Disney pulls funding for Boy Scouts over LGBT Ban

[NaLisa]

Why not? This is an open forum where people can share different points of view. We don't have to believe the same, doesn't make us right or wrong!
But if you think LGBT doesn't have an agenda, well then, we'll just leave it at that!

The LGBT "agenda" is--full inclusion in U.S. society, protecting civil rights and an end to discrimination based on sexual orientation.

As a straight ally, I fully support this "agenda."

 

[Stitchfans]

Good for Disney! I was not aware of their policy. I just agreed to be a co leader with a friend from church for our local Cub Scout group. There is a part of me that says I should bow out, yet I just can't disappoint those boys. They do not have much else going on around here for them.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Why not? This is an open forum where people can share different points of view. We don't have to believe the same, doesn't make us right or wrong!
But if you think LGBT doesn't have an agenda, well then, we'll just leave it at that!

The LGBT agenda: That radical notion that gays are people too.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

I am very glad that Disney decided to do this. It's so silly that BSA thinks that having gay leaders (pack leaders? I forget what they're called) is a bad thing. There are gay, bisexual and transgender scouts. Why shouldn't they, and the straight, cisgender scouts have role models that show them that everyone, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, has worth and value?

 

[Uncle Remus]

The article was confusing, at it had a few mistakes - especially that part about Gay Days. I thought Disney didn't have anything to do with Gay Days?

From the article:

Disney's long been host to same sex commitment ceremonies and the annual Gay Days, but without ever officially attaching the Disney name. Family Outfest is different.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Being an atheist is a choice, being gay is not.

Hmmmm.... I'm not sure about this. People don't choose what they believe, really.

 

[sea nymph]

OMG........

Of course gays and lesbians are people and deserve rights, I never said that they don't!
What is tiresome is that this has to be plastered all over the news anymore and for a lack of a better term, shoved down our throats. Last time I checked the BSA is a private organization and if you don't like the components of said organization, then don't join! Don't join, stir the pot and then cry a river because they're not accepting of that style of life! Start your own organization and grow it with common beliefs!

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

OMG........

Of course gays and lesbians are people and deserve rights, I never said that they don't!
What is tiresome is that this has to be plastered all over the news anymore and for a lack of a better term, shoved down our throats. Last time I checked the BSA is a private organization and if you don't like the components of said organization, then don't join! Don't join, stir the pot and then cry a river because they're not accepting of that style of life! Start your own organization and grow it with common beliefs!

Being gay is not a lifestyle.

 

[Acklander]

OMG........

Of course gays and lesbians are people and deserve rights, I never said that they don't!
What is tiresome is that this has to be plastered all over the news anymore and for a lack of a better term, shoved down our throats. Last time I checked the BSA is a private organization and if you don't like the components of said organization, then don't join! Don't join, stir the pot and then cry a river because they're not accepting of that style of life! Start your own organization and grow it with common beliefs!

The only reason why it's all over the news is there have been many changes (legally) over the last 10 years - so, yes - that's news worthy. There have also been many bills introduced to try and challenge those changes. Again, that is news worthy. Once we reach a point in this country, where people are accepted for being who they are - it will no longer be all over the news or shoved down anyone's throat.

 

[DawnM]

It has now been taken out, meaning it was there to begin with?

You said there was no religion or God in the beginning of BoyScouts. I say there was.

The idea that someone can believe in any religion they like or just in a god of some sort is still in existence. I am not disputing that.

I am saying that BS started with a premise of God. You said they didn't.

How is that answering my own question? My question is, can you direct me to a link where it says that boy scouts was not founded on the premise of a god and that people who are atheists can join?

Religion has always been a part of boy scouts. America didn't add it in or make it up as you implied.

Baden Powell said it doesn't play in because it is ALREADY THERE.

Dawn

You answered your own question with "we hold no brief for any one form of belief over another".
Compare and contrast with the BGA stance.

In the UK, where Scouting began, the "Duty to God" pledge has now been taken out.

ford family

 

[mom2cinderella]

What is tiresome is that this has to be plastered all over the news anymore and for a lack of a better term, shoved down our throats. Last time I checked the BSA is a private organization and if you don't like the components of said organization, then don't join! Don't join, stir the pot and then cry a river because they're not accepting of that style of life! Start your own organization and grow it with common beliefs!

Funny, I find it tiresome when the news is plastered with the Religious Right's fight against gay marriage - I don't like having their views shoved down my throat.

If they don't like theGay Agenda (which is what? Cher/Madonna 2016 in the Pink House?), they should opt out of the gay "lifestyle". Don't be gay and don't marry someone of the same gender.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

OMG........

Of course gays and lesbians are people and deserve rights, I never said that they don't!
What is tiresome is that this has to be plastered all over the news anymore and for a lack of a better term, shoved down our throats. Last time I checked the BSA is a private organization and if you don't like the components of said organization, then don't join! Don't join, stir the pot and then cry a river because they're not accepting of that style of life! Start your own organization and grow it with common beliefs!

And Disney has every right not to donate to said organization and we have every right to discuss Disney's actions and the actions of said organization if we please. Nobody shoved anything down your throat. YOU are the one that voluntarily clicked the thread. YOU are the one that voluntarily read the thread. YOU are the one that voluntarily answered in this thread. YOU are the one that continued reading and answering and getting more and more confrontational in your posting. So if you don't like what is posted, follow your own advice: start your own private message board and grow it with your common beliefs. Or failing that, don't click. Don't read. Don't respond. Nobody forced any of those things down anyone's throat.

 

[Uncle Remus]

The only reason why it's all over the news is there have been many changes (legally) over the last 10 years - so, yes - that's news worthy. There have also been many bills introduced to try and challenge those changes. Again, that is news worthy. Once we reach a point in this country, where people are accepted for being who they are - it will no longer be all over the news or shoved down anyone's throat.

Man, you said it, it's ever changing on a daily basis. There have been major decisions in 7 states in just the last 2 months.

Funny, I find it tiresome when the news is plastered with the Religious Right's fight against gay marriage - I don't like having their views shoved down my throat.

If they don't like theGay Agenda (which is what? Cher/Madonna 2016 in the Pink House?), they should opt out of the gay "lifestyle". Don't be gay and don't marry someone of the same gender.

Sometimes it's just so simple, well said!

 

[Uncle Remus]

And Disney has every right not to donate to said organization and we have every right to discuss Disney's actions and the actions of said organization if we please. Nobody shoved anything down your throat. YOU are the one that voluntarily clicked the thread. YOU are the one that voluntarily read the thread. YOU are the one that voluntarily answered in this thread. YOU are the one that continued reading and answering and getting more and more confrontational in your posting. So if you don't like what is posted, follow your own advice: start your own private message board and grow it with your common beliefs. Or failing that, don't click. Don't read. Don't respond. Nobody forced any of those things down anyone's throat.

Preach!

 

[MouseMomx2]

Being an atheist is a choice, being gay is not.

I completely disagree. I was raised as a Catholic. Even as a young child I knew that I did not believe in what I was being taught. I questioned everything...respectfully, but to the complete frustration of our parish priest ...and I always thought that the religious stories made no sense (my opinion only).

I did not choose to abandon a faith. I never had it to begin with. Just because I was raised in a certain church it does not mean that I was of that faith. Each person needs to look at his/her own beliefs and find the path that is right for him/her. It may be the path set out by his/her parents, and it might not. Some may continue to follow the path set out for them, even though they don't fully believe, and some may not. Outside factors can certainly influence what path a person takes but, internally, each person knows where their own beliefs lie.

 

[Colleen27]

I do not see it wrong to ban atheists as it's a somewhat religious based organization. How can leader instill religion when they do not believe in religion. I find it strange that an atheist would even want to join the group. You would think they would want to start their own boys organization for their own way of thinking. Something with a motto excluding religion. Only makes sense, unless it's just to prove a point.

My problem with it is this - if BSA is a religious organization, aimed at instilling religion in young people, why should they be allowed to recruit/organize and meet in public schools? BSA presents itself as more inclusive than it truly is, and in my experience that's done with a quasi-evangelical intention.

Being an atheist is a choice, being gay is not. It's not discrimination. The BSA today is very broad in its religious "requirements" - our Cub Scout book said something along the lines of "whatever your family believes." But it does still have a faith component, at least in the U.S.

And if you are happy to be an atheist, why worry about "outing" your family?

Because discrimination against non-believers is still common and acceptable in some places. I'm not even an atheist - agnostic would be a better label - but we've run into it in our small town community. A standard getting to know you question around here is "Which church do you belong to?" and "None" is an answer that is often met with either suspicion/distrust or a recruiting pitch.

I completely disagree. I was raised as a Catholic. Even as a young child I knew that I did not believe in what I was being taught. I questioned everything...respectfully, but to the complete frustration of our parish priest ...and I always thought that the religious stories made no sense (my opinion only).

I felt/feel the same way but I have the same issues with atheism so I really don't "fit" anywhere. I think every side claims an impossible certainty. Because of that I never took issue with my kids participating in organizations that have a generalized God/higher power component as long as they aren't exclusive or pushing a particular set of beliefs.

 

[Missy1961]

Why not? This is an open forum where people can share different points of view. We don't have to believe the same, doesn't make us right or wrong!
But if you think LGBT doesn't have an agenda, well then, we'll just leave it at that!

Because anything I say won't change your mind.

 

[sea nymph]

And Disney has every right not to donate to said organization and we have every right to discuss Disney's actions and the actions of said organization if we please. Nobody shoved anything down your throat. YOU are the one that voluntarily clicked the thread. YOU are the one that voluntarily read the thread. YOU are the one that voluntarily answered in this thread. YOU are the one that continued reading and answering and getting more and more confrontational in your posting. So if you don't like what is posted, follow your own advice: start your own private message board and grow it with your common beliefs. Or failing that, don't click. Don't read. Don't respond. Nobody forced any of those things down anyone's throat.

Ha ha!
Double standard?

 

[ford family]

It has now been taken out, meaning it was there to begin with?

You said there was no religion or God in the beginning of BoyScouts. I say there was.

The idea that someone can believe in any religion they like or just in a god of some sort is still in existence. I am not disputing that.

I am saying that BS started with a premise of God. You said they didn't.

How is that answering my own question? My question is, can you direct me to a link where it says that boy scouts was not founded on the premise of a god and that people who are atheists can join?

Religion has always been a part of boy scouts. America didn't add it in or make it up as you implied.

Baden Powell said it doesn't play in because it is ALREADY THERE.

Dawn

I think that you are missing the point, probably deliberately.
To recap: the BSA are rightly castigated for discriminating against people because of their sexual orientation.
A previous poster points out that the BSA still discriminates against people because of their religious persuasion.
In response another poster says tough, if you don't like it then start your own organisation.
My point is that the Scouting movement was not set up as a religious organisation that taught woodcraft, survival skills etc but, rather, it was an organisation that taught woodcraft, survival skills etc against the background of the religious norms of its day. Those norms have changed although perhaps more slowly in America. When Scouting began, atheism was unusual and disparaged. Homosexuality was illegal. Fast forward a hundred years and homosexuality is, quite rightly, no longer discriminated against in most western countries but you seem to tolerate discrimination on grounds of personal belief.

I was a cub scout and scout in the 50s and 60s in England and there was no mention of religion whatsoever other than the pledge which was repeated parrot fashion. I find it hard to envisage the BSA spending time even discussing religion let alone "instilling" it. That is not the purpose of scouting and, in my opinion, any troop that did so would not be fit for purpose.

The fact that the BSA made and, apparently, still make belief in a monotheistic religion a compulsory requirement (and probably only one of those would really pass muster) is a form of discrimination.


ford family

 

[Uncle Remus]

Ha ha!
Double standard?

So why support efforts to treat gays and lesbians differently than the general public?