# Dad Forms Pro-Gay, Anti-Discrimination Scout Troop **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 10, 2013, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dad-forms-pro-gay-anti-discrimination-scout-troop/646743 "2013-01-10T13:56:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dad-forms-pro-gay-anti-discrimination-scout-troop/646743/1 "2013-01-10T13:56:39Z")
> **[Dad Forms Pro-Gay Scout Troop](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/todd-schweikert-brooklyn-scout-troop-girls-gay-members_n_2441354)** > > Dad Forms Pro-Gay Scout Troop > [@](#): > > Just as the Boy Scouts of America motto preaches, Brooklyn, N.Y., dad Todd Schweikert likes to “be prepared.” > > And he was prepared to actively disagree with the Boy Scouts’ policy of excluding gay members and leaders. So Schweikert used his own skills in adapting to a hostile environment by forming his own all-inclusive troop. > > His 7-year-old son is a charter member of the 5th Brooklyn Scouts, which accepts boys, girls and all sexual orientations while believing that prejudice is best snuffed out like an untended campfire. Faith in humanity: Restored. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dad-forms-pro-gay-anti-discrimination-scout-troop/646743/2 "2013-01-10T14:13:07Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Faith in humanity: Restored. Why? There have always been people within the Boy Scouts organization who have opposed the leadership on this issue. They’ve been told to pound sand and get out, which is what this guy did, in setting up a troop under the Baden Powell Association. All it shows is that the BSA will not move on this issue, and that you have to leave the BS Association to further the goal of equality and respect. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dad-forms-pro-gay-anti-discrimination-scout-troop/646743/3 "2013-01-10T14:16:43Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Why? > > There have always been people within the Boy Scouts organization who have opposed the leadership on this issue. They’ve been told to pound sand and get out, **which is what this guy did** , in setting up a troop under the Baden Powell Association. Asked and answered. (Bolding mine) ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dad-forms-pro-gay-anti-discrimination-scout-troop/646743/4 "2013-01-10T14:24:07Z")
I don’t see the pro-gay you mention in your post… I see a guy who wants to teach kids to be tolerant of others and their choices, even non-judgmental of those who differ. I don’t see that he’s pushing the gay lifestyle on them. Are you’re claiming he’s in favor of the kids being gay? ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dad-forms-pro-gay-anti-discrimination-scout-troop/646743/5 "2013-01-10T14:28:59Z")
WTeverlovinF?!? A guy does a good thing. Complain elsewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dad-forms-pro-gay-anti-discrimination-scout-troop/646743/6 "2013-01-10T14:34:06Z")
A few years ago, I remember reading that someone suggested that US Boy Scout troops affiliate with Scouts Canada instead of the Boy Scouts of America, as the Canadian group was more inclusive. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dad-forms-pro-gay-anti-discrimination-scout-troop/646743/7 "2013-01-10T14:35:18Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > I don’t see the pro-gay you mention in your post.. I see a guy who wants to teach kids to be tolerant of others and their choices, even non-judgmental of those who differ. I don’t see that he’s pushing the gay lifestyle on them. Are you’re claiming he’s in favor of the kids being gay? I’d prefer a orientation neutral scout troop myself. “So Billy pounded some pussy lately?” ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dad-forms-pro-gay-anti-discrimination-scout-troop/646743/8 "2013-01-10T15:48:08Z")
I’ve wondered why this doesn’t happen more often. I think it’s a great idea. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dad-forms-pro-gay-anti-discrimination-scout-troop/646743/9 "2013-01-10T16:04:42Z")
Well, our scout troop basically did this and no one’s come down on us so far. One of our leaders (a lawyer) drafted a scathing letter to the (heavily-Mormon, heavily-Texan, heavily-Heavy, probably) Board of Directors of the scouts. Got a form letter back, so we just started including gays, younger siblings, and girls (who jumped at the chance to be risking their lives every weekend instead of selling cookies). A couple of the girls’ (terribly butch) leaders came along, one of our leaders came out to the scouts (who said “Well, duh, Mr. C, but so what? Can we go swimming?”) And we started the Diversity merit badge (with a simply fabulous rainbow swooshy thing going on, all embroidered and in your personal space…). Under the radar of the national board, we assume. _Shhh, we’d rather keep providing fun for the kids than fight a big battle._ But I wonder how many other troops are doing this – I know of a couple, and nation-wide, there’s got to be a sizable number. Especially since discrimination is pretty much the opposite of the Scout Law. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dad-forms-pro-gay-anti-discrimination-scout-troop/646743/10 "2013-01-10T17:15:10Z")
Maybe the BSA will change someday. They used to, many years ago, discriminate based on race. Now your skin color doesn’t matter. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dad-forms-pro-gay-anti-discrimination-scout-troop/646743/11 "2013-01-10T20:06:18Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > I don’t see the pro-gay you mention in your post.. I see a guy who wants to teach kids to be tolerant of others and their choices, even non-judgmental of those who differ. I don’t see that he’s pushing the gay lifestyle on them. Are you’re claiming he’s in favor of the kids being gay? So to you, “pro-gay” means “pushing the gay lifestyle” on people? The guy is teaching the kids to be tolerant. That has nothing to do with pushing any lifestyle. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dad-forms-pro-gay-anti-discrimination-scout-troop/646743/12 "2013-01-10T20:54:04Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > I’ve wondered why this doesn’t happen more often. I think it’s a great idea. I was in the Scouts in New York a long time ago, before the Mormons took over. I suspect that this guy is not going to be able to take his kids camping in the many BSA sites around New York. (Anyone know if Ten Mile River is still open?) So, good for him, but it would be even better if BSA stopped being dicks. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2013, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dad-forms-pro-gay-anti-discrimination-scout-troop/646743/13 "2013-01-15T19:55:36Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > … it would be even better if BSA stopped being dicks. That’s some low hanging comedy fruit if ever I saw it. 🙂 I wonder why Campfire sorta fizzled. I seem to recall you only had to be a kid to participate–they didn’t care what kind of parts you had, or preferred. More than once I’ve wished I was less socially awkward–enough so that I could provide a less-regimented, more fulfilling kid experience than the local BSA cliques. I really strongly detest the BSA ritualism. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2013, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dad-forms-pro-gay-anti-discrimination-scout-troop/646743/14 "2013-01-15T21:13:31Z")
Doesn’t seem to just be a gay thing, also co-ed. I’m not sure I like the implication that single sex somehow equals bad, though. It can often be a practical issue, and not the He-Man Women Haters Club. Where are the 1st through 4th Brooklyn Scouts? If those exist, they at least have no web presence, and nothing on the official site, so I’m gonna say no. Transfer from the old BSA number? I must say, the red uniforms aren’t nearly as fetching as blue (for some ranks). ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2013, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dad-forms-pro-gay-anti-discrimination-scout-troop/646743/15 "2013-01-15T21:38:25Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > So to you, “pro-gay” means “pushing the gay lifestyle” on people? The guy is teaching the kids to be tolerant. That has nothing to do with pushing any lifestyle. I think that was the point. No need to say “pro-gay” ( a term the BSA probably sees as a slur) when all you’re doing is pushing basic human dignity and respect. > [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > I’ve wondered why this doesn’t happen more often. I think it’s a great idea. Because the resources the BSA has at their disposal is truly impressive. Places like Philmont, the Florida Sea Base and access to other sites is really tough to compete with. Add in the recognition, and other options just aren’t as shiny.