Why I Won’t Read to the Boy Scouts.

A little while back, while making the rounds reading my children’s book, I had a lovely couple approach me about reading to their kids. It turned out they were from the Boy Scouts of America and would love for me to come share my Paul Bunyan story. It seemed like a good fit: woodsman, American history, healthy eating… and I had been a Cub Scout myself when I was just a wee canuck  - a memory dominated by getting a DQ Blizzard for being the ‘cleanest kid’. (good job Mom!) So, off I went, setting up, with this lovely couple, a time to read to a whole bunch of small, well groomed children.

About a month passed, at my request my publicist lined up a local bookstore to provide books to purchase at the venue… The venue, turned out to be a church, which triggered my spidey-sense… When I was a Cub Scout we were in an old log cabin in a park (way less creepy than it sounds) - a Church in 2012 (or 2013 for the matter) comes with a whole other bag of bad connotations for me. Regardless though, they’re kids, I’m happy to read to them, and we’ll probably sell a whole bunch of books, what’s the worst that could happen?

And that is when something bad happened, or at least came to light. 2 days before the event, I was  lamenting this church reading to my boss when he stopped in his tracks. “Uh, you know about the Boy Scouts, don’t you?” - “Uh oh. No…what?” I said. Over the next 10 minutes he went on to explain how the Boy Scouts have enacted a “gay ban”…meaning no gay people are allowed in the Boy Scouts. In fact, as I learned later, they had recently booted a very successful Boy Scout out because he admitted he was gay.

On their website they said: “… a program for young people that builds character, trains them in the responsibilities of participating citizenship…” of themselves… 

That…and no gay people.

Wtf.

So… I’m supposed to read my book to a bunch of kids who are being taught ignorance and intolerance through the guise of character building.

Great. 

After using a number of words that I won’t use here to express my feelings towards these people I sent the lovely #&%@!#*!^$ couple a more eloquent note stating my dismay: (names have been deleted for privacy)

Dear X and Y

I regret to inform you I will not be able to attend the reading we had scheduled. After considerable conversation with friends and family it has come to my attention that the Boy Scouts of America have taken a policy of banning homosexual individuals from the organization.

My belief is people should be respected and treated fairly, regardless of their sexual orientation. Any organization that discriminates, is an organization I stand opposed to, particularly one that supposes to teach children and provide “… a program for young people that builds character, trains them in the responsibilities of participating citizenship…” 

Not only do I find that statement misleading under the circumstances, but harmful, willfully naive and negligent.

Having many homosexual friends, whom I respect and admire, I will not be participating in any activities your organization puts on, until such time the ban is lifted and a sincere apology is delivered to those in the community affected.

My book and my work should not be represented in any way to the children, members or affiliates of the Boy Scouts or Cub Scouts of America.

I hope you understand this decision, and furthermore, I hope the Boy Scouts can find a way to be more open and understanding in the future.

Sincerely,

Matt Luckhurst.

Their response, to be fair, was fine, but, to be fair, pretty cowardly…

Matt:

We are extremely disappointed in your last minute decision which put us in a very awkward position with members of our pack.

On a personal level both of us do not support the national position of the Boy Scouts on this issue.

That being said there are still many good things about being part of the Boy Scouts chief among them is nurturing the minds of young children. You are probably aware of this having been a Boy Scout (Cub Scout) yourself.

We respect your position but at the same time the book reading is all about your book and not a political position on any issue. We find it disturbing that you choose to cancel your appearance two days before the event after knowing from the onset that the Cub Scout pack was providing the venue for your reading. You are not being sponsored by the Boy Scouts in any shape or form but simply providing an opportunity for young children to meet an author.

We will continue to teach the children about being of good character, of citizenship, of tolerance and discrimination of any kind. Your unique position as an author allows you to teach life lessons to young minds through your book readings. We regret that you passed on the opportunity to impart and teach the children those ideals through your book.

Respectfully, X and Y

So ya. I put them in an awkward position huh?

What about the kids who go there? What about a gay kid that wants to be a Boy Scout!? That, is an awkward position. Your position is you look like a jackass for being part of an outdated bigoted group that just got called out on its sh*t. 

As for being political in favor of teaching the ideals in my book – I don’t teach kids to accept other people for who they are in the book – I teach them not to eat pancakes everyday, because that’s funny…this isn’t at all funny. This is bigger, and its not political, its social, and about being rational and thinking things through.

Today, there’s news that the Boy Scouts may drop this ban, but who the hell would put it there in the first place? It seems so pathetic and blatantly mean. If they get rid of it and apologize, I may read my book, but probably not, and I don’t expect I’d ever be invited back anyhow. Now, I don’t see this as a stand I’ve taken against homophobia, I see it as an illustration of the unfortunate circumstances people of all walks of life find themselves in because of crappy people. 

I hope they get their act together, or better yet, someone starts a new organization that lets everyone in, treats people with respect and is so freakin’ cool that the Boy Scouts evaporate and we forget those weirdos ever mattered.

And that is why I won’t read my book to the Boy Scouts. 

PS. If you are part of a cool organization that likes people I’d be more than happy to come read to you.