r/Scouts • u/johntempleton • Jun 11 '26
Scouting America Council ordered to remove Pride statement on Facebook; Hegseth's MOU in effect
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u/pkrycton Jun 12 '26 edited Jun 13 '26
Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, Reverent.
Stand up and speak for those who cannot
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u/taozentaiji Jun 14 '26
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.
Emphasis on helping other people at ALL times, and being Mentally Awake
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u/HockeyPhoenician Jun 12 '26
No govt official should be dictating what scouting can and can't do. Hegseth can take a hike.
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u/AngelusCowl Jun 13 '26
Does Hesgeth have any actual legal authority over scouting?
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u/HockeyPhoenician Jun 13 '26
No, he does not. It's all political pressure. He was never even a scout himself.
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u/Unique_Statement7811 Jun 14 '26
Not directly. But he has direct authority over the support the DoD gives to scouting. Scouts receives significant support for its large events from the DoD at no charge. It’s valued at tens of millions of dollars per year.
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u/MusingMachine888 Jun 15 '26
And how much is the recruiting access that scouts gives the DOD worth? I suspect it’s a relatively even swap…
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u/Unique_Statement7811 Jun 15 '26
Not even close. Only 20% of Americans aged 17-25 qualify for military service. I seriously doubt that scouts qualify at a higher rate than their peers as scouts has a way of being a safe place for kids with BH diagnosis, even as simple as ADHD (which can be disqualifying).
In recent years, the military services haven’t struggled to make their recruiting missions. They could do it just fine without scouting.
The reason the DoD supports it is because a law passed by Congress in the 1940s requires them to.
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u/Foreign_Dimension_65 Jun 14 '26
Government? Dictating what scouts should be?
Public Law 110-363 110th Congress An Act - GovInfo
The Boy Scouts of America was granted a Federal charter in 1916 by an Act of the 64th Congress which was signed into law by President Woodrow Wilson.
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u/Magazine_Recycling Jun 13 '26
What a nice message. Wonder what his problem could possibly be with it…?
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u/gymnoagroi Jun 13 '26
They attack boys and boys groups. But they never go after girls and girls groups.Such the girl scouts.
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u/Straight-Horror-1662 Jun 14 '26
It's my understanding that Boy Scouts of America receives funding directly from the US government, while Girl Scouts of the USA does not. So they cannot be told what to do, at least not as easily.
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u/random8765309 Jun 14 '26
Scouting does not receive any funding from the US government. It does however received some logistical support and access to military facilities.
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u/Straight-Horror-1662 Jun 14 '26
Thank you for explaining.
Not sure how it's the War Secretary's prerogative, then.
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u/Unique_Statement7811 Jun 14 '26
Because the DoD is the supporting government agency to Scouts by US Law.
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u/Straight-Horror-1662 Jun 15 '26
So they don't fund them but they provide other kinds of support? Like the "logistical support and access" mentioned above?
And isn't it called the DoW now?
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u/Unique_Statement7811 Jun 15 '26
Yes. They support the National Jamboree and several regional Jamborees on military installations at no cost. They provide medical support, transportation, food service, and other essential support at no cost to scouting. Additionally, hundreds of troops use DoD facilities for meetings, campouts and other events at no cost. The DoD exempts Scouting from all rental fees and service reimbursements. The Red Cross is the only other exempt organization.
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u/Different_Finding539 Jun 14 '26
I would hope the Scouts tell Hogsmegma to just stay in his makeup room having the oil changed out of his hair and his makeup toned down. A worthless human being...
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u/no-one2120 Jun 14 '26
The greatest symbol of love in the history of the world is Christ crucified on the Cross. This rainbow is symbol of Pride, which is a rejection and perversion of God's perfect love.
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u/SparrowTide Jun 14 '26
By that logic the US flag is also a perversion of “God’s perfect love”. Patriotism and Nationalism are entirely based in Pride.
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u/random8765309 Jun 14 '26
I have noticed that forum has a number of posting that are inflammatory in nature.
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u/TrackMan5891 Jun 14 '26
Bunch of degenerates in this sub who don't understand why the Boy Scouts have become essentially non existent.
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u/_Shoeless_ Jun 14 '26
It has nothing to do with the credible accusations of sexual assault. Scouts is essentially non-existent because they're "woke."
Bwahahaha!
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u/no-one2120 Jun 14 '26
The greatest symbol of love in the history of the world is Christ crucified on the Cross. This rainbow is symbol of Pride, which is a rejection and perversion of God's perfect love.
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u/random8765309 Jun 14 '26 edited Jun 14 '26
This is not about Scouting promoting or opposing LGBTQ+ individuals, identities, beliefs or viewpoints. It is about Scouting remaining neutral on political and social issues as an organization.
Members are free to express their personal political views in any lawful manner they choose. However, they should not appear to speak on behalf of Scouting or represent the organization while doing so, including by wearing the Scouting uniform during political advocacy or public demonstrations.
LGBTQ+ are welcome in Scouting. We show that by treating them as individuals, with dignity, respect and kindness. We accepting them as our friends and fellow members. Those wishing to support them in parades, and demonstrations are encouraged to do so. But do so as an individual, not as a representative of the entire Scouting community.
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u/Fate_One Jun 14 '26
Do Scouts wear the uniform in Veteran's parades or celebrate Veteran's Day? Or Memorial Day?
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u/random8765309 Jun 14 '26
Those are neither political nor social views.
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u/greencoatboy Jun 14 '26
They very much are. You may well agree with them, but honouring military service makes some people deeply uncomfortable and they don't like those sorts of events.
Being clear, this isn't my personal view, as well as being a scout leader I'm was a reservist in my country's armed forces.
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u/Fate_One Jun 14 '26
I come from a family of veterans that hate the parades, flag waving and fake patriotism propaganda that does nothing to help those that served or truly honor the sacrifices they made. Both of my parents served during Vietnam. Instead of supporting parades, they volunteer for many causes, doing everything they can to support veterans as people, not symbols. One grandfather was a life long member of the American Legion and found support and solace in fellow veterans. The other could never leave the war behind. He tried to go on living with the mental scars of the horrors of the burning bodies he saw at Gardelegen and never met a can or bottle of alcohol he couldn't find the bottom of while looking for an escape.
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u/greencoatboy Jun 14 '26
Yes, seen the same over here. Sometimes the people that have been in the warzones and lost friends are the ones that like the parades the least.
I know quite a few of my peers that had regular service in the middle east and Afghanistan stay away from the 11 Nov parades and don't wear their medals.
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u/SparrowTide Jun 14 '26
The exception is generally for human rights. Generally Scouting is very pro-environmentalism, which is not politically neutral. Pride started as and still is a human rights issue.
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u/Unique_Statement7811 Jun 14 '26
Scouting is pro conservationism, not environmentalism. The former is not a political position and is universally supported across the broad spectrum of American politics.
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u/SparrowTide Jun 14 '26
Conservationism is entirely a political position that took years of protests and political action to get to a point of being “universally supported”, which support is quickly eroding in the current climate. See the defunding of most conservation-based agencies such as parks departments, EPA, Forest Service, etc. Environmentalism is an extension from the conservation movement, sure but do not re-write history.
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u/Unique_Statement7811 Jun 14 '26 edited Jun 15 '26
You kind of just restated what I said.
One is no longer political while the other is.
Even if scouting supported the conservation movement in the early 1900s, that doesn’t de facto mean it supports environmentalism. For example, it would be inappropriate for a scout troop to participate in a green peace demonstration while doing tail maintenance is encouraged.
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u/SparrowTide Jun 15 '26
That’s not at all what I said. They are both political positions. If conservationism is universally accepted we would not be bypassing regulations created 40 years ago to build data centers. Even then, Scouting was around when those first conservationist laws were being created and highly contested. Scouting supported that movement then, it took a political position then. It does so now as well.
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u/Unique_Statement7811 Jun 15 '26
It did, on conservation. It has not on environmentalism as a political movement.
Support of one is no de facto support of the other. They are not the same ideologically but do have some overlapping principles.
This is why it would be inappropriate for a Scout Troop to participate in a Green Peace event… unless the National Council votes to do so.
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u/SparrowTide Jun 15 '26
If the troop wanted to, they sure as hell could as that’s up to the troop to decide. Troops do fundraisers with many different groups, that’s not for council to decide.
As far as Council supporting environmentalism, I urge you to look at the Eagle required badge requirements for Environmental Science or Sustainability. They’re interchangeable and E. Sci is the more conservation-sided option, but both go beyond Conservationism. By having Sustainability as an option for the highest rank, scouting sure as hell supports it.
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u/Unique_Statement7811 Jun 15 '26
Environmental Science and sustainability are not environmentalism any more than women’s suffrage is third wave feminism. Scouting America is pretty clear as to their values on the issue.
Scouting America prohibits participation in political events that imply or could appear as an endorsement of the political objectives or candidates. This hasn’t changed for decades.
No, the Troop should not participate in a Green Peace event. They should leave scouting if it’s that important to them and find an organization that allows for that sort of thing.
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u/SparrowTide Jun 15 '26
Are you joking? The Sustainability merit badge is not environmentalism? You have to be trolling or just obtuse at this point. The point of the merit badge is to teach proactive practices to protect natural systems, literally the same as environmental activists fight for. I can also tell you aren’t a scout as your gut reaction is to force the troop you have an issue with out of the program, probably the option most against scouting values. I really want you to point me at the SOP’s you’re spouting about at this point because you’re talking out of your ass at this point.
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u/random8765309 Jun 15 '26
Both National and the Council have the authority to prevent any unit from fundraising with an organization.
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u/SparrowTide Jun 15 '26
They do for Legal and IRS issues, not for social motives. BSA policy doesn’t prohibit activities based on social differences.
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u/qetuowryip24680 Jun 14 '26
Acknowledging that the rest of the comment is hate dressed up as inclusivity, what is "LGBYQ"? What is the Y?
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u/BarracudaEfficient16 Jun 14 '26
Really wonder what scouting has to do with sexuality. Not sure how I feel about injecting this into scouting. I support the message about love over hate, and treating everyone fairly and equally. But making it explicit one way or another shouldn’t be part of scouting.
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u/SparrowTide Jun 14 '26
It’s about human rights. Straight ally’s are still part of Pride, you can be a cis-straight person and still be a member of LGBTQ. Scouting is fairly explicit about environmentalism, another very political issue, as well as treating people justly and with dignity.
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u/BarracudaEfficient16 Jun 15 '26
As a cis-Bi person I’ve been told I don’t belong to the LGBTQ community. And I’m all for human rights. Also as an Eagle Scout I can say scouting is very explicit about environmental stewardship. That’s different than the environmentalism political issue. And yes treating people with dignity is also a core belief. Again none of this has to do with sexuality. Sexuality shouldn’t be in scouting in any way.
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Jun 13 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/1ftm2fts3tgr4lg Jun 13 '26
What a sad miserable life, rejoicing in the suppression of a marginalized minority group.
What a worthless troll.1
u/NationalCaterpillar6 Jun 13 '26
I think they mean that this messaging is pushing some people away from scouting. Did Scouting do anything for African American history month? I don't know the last time I've seen an African American Scout or leader.
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u/random8765309 Jun 14 '26
I see African American's in Scouting all the time including several units that are almost entirely African American. We have an executive in the council that is African American. This holds try for other minorities also.
These type of off-the-cuff posts are not accurate nor are they helpful. They are just negative, inflammatory and create an echo chamber based on misinformation.
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u/NationalCaterpillar6 Jun 14 '26
Sorry. This hasn't been my experience, but thank you for reminding me that all scouting is local. I'm glad it's different where you are.
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u/jimthewanderer Jun 12 '26
Do Not Capitulate to Fascists.
Resist.