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The Supreme Court recently (June 29 Bellingham Herald) held that the Boy Scouts could deny an entire class of Americans
the opportunity to participate in their organization.
According to Chief Justice Rehnquist "The Boy Scouts asserts
that homosexual conduct is inconsistent with the values it seeks to instill." Requiring the organization to have a gay
scoutmaster would force it "to send a message, both to the youth members and the world, that the Boy Scouts accepts homosexual
conduct as a legitimate form of behavior".
Heterosexuals who commit adultery and the fathers of illegitimate
children are allowed to participate in the Boy Scouts. Is it the intent of the Boy Scouts to instill these values on its
members? Accepting immoral behavior by heterosexuals while denying participation to my community is discrimination.
By denying participation to my community, the Boy Scouts are telling its members and the world that discrimination is
a legitimate form of behavior.
The Boy Scouts is a fine organization that works hard to instill the right values
on its members. If the Boy Scouts wish to continue instilling the right values, then it needs to use the same yardstick to
measure the moral integrity of all its members, regardless of their sexual oritntation.
Sheila L Richardson
Bellingham
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