Crew 731 on Mount Baldy, Philmont Scout Ranch (Johnnyod/
Wikicommons)
The Boy Scouts of America's (BSA)
Bryan on Scouting blog, described as "A Blog for the BSA's Adult Leaders," has posted a piece reminding readers this is
"No Name-Calling Week." The author, Bryan Wendell, an Eagle Scout, and the senior editor of
Scouting magazine says:
No Name-Calling Week begins today, so it’s an excellent time to remind Scouts and Scouters that these “harmless” insults can do real damage to a boy or girl.
No Name Calling Week is an initiative of the
The Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network. The examples of inappropriate names Bryan chooses ("Idiot! Retard! Geek") are conspicuously free of the
most common ones throw around. But Wendell encourages Scouters to take name-calling seriously, intervene, and provides links to tips and resources.
As Curtis Wong notes in his piece on Huffington Post:
Though it may seem minor, embracing a pro-LGBT organization's event is likely to be viewed as a considerably progressive step for Boy Scouts given its checkered history with such affairs. Many advocates have long been outraged by what they have deemed as the organization's explicit anti-gay policy, which allegedly bars openly gay members from participating as troop members or leaders.
I've watched with great sadness as the gay community has quarreled with the Boy Scouts. I enjoyed scouting for many years. When I was 16, I worked for a summer at
Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico. This summer holds some of my fondest memories of youth. I have twice scaled "Old Baldy" the mountain pictured above.
Scouts provided fun, friendship, exercise, life-skills and exposed me to so many new experiences and people. These are things every child deserves, and something every adult should have the opportunity to facilitate if they desire and have something to contribute.
It isn't a full turnaround in policy, but the BSA deserves a respectful salute for not letting the LGBT-affiliation of GLSEN get in the way of their participating in "No Name-Calling" week and for encouraging their members and leaders to take seriously their responsibility to provide a safe and welcoming environment where respect and kindness are the standard. Good move!