Boy Scouts Public Relations Pledge Won't Rid Institutionalized Hatred

Recently I came across an article on Accidental Bear, on the BSA endorsement of GLSEN’s ‘No Name-calling Week.’ The question was posed whether too much emphasis was being placed on an institution with a strong history of anti-gay stances; and why not just say fuck the boy scouts? I would agree.

I do say FUCK the boy scouts, quite often. Institutionalized homophobia will not go away with a simple public relations pledge.

As a former scout, I can attest to the homophobia it tends to breed. The scouts thrive on promoting masculinity, and conformity like any good paramilitary organization. Anything outside of those norms is certainly shunned, ridiculed, threatened, bullied and driven out — very much a microcosm of american society.

The boy scouts is a training ground for youth. Once they address the underlying issues that breeds homophobia within their organization, then I may say ‘FUCK the boy scouts’ a little less.

Expect more on this topic in the future, along with another post regarding GLSEN and their thinkb4youspeak.org campaign.

Posted on February 29, 2012.