Written: 6/8/2010
I previously mentioned that I would be fired if I came out, if I told the truth. I work for the Boy Scouts, and we operate under a pseudo-“Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy (lets keep going and ignore the fact that I think I just butchered grammar).
Working for the Boy Scouts, we don’t have the official DADT, but that is how we operate, and how we reference the policy. Now, there are a few special circumstances that set our member policy apart from that of the US Military. First, youth members do not fall under it. From National’s perspective, a youth member is never gay (or more accurately, non-straight), they are just questioning and experimenting. At least until they register as an adult, which can be 18, or can be 21. So I did a little bit of digging, and I was wrong (it happens a lot, don’t be surprised), although it was a more recent clarification, which is why I missed it I think. Youth members cannot come out of the closet either. Which again, is a shame. Although I think, at least around here, you would be hard pressed to find a Scoutmaster who would kick a kid out of the program.
All my best,
The King of Spades
