Zach Wahls, an LGBT ally and founder of Scouts for Equality talked with MSNBC’s Ari Melber and 19-year old Garrett Bryant — who was kicked out of Scouting for being gay — last night on “The Last Word.”Â
Bryant, who is acting courageous by taking on the BSA — which he clearly has loved for much of his life — says an innocuous Facebook status change led to the Boy Scouts of America kicking him out of Scouting. Bryant was expecting a summer job offer with the BSA after being in Scouting for eight years. But the Scouts say that he can’t work for them because of his sexual orientation.
Bryant tells MSNBC that he was willing to keep his sexuality secret to continue to stay with the Scouts. “They wanted to make this an issue,” he says. “Now, because of that, I will make this an issue.”
The BSA says that they want to be a “safe haven” for kids. But by mandating Scout Leaders or employees cannot be gay, they’re making it clear to younger gay Scouts they believe that there’s something wrong with being gay — and almost suggesting that all gays grow up to be pedophiles.
In fact, Bryant notes that the program he was in, Venturing, is co-ed. MSNBC didn’t ask, but the obvious question is why is it OK for a straight male or female to be a leader in a co-ed program, but not a gay male or female?Â
“What kind of message does this send to 12, 13, 14, 15-year old Scouts — gay Eagle Scouts who are still in the program — when they’re seeing someone like Garrett who’s eminently a qualified leader for the summer camp program, being denied that position?,” Wahls asked.
Watch:
http://player.theplatform.com/p/2E2eJC/EmbeddedOffSite?guid=n_lw_Escout_140429