/lgbt-bullying-consequences/?mobile=nc>.
[vi]Savage, Dan. “Gay Kids Are Still Killing Themselves.” The Stranger. N.p., 13 Feb. 2012. Web. 29 Jan. 2013. <http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/02/13/gay-kids-are-still-killing-themselves>.
[vii]Fisher, Christopher. Midlands LGBT Needs Assessment Community Report. Health Canal. Niversity of Nebraska at Omaha, 24 June 2011. Web. <http://www.healthcanal.com/mental-health-behavior/18365-Higher-suicide-risk-for-Nebraska-LGBT-community-surfaces-first-study-being-out-healthier.html>.
[viii]Growing Up LGBT in America: NCOD Report. Washington, D.C.: Human Rights Campaign, 2012. Print.
[ix]Paul, Maria. “WHAT SHIELDS GAY YOUTH FROM SUICIDE?” What Shields Gay Youth from Suicide?: Northwestern University. Northwestern University, 14 Feb. 2012. Web. 29 Jan. 2013. <http://www.northwestern.edu/newscenter/stories/2012/02/gay-youth-suicide.html>.
[x]Wong, Curtis M. “Homeless LGBT Youth: The Next Battle For Equality.” The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 08 Mar. 2012. Web. 29 Jan. 2013. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/08/homeless-lgbt-youth-equality_n_1331171.html>.
[xi]“Gay and Transgender Youth Homelessness by the Numbers.” Center for American Progress. Center for American Progress, 21 June 2010. Web. 29 Jan. 2013. <http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/lgbt/news/2010/06/21/7980/gay-and-transgender-youth-homelessness-by-the-numbers/>.
[xii]Liu, Richard T., and Brian Mustanski. Suicidal Ideation and Self-Harm in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Youth. N.p., 14 Feb. 2012. Web. <http://www.ajpmonline.org/webfiles/images/journals/amepre/AMEPRE_3315%5B3%5D-stamped.pdf>.
[xiii]Savage, Dan. “Gay Kids Are Still Killing Themselves.” The Stranger. N.p., 13 Feb. 2012. Web. 29 Jan. 2013. <http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/02/13/gay-kids-are-still-killing-themselves>.
[xiv]Growing Up LGBT in America: NCOD Report. Washington, D.C.: Human Rights Campaign, 2012. Print.
[xv]2009 National School Climate Survey. GLSEN. Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network, 14 Sept. 2010. Web. <http://www.glsen.org/cgi-bin/iowa/all/news/record/2624.html>.
[xvi]“AMA Policies on GLBT Issues.” AMA Policy Regarding Sexual Orientation. American Medical Association, n.d. Web. 29 Jan. 2013. <http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/about-ama/our-people/member-groups-sections/glbt-advisory-committee/ama-policy-regarding-sexual-orientation.page>.
[xvii]http://www.psych.org/Departments/EDU/Library/APAOfficialDocumentsandRelated/PositionStatements/200001.aspx
[xviii]“APA on Children Raised by Gay and Lesbian Parents.” APA on Children Raised by Gay and Lesbian Parents. American Psychological Association, 11 June 2011. Web. 29 Jan. 2013.
[xix]Frankowski, Barbara L. “Sexual Orientation and Adolescents.” Sexual Orientation and Adolescents. American Academy of Pediatrics, n.d. Web. 29 Jan. 2013. <http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/113/6/1827.full>.
[xx]Towle, Andy. “Boy Scouts | Discrimination | Education | Florida.” Towleroad. N.p., 12 Oct. 2011. Web. 29 Jan. 2013. <http://www.towleroad.com/2011/10/bs.html?utm_source=feedburner>.
[xxi]Signorile, Michelangelo. “James Beard Foundation President Returns Award to Boy Scouts.”The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 19 Apr. 2012. Web. 29 Jan. 2013. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michelangelo-signorile/james-beard-foundation-pr_b_1439135.html>.
[xxii]Towle, Andy. “EAGLE SCOUT RENOUNCES RANK OVER BOY SCOUTS POLICY ON GAYS.” Towleroad. N.p., 18 June 2012. Web. 29 Jan. 2013. <http://www.towleroad.com/2012/06/naka.html?utm_source=feedburner>.
[xxiii]Cox, Ted. “Returned Badges, Presidential Opposition: Backlash to the Boy Scouts’ Anti-Gay Policies.” The Good Men Project. N.p., 14 Aug. 2012. Web. 29 Jan. 2013. <http://goodmenproject.com/ethics-values/the-good-life-returned-badges-presidential-opposition-backlash-to-the-boy-scouts-anti-gay-policies/>.
[xxiv]http://equalscouts.tumblr.com/
[xxv]Rhodes, Dawn. “Oak Park Eagle Scout Returns Medal in Protest.” Chicago Tribune. N.p., 30 July 2012. Web. 29 Jan. 2013. <http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-07-30/news/ct-met-oak-park-eagle-scout-20120730_1_zach-wahls-anti-gay-policy-return-medals>.
[xxvi]http://eaglebadges.tumblr.com/
[xxvii]Waldron, Leah. “Director of Community Relations at Virginia Council Boy Scouts of America Tells Me to ‘Start My Own Club’ – WingerJock.” WingerJock. N.p., 10 Aug. 2012. Web. 29 Jan. 2013. <http://www.wingerjock.com/2012/08/10/director-of-community-relations-at-virginia-council-boy-scouts-of-america-tells-me-to-start-my-own-club/>.
[xxviii]Sexual Orientation, Parents, & Children. American Psychological Association, 28 July 2004. Web. <http://www.apa.org/about/policy/parenting.aspx>.
[xxix]Tisinai, Rob. “Protect the Children (and Mean It).” Waking Up Now. N.p., 1 Aug. 2012. Web. 29 Jan. 2013. <http://wakingupnow.com/blog/protect-the-children-and-mean-it>.
[xxx] Jenny, Carole; Roesler, Thomas A,; Poyer, Kimberly L. “Are Children at risk for sexual abuse by homosexuals?” Pediatrics 94, no 1 (1994). Print.
[xxxi] Groth, A Nicholas; Birnbaum, H Jean “Adult sexual orientation and attraction to underage persons.” Archives of Sexual Behavior 7, no. 3 (1978). Print.
[xxxii] McConaghy, N. “Paedophilia: A review of the evidence.” Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry. (1998). Print.
[xxxiii]Stevenson, Michael R. “Public policy, homosexuality, and sexual coercion of children.”  Journal of Psychology & human sexuality 12, no 4 (2000). Print.
[xxxiv] Freund, Kurt; Watson, Robin J.; Rienzo, Douglas.  “Heterosexuality, homosexuality , and the erotic age preference.”  Journal of Sex Research 26, no. 1 (1989). Print.
[xxxv]Adam, Seth. “NJ School Drops Boy Scouts Charter over ‘egregious’ Anti-gay Ban.” GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation), 25 Oct. 2012. Web. 29 Jan. 2013. <http://www.glaad.org/blog/nj-school-drops-boy-scouts-charter-over-egregious-anti-gay-ban>.
[xxxvi]Schroeder, Joanna. “This Is Why I Withdrew My Son From Cub Scouts.” The Good Men Project. N.p., 7 Oct. 2012. Web. 29 Jan. 2013. <http://goodmenproject.com/good-feed-blog/this-is-why-i-withdrew-my-son-from-cub-scouts/?utm_source=rss>.
[xxxvii]”Joe.My.God.” Joe. My. God. N.p., 12 July 2012. Web. 29 Jan. 2013. <http://joemygod.blogspot.com/2012/07/marriage-equality-mainstream-value.html>.
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