By Sergio Arellano-Oros
The resolution in support of the Boy Scouts was passed unanimously the Arizona Legislature on April 9. On April 11, democrat lawmakers denied their support and distanced themselves from thousands of Arizona Boy Scouts.
State senator Steve Farley told his fellow democrats on Facebook that nothing will excuse his “error in failing to demand the full text.” He went on to say he was tricked onto supporting the organization, which according to the resolution “includes millions of boys and young men from every ethnic, religious and economic background, including those with disabilities and special needs, participating in scouting programs across the United States” in accordance with the group’s policies.
Farley added in his defense, “you may be interested to know that an openly gay Democratic senator Robert Meza was also tricked into signing as a cosponsor.”
The quick change of heart came about after complaints were voiced by special interests groups and fellow democrats regarding the “don’t ask don’t tell’ provision of the resolution. Carol Grimsby, executive director with Wingspan told KGUN news that some legislators showed a “bigoted attitude, a non-inclusive attitude, certainly their not pro-constitution, all people not created equal and they’re fine saying that.”
However, the Scouts say that they are “committed to dialogue on its membership standards within the Scouting family at the local and national levels.” They say that to “continue and expand this important discussion,” the National Executive Board authorized its committees, representative of Scouting’s members, to further engage representatives of Scouting’s membership and listen to their perspectives and concerns.”
According to the Scouts, those committees provided “a channel where every voice can be heard” according to the Scouts, and received “feedback from the field” to “identify members’ concerns.”
“The committee’s recommendations will inform the officers’ work on a resolution regarding membership standards. The voting members of the National Council will take action on the resolution at the National Annual Meeting in May 2013,” according to the Scouts.
In 2010, the Scouts convened a committee of professional and volunteer leaders to determine whether the continuation of their policy to deny “membership to individuals who are open or avowed homosexuals or who engage in behavior that would become a distraction to the mission of the BSA.” The group decided to maintain that policy.
That “decision to maintain the policy began an even deeper dialogue within Scouting. Out of respect for the diverse beliefs of Scouting’s chartered organizations, the National Executive Board spearheaded discussions about the issue, including potentially amending the policy to allow chartered organizations that oversee and deliver Scouting to accept membership and select leaders consistent with their organization’s mission, principles, or religious beliefs.
The group then “concluded that due to the complexity of this issue, the organization needs time for a more deliberate review of its membership policy.”
That time is near and at the annual meeting next month, “delegates from across the country will vote on whether to lift the long-standing ban on gay Scouts and leaders,” according to the Washington Post. The vote will take place on May 24th, in Texas.
The looming decision has made national headlines for months, so it is difficult for Capitol insiders to understand the dems’ decision to claim ignorance.
One Capitol insider who agreed with Farley’s assessment that the resolution was a “hateful piece of polemicism” expressed concern that the lawmaker might use “’I didn’t read the bill excuse’ in cutting deals about Medicaid expansion.” They asked, “are we going to get a poison pill like tort reform and have them say later ‘I didn’t know it was there?’”
The Arizona resolution, HCR 2036, A Concurrent Resolution Honoring The Boy Scouts Of America For Its Contributions To The Lives Of Our Nation’s Boys And Young Men, reads:.
Whereas, scouting is the largest voluntary youth movement in the world, with a membership totaling more than 25 million; and
Whereas, the Boy Scouts of America was incorporated on February 8, 1910 and recognized by federal charter on June 15, 1916 to provide an educational program for boys and young men to build strong moral character, train in the responsibilities of participatory citizenship and develop personal fitness; and
Whereas, the Boy Scouts of America teaches the core values of duty to God and country, personal honor, respect for the beliefs of others, volunteerism and interdependence with the environment, principles that are conducive to good character, citizenship and health; and
Whereas, since 1910, more than 111 million people have been members of the Boy Scouts of America; and
Whereas, the Boy Scouts of America is a model for inclusiveness, with millions of boys and young men from every ethnic, religious and economic background, including those with disabilities and special needs, participating in scouting programs across the United States; and
Whereas, each local Boy Scout Council commits each Boy Scout to perform twelve hours of community service annually, for a total of 30 million community service hours each year; and
Whereas, more than one million adult volunteer leaders selflessly serve young people in their communities through organizations chartered by the Boy Scouts of America; and
Whereas, the United States Supreme Court has ruled that the Boy Scouts of America, as a private, voluntary, nonbusiness organization, has the right to set its own standards for membership and leadership; and
Whereas, after a two-year study, the Boy Scouts of America reported its unanimous consensus that the organization retain its current “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy; and
Whereas, the Boy Scouts of America has always affirmed faith in God as foundational and essential to its purpose and mission, articulated by Lord Baden-Powell’s insight that “God has given us . . . the great Book of Nature to read; and (no one can) say that there is untruth there—the facts stand before them”; and
Whereas, the Boy Scouts of America enjoys a sustained record of proven success in producing leaders for our nation who are trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.
Therefore
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of Arizona, the Senate concurring: That the Members of the Legislature recognize the Boy Scouts of America and express support for its values and policies and appreciation for the public service this worthwhile organization performs through its contributions to the lives of our nation’s youth.