The Boy Scouts of America voted Thursday to lift its ban on gay scouts. It left in place its ban on scout leaders who are gay. But in the Boy Scout’s Western Region a majority of councils recommended not changing either policy.
A study of the issue done by the Boy Scouts of America cites fears among scout groups in the west of losing members, especially those who belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. But the LDS church issued a statement after the vote in support of the Boy Scouts and their decision.
One scout parent we spoke with also welcomed the decision. Tyler Cazier lives in Horseshoe Bend. He was an Eagle Scout himself. He’s been a scout master and his oldest son is a scout. Cazier is LDS and he says no boy should be excluded from participating in Boy Scouts.
“Sometimes we make issues out of things that aren’t really that big a deal,” Cazier says. “If some boy shows up in our scout troop that has feelings for other boys it’s not a big deal. And I don’t think the other boys are going to be scared or feel threatened. I just don’t see it as being a big issue.”
Cazier says he supports the Boy Scout’s decision to retain the ban on gay adult leaders but he would also support the organization if it decided to let them in. He says he has gay friends and he would be comfortable with them leading his son’s scout troop.
“As long as the Boy Scouts of America sticks to teaching boys how to build fires and wilderness survival and tie knots and do first aid and earn merit badges and things like serving other people and being honest, then I have no problem with a person’s sexual orientation within the program,” he says.
Cazier also thinks sexuality should not be part of scouting and leaders - gay or straight - should not discuss sex.
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