Boston Boy Scouts Unveil Pro Homosexuality Diversity Badge, Atheist Boys Scout Fundraiser

The Boston branch of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) has reportedly chosen to celebrate homosexuality as an element of “diversity,” while pro-family advocates wait to see what actions, if any, the national BSA leadership will take to discipline the council.

On Monday, the Boston Minuteman Council, which serves 18,000 boys, picked David Brudnoy — a homosexual radio talk-show host — to emcee its annual fundraising dinner. The Minuteman Council announced the creation of a “diversity awareness awards badge” that contains a homosexuality component. This fall, the Boson council will give the diversity awards to individuals and groups that “complete a curriculum of activities that promote diversity — including race, religion and sexual orientation,” according to the Associated Press.

Gregg Shields, spokesman for the national BSA headquarters, said the Minuteman Council’s action does nothing to alter the longstanding Boy Scouts’ policy — affirmed in February by the BSA’s executive board — that homosexuals, atheists and agnostics are not eligible for membership or leadership in the Boy Scouts.

Asked if the BSA would take immediate action against the Boston council, Shields said there first would have to be a “discussion” between the Boston leadership and that of the national BSA.

Shields told Culture & Family Report that the first step in the discussions will be “to understand what took place.” He said the national BSA will expect the Boston council leaders to “reaffirm their commitment to the policy” on homosexuality.

He added that local councils have the right to create awards and badges, but that they “require prior approval” of the BSA. “Other voices can be heard, but there can only be one policy.”

Brock Bigsby, scout executive for the Boston Minuteman Council, told The Boston Globe that the homosexuality-affirming “diversity” awards were created to “meet the needs of our kids — that’s where our focus is.” “Scouting traditionally has been a very diverse activity,” Bigsby said, who asserted there is a “great deal of local autonomy” for councils. (He did not return a call from C&F Report for this article.)

In rejecting dissident efforts to overturn the Scouts morality code on homosexuality, the BSA executive board stated that “homosexual conduct is inconsistent with the traditional values espoused in the Scout Oath and Law,” and warned that “the BSA’s values cannot be subject to local option choices, but must be the same in every unit,” the Globe reported.

BRUDNOY ESPECIALLY CHOSEN The Boston Globe reported that Bigsby and the Boston council intentionally chose Brudnoy, who has contracted AIDS, to emcee their “Salute to Scouting” dinner to signal their homosexuality-inclusive course: “They didn’t say, ‘David, we want you because you’re gay.’ They said, ‘We want you because you’ll be signaling to people our policy, and we hope you’ll make reference to this in your remarks,’” said Brudnoy, who hosts a nightly radio program on WBZ (1030 AM) and teaches journalism at Boston University.

“It will be in passing, it may be no more than a sentence,” Brudnoy said. “But the point will be clearly made.”

Brudnoy himself also champions the cause of atheist boys gaining entry into the Scouts. Since its inception, the Boy Scouts of America has affirmed a belief in God. In February, the BSA board declared that “duty to God is not a mere ideal for those choosing to associate with the Boy Scouts of America; it is an obligation, which has defined good character throughout the BSA’s 92-year history.”

But in an interview with AP, Brudnoy pledged to call on the Boston Scouts affiliate to allow atheists as members: “Currently an atheist or agnostic kid cannot be a scout,” [Brudnoy] said, adding that he planned to call for change,“ wrote the AP’s Ken Maguire.

Brudnoy also praised the Minuteman Council’s existing “nondiscrimination policy” that officials have said applies to “sexual orientation.”

In an op-ed appearing in the June 8 Boston Herald, Brudnoy made the connection — denounced by pro-family advocates — between racism and opposing homosexuality. He wrote:

Monday we’re celebrating the 26th annual Salute to Scouting Dinner, and I’m privileged to serve as master of ceremonies, something I, a former Scout, would not do if our local Scout council mimicked the national BSA policy. Like all Americans, Scouts and Scout leaders and adult supporters deserve a society ensuring equitable rights for all. Banishing gays from scouting is as sensible as banning people who aren’t white gentiles. It would be and is senseless. Americans of goodwill should recoil from it categorically, as has the Boston Minuteman Council.

Robert H. Knight , Director of the Culture & Family Institute, and an Eagle Scout, said the Boston Minuteman Council’s action is a tragic irony, since it emanates from the city that is at the center of a growing homosexual pedophilia scandal. The Boston Archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church has been under fire since it was learned that church authorities transferred known sex offenders to other parishes and areas of the country rather than expel them from the priesthood.

Boston is also the birthplace of NAMBLA, the North American Man/Boy Love Association, a homosexual organization that advocates legalizing sex between men and young boys. One of the Boston priests implicated in the Catholic homosexual pedophile scandal was reportedly active in the founding of NAMBLA.

“To see the Boston Scout Council expanding its crusade to celebrate homosexuality, even as the Catholic Church is embroiled in a crisis caused by homosexual predators who were ‘tolerated’ at the highest levels, is shocking to say the least,” Knight said. “This is especially true since the Boy Scouts themselves have been forced to take drastic measures to keep homosexual predators away from young boys.

“If the Boston council does not stop celebrating homosexuals as role models — in direct contravention of the national Boy Scout policy — it is time for Boston parents to pull their boys out of the Boston-area Scouts under its control.” YOUNG EAGLE SCOUT DENOUNCES BOSTON ACTION

Hans Zeiger, a 17-year-old Eagle Scout from Puyallup, Washington, criticized the Boston action.

“The state of Massachusetts has placed more pressure on the BSA to change its standards than any other state in America,” said Zieger, director of the Scout Oath Project, an initiative to preserve the moral tradition of Scouting in America. “Nearly every public school district in Massachusetts has denied the Scouts access to its public facilities. This is a great tragedy.” He blasted the Boston Council for “giving in” to pressure from the homosexual lobby.

“By inviting an openly gay radio talk show host, AIDS patient, and anti-family activist to emcee their fundraiser, they’ve sent a message to Scouts everywhere that the strong Scouting tradition of moral character and principled leadership development is at serious risk.

“As an Eagle Scout, I will refuse to accept the actions of the Minuteman Council. In order to consistently uphold its moral values, the BSA National Headquarters must roll some heads in Boston — those of the BSA leaders in Boston who refuse to uphold the Scout Oath must leave the organization,” Zeiger said.

He called on citizens in Massachusetts and all across America who are concerned about freedom of association and the First Amendment, and about preserving scouting for future generations, to call and write the Boy Scouts “and demand consistent enforcement of the Scouts’ morality code.”

disavow them just like decent America has pretty much disavowed and ignored Massachusetts. Maybe the place will eventually drown in its own scum.

Sorry, I misinterpreted your post previous.

Bygones!

Just keep it out of the gov't, too, including public schools, to which I'm forced to give money even though I don't send my kids there.

Does this mean you believe the Boy Scouts should not be permitted to use public school buildings (in the evenings or other times school isn't in session) for meetings and things?

I used to listen to Brudnoy, when I lived on Cape Cod. His being gay didn't bother me, since his politics were definitely not leftist (I believe he calls himself a libertarian).

I am not sure what he espoused on his radio show but he participated in a debate at my college in Mass. and he was as far left as one could get. An out an out Bolshevik. This was in '94 so maybe he has changed his tune since then. I also heard he owns a leather shop (gay sex shop) in Provincetown.

Does this mean you believe the Boy Scouts should not be permitted to use public school buildings (in the evenings or other times school isn't in session) for meetings and things?
Yes, that's my position. I don't think an atheist group should meet there, either. However, more importantly, the BSA has recruited in public schools during school hours.
Taxpayers shouldn't be forced to pay for education unless they're using it. That way, we won't be forced to pay for someone else's agenda, whatever that may be.

Separation of Church & State

Only met we would not have an official religion to represent this nation. Like in Italy the Catholic Church is the official Religion, Russia the Greek Orthodox was the nation religion, England it was Episcopal religion. etc. It never was met exclusion of God, for it was God who guided man to win the revelation and sat up this nation like it or not!.

Because of God we have a free nation for all believers and non-believes.

Wisdom is don’t kill the Goose that laid the Golden Egg!

Today Colorado burns, yet they choosed for the Colorado High School graduation, to sing the Global Anthem, instead of the National Anthem last week – now it may be a stretch, but they do not have blessing assisting them in this scourge.

You might not like the God fearing people, try living in a world without them and you will see how quickly this world will be come void and desolate.

I see.

My position hasn't yet crystallized, but it seems to me that when school is out, the school building ceases to be a school and becomes just a building -- a public building available for public use. As such, I wouldn't object to either the BSA or atheists using it, just as I wouldn't object to them using a public park or public roads.

The BSA's recruiting during school hours in a public school does seem inappropriate to me, even though I think the BSA's activities are beneficial for boys and the community at large. But of course that's the problem with public schools: they make something that is morally right (the teaching of religious morality) into something that is morally wrong (the teaching of religious morality using someone else's money).

What I'm wondering about is the parents of all these
boys. What parent, in his right mind, would allow their
kids to come under these influences? I realize many
of them claim to be Agnostics and Atheists, but surely
even many of these groups have some decent members
who are concerned for the well-being of their children?

The parents of the scouts in Boston should simply boycott the activity with the gay emcee. Further, they should insist on the immediate dismissal of the pro-gay, pro-atheist, pro-agnostic leadership. If the leaders choose to part company with the standards of the organization, it is time for them to go.

"Only met we would not have an official religion to represent this nation."

When the people are forced to support religion through either public education or taxpayer-funded memorials and events, then you have established an "official religion".

"Because of God we have a free nation for all believers and non-believes."

People did that, restornu, not a supernatural deity.

"Today Colorado burns, yet they choosed for the Colorado High School graduation, to sing the Global Anthem, instead of the National Anthem last week – now it may be a stretch, but they do not have blessing assisting them in this scourge."

Lol.

"You might not like the God fearing people,"

I never said that.

"try living in a world without them and you will see how quickly this world will be come void and desolate."

Remember, the Islamic terrorists are "god-fearing" people, too. A world without them sounds like a pretty good place to me. :)

You make an interesting point comparing public schools/buildings to public roads/parks.

I think that public schools and buildings, even off-hours, are another matter because the buildings themselves are intended for gov't activities alone (public education, and so on). Thus, a political or religious group practicing there would constitute a violation of the First Amendment.

It doesn't matter how much or how loud someone proclaims themselves to be a Christian, the fact is, if they don't live it out in their actions then they are notChristians. Fred Phelps and his cultists who are alway chanting "God hates fags" are most certainly NOT Christians. The Bible is absolutely clear that it is the sin that God hates, not the sinner. God's heart breaks for these people. He loves them so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, to die as a sin-offering to pay the price for sin which they (and we) could never pay.

People can call themselves all kinds of things, but where the rubber meets the road is in their actions and the way they live their lives.

I despise homosexuality as the sin it is, and I despise having the pro-homo agenda pushed on me, but the fact remains that those who practice the homosexual lifestyle are still precious to God and He grieves when they sin (just as when we sin) and He longs for them (and us) to repent and draw close to Him.

I think that public schools and buildings, even off-hours, are another matter because the buildings themselves are intended for gov't activities alone (public education, and so on).

I'm not so sure this intention exists.

In my community, parents take their kids to play at the public elementary school's playground and joggers run laps on the public high school's track. When I was a kid, my AYSO soccer team had practice on the grounds of my public middle school. These are all public, non-government uses of the schools' facilities. It seems to me that off-hours use of a school gymnasium for a Boy Scout meeting would be the same in principle.

I do believe that you've got the wrong guy here. It wasn't clear until I saw the last sentence. You are talking about James Braude - liberal, DemocRAT puke. 180 degrees away from David Brudnoy.

"In my community, parents take their kids to play at the public elementary school's playground and joggers run laps on the public high school's track."

Perhaps policies differ from community to community. We live just blocks away from all three public schools - elementary, middle, and high school. In our town, we're not permitted on school grounds at all after hours. Technically, we're not even permitted to park there (though people frequently do at the elementary school when the ball field across the street has no more spaces. The police just look the other way). Town council and the school board does hold meetings at two of the schools after-hours.

And we pay a heck of alot in property taxes, most of which goes to the school district, even though we don't even send our children there.

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