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Boy Scout Impacted by Scout Discrimination Against Gay Dad

Posted by Melanie Nathan- 10-20-10

Jon Langbert of Dallas, Texas, who is openly gay and father of a 9-year old boy who is a Cub Scout, was told by Boy Scout heads that he could no longer wear the shirt that identified him as a member of a Boy Scouts leadership team because is gay.

According to CNN Lambert had received the shirt a year ago. The shirt identified him as a member of the leadership team that was selling popcorn for a Scout fundraiser.

But Lambert says that all changed last week. “Everything was running along smoothly until some of the dads complained,” Langbert said. When the complaints rose to a higher level of the Scout leadership, he was asked to stop wearing the shirt and give up his leadership role, he said.

A Scout Circle Ten Council official said Langbert was never registered as a leader in the first place.

“We do have a policy that avowed gays and atheists are not allowed to be a registered leader or member of Boy Scouts of America,” said Pat Currie, Scout executive with the Circle Ten Council. “It’s a longstanding policy.”

In a telephone interview, Boy Scouts of America director of public relations Deron Smith told CNN that the discussion has no place in Scouting.

“We focus on our mission, and our mission is to take young people and prepare them for an exceptional adulthood,” he said. “That’s it. That’s why our policy is the way it is. Our volunteer leadership has elected to keep that policy in place.”

Lambert stated that his son plans to leave the Cub Scouts. “He’s saying he’s not interested in continuing while his dad’s being singled out like this.”

Thanks you to Source  – see Video.

My Comment:- This is an example of  why we need LGBT – sexual orientation included in the Civil Rights Act. There is nothing worse than telling a child his/her family is unacceptable. It is tantamount to an assault on a child.  I have seen how it has affected my own child and our Country must protect the Children of the LGBT community just as it would do for any other children in this country.

Hey, the good news is – another activist is born!

Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com

Related articles

• Gay Dad Denied Scout Leadership Post (advocate.com)
• Boy Scouts tell gay leader to take a hike (cnn.com)
• Cub Scouts: Gay Dad Can be ‘Popcorn Fundraiser’ But Not Leader (towleroad.com)