Local Boy Scouts stand by national resolution

By Lee Murray

TheNewsOutlet.org

YOUNGSTOWN

The Boy Scouts of America Greater Western Reserve Council says it will abide by a decision by the national council to permit membership of gay youths.

The Boy Scouts of America announced last week that it had passed a resolution that overrides the current policy, which denies membership to the organization on sexuality alone.

The new policy becomes effective Jan. 1, 2014, to allow Scouting districts to make the transition to the new standards.

Jason Wolf, Scout executive with Boy Scouts of America Greater Western Reserve Council said the council will follow the resolution.

The council oversees districts in Ashtabula, Lake, Geauga, Trumbull, Mahoning counties and a portion of Portage County.

“It reflects a change in our national policy, and we remain committed to that national policy,” Wolf said.

Although the resolution allows gay youths to participate in Scouting, adult homosexual members still are not permitted.

“We respect the integrity of that process,” Wolf said. “This will allow all kids to be part of Scouting.”

“Hopefully, this is going to be a positive change,” said Mike Kupec, a volunteer in the Whispering Pines District of the Greater Western Reserve Council in Mahoning County.

“We’ll wait and see how it goes in the future,” Kupec added.

Eagle Scout Ben Boughner, 17, of Canfield, attends Troop 25 at Canfield United Methodist Church. Ben said Scouting teaches boys a lot about life.

“I think it’s good that everyone will get to have the experience of Scouting,” Ben said. “No one type of person should be discriminated against.”

Marcus Masello, a 17-year-old Eagle Scout from Boardman, said allowing gays the opportunity to participate in Scouting was better than denying them based on their sexuality alone.

“I think it would be less moral to keep them out of scouting,” Marcus said. “It would do more harm to keep them out.”

Marcus, of Troop 46, which meets at Boardman United Methodist Church, said the decision reflects the national mood.

“I think society is changing, and they made it more fair,” Marcus said. “I think they [national BSA council] did exactly the right thing.”

Marcus said the decision reflects the religious aspect of the Boy Scouts.

“The Roman Catholic Church is against [homosexuality], but it does a great job, I think, of making sure that people are not treated any worse because of it,” Marcus said.

“But I still agree that there should be no homosexual leaders,” Marcus added.

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