Report on OKC rally by organizer Nathaniel Batchelder

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		Report on OKC rally by organizer Nathaniel Batchelderxxxxxxxxxxxx

(Posted 8-23-2000)

"HIGH NOON in OKLAHOMA CITY"
- by Nathaniel Batchelder, The Peace House

Activists Demonstrate and March for Gay Scouting

    At High Noon on Monday, August 21, twelve stalwart activists, including four former Scouts, met at a busy Oklahoma City intersection to poster and banner the lunch-time traffic.

    On all four corners of the intersection at NW 63rd and May Avenue, huge signs invited drivers to "HONK for GAY SCOUTS" and to support "Scouting For ALL!!!!" Other signs read, "Gay Kids Need Scouting Too," and, "BSA: Honor Diversity."

    Three TV news stations, two radio stations, and photographers from the Daily Oklahoman and the Gayly Oklahoman covered the event, especially interviewing the participating Scouts.

    Vigilers were gratified by the show of support from many drivers, honking and waving, giving thumbs-up signs, and shouts of agreement. Yes - of course - there were also signals and signs of disagreement. But everyone participating felt stoked and pumped that this public call to the conscience of our community was so generally well received.

    After the Noontime vigil, participants "marched" two blocks to Boy Scout Headquarters to present a file of 25 letters from individuals and groups calling for the BSA to bring their discriminatory policy into line with the Boy Scout tradition of inclusiveness and diversity with regard to race and religion.

    "The Boy Scouts have been historic leaders in America, celebrating the dignity and worth of every person without regard to skin color, race or religion," said Nathaniel Batchelder, one organizer of the event. He pointed out that the Boy Scout Handbook specifically calls Scouts NOT to treat others differently or badly on account of social differences. "We have came to remind the BSA of their own tradition of honoring every individual, and their own tenet that 'Every Boy Deserves Scouting.'"

    Organizer Rob Abiera, in a formal dark suit lending seriousness to his presence, read the group's purpose statement celebrating the BSA's long history of inclusion and calling them to conscience on this bad policy.

    Directors of the Last Frontier Council, having been given advance notice of the coming demonstration, stationed management personnel outside the doors of the Boy Scout offices, prepared to meet the demonstrators, but not looking too happy as the jubilant Marchers approached, surrounded by TV cameras, photographers, and radio reporters. The walk to BSA-HQ was reminiscent of the western movie hero's walk up Main Street - The Good Guys walk to confront the Bad Guys at High Noon.

    The presentation of letters was courteous and respectful. Statements of principle and purpose were made calmly and forcefully by organizers and Scouts participating. Eagle Scout Kent Doss said, "Today I am turning in all my merit badges and my uniforms to protest the current BSA policy discriminating against gay Scouts like me. I have thought long and hard before making this difficult decision." His testimony was extremely moving. Others spoke as well, the letters were handed over, and BSA reps acknowledged demonstrators' right to their opinion.

    The event was over.

    Walking back to parked cars at our vigil location, several participants spontaneously decided to do some debriefing over iced tea and refreshments at a nearby restaurant. Most had to return to jobs and offices, but the testimony at this "decompression session" was powerful. One man in his 40s said he had discovered his own bisexuality in just the last five years, and this was the first public event at which he had appeared. Another who was about 30 said he had come out to his own parents only two years before, and that the vigil was "a first" for him too. "When I picked up that sign and faced the traffic, my heart was pounding like I had just run a mile," he said. Another participant, about 65, said that high school had included painful years of taunting and teasing, and that it would never have occured to him to go into Scouting because he feared the same treatment awaited him there too. "It's great to see things changing," he said.

    The great City Councilman Harvey Milk from San Francisco, shot to death in his City Hall office for being gay some 20 years ago, said from a float in the SF Pride Parades - in the video "The Times of Harvey Milk" -   "Come on out! Come on out! You're not going to believe how good you will feel!"

    That's how good activists felt after the Oklahoma City vigil and march.

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