Boy Scout Hazed, Bullied and Denied Eagle Scout Rank Because He’s Gay

[kpete]

Boy Scout Hazed, Bullied and Denied Eagle Scout Rank Because He’s Gay
By: Pam Spaulding Saturday October 6, 2012 7:52 am


Ryan Andresen, a 17-year-old from California, said he will be ineligible to earn the Boy Scout Eagle Award because his is gay.

Just sick – and California Scout Ryan Andresen’s main project was a “wall of tolerance.” (ABC):

His project, a “tolerance wall,” was inspired by the years of hazing he endured in middle school in Moraga, Calif., and later at Boy Scout summer camp, where his nicknames were “Tinkerbell” and “faggot.”

“I had I had no idea what gay was at that point,” said Andresen, who described hazing that included, among other rituals, having the word “fag” written in charcoal across his chest.

....................

His mom will appear on “Ellen” to discuss what happened. Ryan came out publicly in July by sending a letter to his troop declaring his support for another bullied scout.

The Boy Scouts of America spokesman Deron Smith said in a statement: “The scout proactively notified his unit leadership and Eagle Scout consoler that he does not agree to the scouting’s principle of ‘duty to God’ and does not meet scouting’s membership standard on sexual orientation.”

Yes, and bullying does represent “duty to God.’

VIDEO & MORE:
http://pamshouseblend.firedoglake.com/2012/10/06/boy-scout-hazed-bullied-and-denied-eagle-scout-rank-because-hes-gay/
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/boy-scout-bullied-denied-eagle-rank-gay/story?id=17401340#.UHBRqZjA9iD

[Kolesar]

1. I have torn loyalty

My Boy Scout troop was a positive influence on my fatherless classmate who had emotional problems. It gave him something to belong to and a leadership and development challenge. My friend Don was *way* better for it. I would love to see that kind of Scouting survive. I cannot countenance a program that cannot seem to look past a gay outsider's differences.

I don't fund Scouting. Something tells me we should flush the whole program on account of what these 21st century wingnuts have done to the program.

[Voice for Peace]

2. Everybody has their own version of God, even the truest believers.

There are as many imaginary gods as people on the planet.
Everybody's god looks a little like themselves.
Everybody creates their own version of god,
and believes in it.

Bullies tend to believe in a Bullying God.
Haters tend to believe in a Vengeful Judgmental God.

Some create a frugal, coldhearted god, or
a tough-love kind of god,
with specific preferences for how humans should behave
in order to escape punishment.

Some gods are always busy punishing, or threatening.
My way or the highway sorts of gods.
Gods more interested in power than in Love.
More interested in Hell than in Heaven.
Much more knowledgeable about Hell than about Heaven.