Openly Gay Scout Leader Booted From Boy Scouts

Former Scoutmaster Geoff McGrath found out this week that the Boy Scouts of America is totally serious about its ban on openly gay scout leaders. The BSA discovered that McGrath was being profiled by NBC News about the fact that he is an openly gay scout leader—and almost immediately sent him a letter notifying him that he is “no longer eligible for to be a registered leader.” The letter explains that “the BMA does not permit open or avowed homosexuals to serve as volunteer leaders. The BSA does not proactively inquire about the sexual orientation of its volunteer leaders, and the BSA respects everyone’s right to privacy. The BSA also respects everyone’s right to hold a different point of view. But if a volunteer makes an issue out of his or her sexual orientation—especially to the youth we serve—then that volunteer is no longer eligible to be a registered leader.”