While Cashill earned his Eagle at some point back in the mists of time, the Scouts are not what he remembers. Boys can join at age 10-1/2 if they are graduating from Webelos. Eighteen-year-olds are ADULTS and may not be in a tent with any younger teen nor may they shower together. All this is well-established in the protection policies that have been in place going back to at least the 1980s when I got involved as a parent and leader. I absolutely disagree with the recent choices made by the National Council. They squandered their best resource, the Dale ruling, and chose the path of least resistance.
OK, let's re-phrase it slightly.
Would you let your 12 year old daughter sleep in a tent with a 16 or 17 year old boy?
It's fine that kids as young as 10.5 get in. It does not change the fact that you will have adolescent Scouts hanging out with older gay boys who may find themselves sexually attracted to them.
Based on your comments, I’m guessing the BSA now assumes that the protections in place must be so good that the last protection, NOT allowing homosexual scout leaders, is no longer a necessity. That might be a false assumption, but they have done it now, and the world has to react. On it’s face it appears to be the stupidest move the organization could have taken under the circumstances. Just what part of the under two percent of the population are they trying to appease, and why?