Oath and Law for all | The Salt Lake Tribune

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I just went online and read the Boy Scout Oath and Law, something I hadn't done since I was a Scout (and, yes, they had Scouting in my ancient days). I don't see anything in them that would preclude a gay young man or leader per se from joining the Scouts. Both are full of virtuous stuff we'd want any youth, gay or not, to adopt.

Scout Oath: "On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight."

Scout Law: "A Scout is: trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, reverent."

Even if you think being gay is immoral, it seems the best thing would be to assimilate gays into this value system, not ostracize them. In fact, "The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law." That applies to young gay people, too.

Chris Boone

Salt Lake City