IN 1910, when the boy scouts was founded, it was not acceptable in mainstream american society to be either homosexual, or non christian. nor was it acceptable to be a socialist, in spite of the fact that socialism, like homosexuality and non christianity, was widespread.
society , and what it permits, is cyclical. it was more acceptable to be non christian in eighteen ten than nineteen ten; in eighteen hundred america elected a non christian president. today it might be hard to do that. but homosexualtiy has never had its day in the american sun, until, perhaps, now.
it may be that at long last we the people are becoming enlightened enough to put sexuality where it belongs; in the mind of the individual. And with all the controversy surrounding equality for gays, lesbians, transgenders, and bixesuals (did i leave anyone out?), the venerable old boy scouts, which has been wavering on the issue for some time, is now leaning towards acceptance and tolerance.
when i joined the boy scouts as an eleven year old in nineteen sixty six, i was never asked whether i was a christian or a heterosexual, probably because it was assumed that i was both, and that, at my age, it didn't really matter, yet, my sexual orientation. I haven't changed much; I'm still a straight non christian.
to my knowledge the scouts have never discrimminated against jews or adherants of other religions, but christianity has always been assumed, and inculcated. reverence. also, obedience; maybe a little capitalism thrown in.
don't ask don't tell has always seemed a very sensible, comforting policy, both for the military, and for everything else. if you really think about it, personal sexual orientation is almost entirely irrelevant and best ignored in almsot every aspect of life, except sex.
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