An Open Letter to the Boy Scouts of America

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		An open letter to the Boy Scouts of Americaxxxxxxxxxxxx

(Posted 8-6-2000)

AN OPEN LETTER TO THE INDIAN NATIONS COUNCIL OF THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA

Dear Scouting Leadership and Participants,

My name is Kent Doss and I received my Eagle Scout status in 1997 while involved in Troop 1 of Tulsa Oklahoma. I was a Junior Assistant Scoutmaster throughout my high-school career and severed as the Crew Chief for multiple expeditions to Philmont Scout Ranch. I was then and am now a physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight gay man.

I would like to thank you and my troop for guiding me through some of the most formative years of my life. It is my strong conviction that the confidence and leadership skills that I gained in scouting have made an enormous contribution to my growth and empower me today to fight for what I know is right.

Unfortunately I have been put in a very uncomfortable situation by the Boy Scouts' exclusionary policy toward gay men. As a youth I was aware of and pained by this policy, but it is not until recently, as the Boy Scouts have become more set and expressive in their intolerant position that I feel a need to make a choice. Do not be mistaken. The decision that I am approaching is not simply weather or not to retain my title as an Eagle Scout. The Boys Scouts have forced me to choose between a program that is near and dear to my heart, and what I know is right, living my life with honor and honesty.

Please do not think that your policy goes unnoticed by young people whom you may think are unaware of their sexual orientation. I distinctly remember the first time that I learned of the BSA's hurtful barring of my cultural peers. On an expedition to Philmont Scout Ranch, my father and my Scout Master engaged in a conversation about the way the BSA dealt with gay men. I will never forget hearing from my Scout Master, a man that I deeply respect, say, "They don't learn that disgusting stuff until later, so we only have to have to keep the adults out." Be very aware that the policy toward gay scouts is not a small issue, nor is it unseen by young scouts, gay or straight. The institution of Scouting sets an example for relating to one another for youth around the world. Teaching children that it is acceptable to exclude others based on arbitrary, innate qualities is wrong and unforgivable. Like it or not, your policy contributes greatly to the vicious atmosphere that gay youth deal with on a day-to-day basis.

I am not alone in the ranks of gay men who have reached the pinnacle of scouting. Often overlooked is the fact that Scouting is very attractive to gay youth. Scouting provides a relatively unique opportunity to develop the friendships and self-confidence that are desperately needed for this high-risk population. The courage and persistence espoused by the BSA are essential qualities of gay youth who go to school everyday where they are rarely accepted and often openly hated. The BSA doesn't seem to recognize and certainly doesn't acknowledge the fact that their highest award has been given time and again to young gay men.

Like any large national institution, many different councils and troops make up the BSA. Through my career in Scouting, I have seen the divergent opinions and policies of many different regions and troops even within Tulsa OK. It can only be my hope that the council and even more specifically the troop that I grew to respect might have a more inclusive outlook on the issue.

Soon two colleagues and I hope to enter into dialogue with the Indian Nations Council of the Boy Scouts of America. Our goal is to reach some level of agreement that our local outpost of the BSA will neither embrace nor enforce the bigoted national policies excluding gay men. At this point in time, the only way I might remain honored by my Eagle Scout status, is for the Indian Nations Council and Troop 1 to openly affirm me as a gay man, and to denounce the prejudiced policies of the national leadership. If this cannot be done several other scouts in the Tulsa area and I will return our scouting memorabilia and rank to the Indian Nations Council Headquarters.

If you agree with my ideas, I urge you to contact those policy-making officials who have not had the privilege of knowing an open gay or lesbian person. Please do not allow your silence to be interpreted as acquiescence with a backwards ideology

Sincerely,
Kent Doss
kdog@ionet.net

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