Courtesy of the Andresen family
Ryan Andresen had completed the requirements to earn his Eagle Scout award, but his mother, Karen, said he was told by his Scoutmaster he won't get it because he recently came out as gay. The Boy Scouts of America have a longstanding policy banning gay Scouts and leaders.
By Miranda Leitsinger, NBC News
Updated at 5:30 p.m. ET -- Ryan Andresen had recently completed the requirements to earning his Eagle Scout award, including building a "tolerance wall" for victims of bullying like himself, but his Scoutmaster would not sign off on honoring him with the Boy Scouts? highest ranking because he is gay, his mother said.
The Boy Scouts of America have a longstanding policy denying membership to gay leaders and Scouts, which they reaffirmed earlier this year after a two-year confidential review of the controversial ban. Andresen?s father, Eric, resigned as an assistant Scoutmaster after the Scoutmaster for Troop 212 in Moraga, Calif., confirmed Tuesday night that Ryan wouldn?t get the award, Karen Andresen told NBC News.
?I want everyone to know that [the Eagle award] should be based on accomplishment, not your sexual orientation. Ryan entered Scouts when he was six years old and in no way knew what he was," said Karen Andresen, 49, a stay-at-home mother of three. "I think right now the Scoutmaster is sending Ryan the message that he?s not a valued human being and I want Ryan to know that he is valued ? and that people care about him.?
Ryan, 17, came out in July. Andresen said Scoutmaster Rainer Del Valle knew about Ryan's sexual orientation and they had no idea he wouldn't sign off on the official paperwork.
It was ?a total shock," she?said, adding that Ryan was led all along to believe he would be able to get the award.
Eric Andresen, a 52-year-old owner of a property management company, is working on an appeal of the decision, said Karen, who has also started an online petition calling for her son to receive his award. Other assistant Scoutmasters supported Ryan's bid for the Eagle Scout ranking, she said.
Del Valle did not immediately respond to phone calls and emails seeking comment.
Andresen recently "notified his unit leadership and Eagle Scout Counselor that he does not agree to Scouting?s principle of 'Duty to God' and does not meet Scouting?s membership standard on sexual orientation," Deron Smith, a spokesman for the Boy Scouts of America, told NBC News in a statement. "While the BSA did not proactively ask for this information, based on his statements and after discussion with his family he is being informed that he is no longer eligible for membership in Scouting.?
To earn the Eagle rank, which is in its 100th year, Scouts must progress through five lower ranks, earn 21 merit badges and serve six months in a leadership position, among completing other tasks. More than two million young men have earned the rank.
Courtesy of Andresen family
Ryan Andresen stands in front of a "Tolerance Wall," his final Boy Scouts' project that he worked on with elementary school children. It consists of 288 tiles that depict acts of kindness.
Dozens of Eagle Scouts said after the Boy Scouts, a private organization, reaffirmed its policy banning gays that they had returned their medals, badges or membership cards in protest. But other Eagle Scouts said they agreed with the policy. At the time, BSA spokesman Deron Smith said there were no plans to revisit the membership guidelines.
Eagle Scouts return badges to protest policy banning gays
Boy Scouts: We're keeping policy banning gays
Boy Scouts review controversial anti-gay policy
Eagle Scout son of lesbian moms: Boys Scouts must end gay discrimination
Gay mom upset after dismissal by Boy Scouts
Activist groups stepped up their campaign to end the policy after Jennifer Tyrrell, den leader of her son?s Tiger Cub pack in Bridgeport, Ohio, was removed from her post in April because she is a lesbian.
A number of troops have said they don?t follow the policy, and some companies and charities have recently said they would not contribute to the Boy Scouts because of the ban.
Technology giant Intel Corporation recently told NBC News that since Jan. 1 it has required troops and councils to sign a document verifying that they comply with their non-discrimination policy in order to receive donations. The United Way of Greater Cleveland, which last year gave nearly $100,000 to the Boy Scouts of America, Greater Cleveland Council, recently said under its new diversity policy the local chapter would no longer qualify to receive such funding.
If you are a current or former member of the Boy Scouts and would like to share your thoughts on the membership policy, you can email the reporter at miranda.leitsinger@msnbc.com.
More content from NBCNews.com:
Follow US news from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook
nick diaz sheryl sandberg superbowl recipes super bowl kick off chili recipes carlos condit diaz vs condit
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.