From: dave.hultberg@paonline.com Subject: BSA -- Press Package on Policy (Atheism, Girls and Homosexuality) Date: Sun, 24 Apr 94 23:52:25 -0400 (EDT) BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA National Office 1325 Walnut Hill Lane P.O. Box 152079, Irving, Texas 75015-2079 214-580-2000 June 24, 1991 SUBJECT: ATHEISM, GIRLS AND HOMOSEXUALITY ~From: J. Carey Keane National Director of Relationships/Marketing To: Regional Directors Area Directors Scout Executives Division Directors As you know, the BSA currently is involved in various legal issues; issues that include atheism, girls in Scouting and homosexuality. The media has been covering these rather extensively, with the usual debate of pros and cons. Since many of you have been, and may continue to be, approached by local media, we thought it would be beneficial to provide a compre- hensive package of information. The attached includes: - Overall suggestions on responding to the media and to the public, as well as a pamphlet on "Unacceptables" that can be used to "bridge" discussions to the positive things the BSA is doing to resolve issues. - Position statements and questions and answers on: - Duty to God - Girls in Scouting - Homosexuality If you need further information, please contact Blake Lewis at Edeknan Worldwide at (214) 520-3555 or Jeff Sacks, Division Director, External Communications at (214) 580-2271. sd attachments -------------------------------- Atheism, Girls and Homosexuality Suggestions for responding to the news media and public Overview... For over 81 years, the Boy Scouts of America has been helping shape future citizen-leaders of the United States. However, the very values and ideals that have made the BSA successful in its mission has been questioned by a few individuals in recent years. The purpose of this document is to share suggestions for responding to local media inquiries on the issues of atheism, girls and homosexuality and Scouting. Common Elements of the Issues... The issues of atheism, girls and homosexuality share several common elements (challenge to BSA's right to freedom of association; limited, high-profile challenges in each area, an appeal to emotions; potential image of "shaking the traditional organization"). Despite similarities. each issue should be discussed as a separate challenge. Reporters may initially call about one of the three issues, but then move into one or both of the other issues. However, each issue or specific challenge to an issue should be addressed indivi- dually. We want to avoid an appearance that the fundamentals of the BSA are being challenged. A common theme frequently brought up by reporters is change. This may be particularly evident in any story referenced as being about "the BSA in the '90s". The BSA is an interesting study in contrasts... program elements and approaches may change (the new "Handbook", the Unacceptables Relevancy program, new merit badges, etc.), but the values inherent to Scouting (as stated in the Oath and Law) serve as the bedrock of the BSA. Be Prepared... * Be familiar with background information on the issues: - Any challenges to the BSA's religious principles within the Council? - Any suspension of members or leaders because of homosexuality? - Any past experience with girls seeking admission to Council units? Likely, there will be little history in these areas. If there is information on the past, be prepared to share it BRIEFLY and FACTUALLY. * Know the Council's past relationship with the reporter and the outlet. Any experience with either? Past contacts may indicate what you can expect from this encounter. * Do not feel compelled to immediately accept a phone call from a reporter. Find out the reporter's deadline and ask if you can return his or her call when you can give your undivided attention. * Clear your desk and your mind prior to contact with the reporter. * Have your agenda ready. Be familiar with the points you want to make in the interview. * If you have delayed the interview to better prepare for it, make sure you return the reporter's call as soon as possible and don't miss the deadline. In an Interview ... * Determine what key points vou want to make in the interview and make them. * Be concise. Rambling answers invite editing out of context. * Be factual. If there's been a past problem in the council, provide the facts and then bridge to what's been done to resolve the situation and enhance Scouting. You can't be expected to speak about situations in other coun- cils. Refer those questions to the council in question or to Edelman Worldwide. * Speak with conviction. * Bridge, or transition, the conversation to the positive work that the BSA and your council have done. Build on Scouting's excellent reputation for service to young people and the community at large. * The same questions may be asked different ways to obtain different answers. Be consistent in your response, no matter how many times asked. * Don't speculate on "what if" type questions. That is asking you to deal with hypothetical issues, not the facts at hand. * Use only one spokesperson for the local council. * Direct any media questions about national policy or practice to Edelman Public Relations Worldwide (see next page). Resources... Several resources are available to assist in handling local inquiries. * Position statements provide the national stance on key issues. Information from these statements can serve as the framework for developing local responses to media or public inquiries. Position statements are not designed for direct distribution to volunteers, media or the public at large. In using a position statement, select elements that respond to a particular situation or inquiry. The order in which ideas are presented should follow the line of questioning, not the order provided in the statement. * Questions and answers documents offer the questions that reporters and others might logically ask, along with suggested responses that are based on information from the position statement. Again, it is suggested that these remain as internal documents. * Unacceptables Relevancy program materials (blue folder) details the BSA's proactive attack on the social concerns of hunger, drug abuse, child abuse, illiteracy and hunger. Many interview settings (BSA in the '90s, Relevancy of the BSA in our Society, Child Abuse, Values of the BSA, etc.) lend themselves to bridging to the Unac- ceptables and what the BSA is doing to improve society in these areas. * Council records and history provide local data generally sought by the media. Frequently, local stories on controversial national issues become less attractive to local reporters and editors when local trends don't support the national statistics. For example, if a council has never had a case of an atheist seeking admission into Scouting, the local angle on a national "duty to God" story doesn't exist. (See also 'Turning a Negative into a Positive) * National Council Public Relations assistance is available from Edelman Public Relations Worldwide (214-520-3555). Please do not hesitate to contact the following individuals for assistance: Blake Lewis Caytie Daniell home (214) 783-6065 home (214) 33?1918 mobile phone (214) 914-1598 pager (214) 988-5523 Greg Bustin home (214) 823-6319 -------------------------------- POSITION STATEMENT GIRLS IN SCOUTING The Boy Scouts of America is chartered by Congress "...to promote... the ability of boys to do things for themselves and others, to train them in Scoutcraft, and to teach them patriotism, courage, self- reliance, and kindred virtues..." The Girl Scouts U.S.A. operates under a similar Congressional charter for the benefit of girls. The Cub Scout and Boy Scout programs were designed to meet the emo- tional, psychological, physical and other needs of boys between the ages of 8 and 14. Boys in this age range seek out and enjoy group activities with other boys. The Cub Scout and Boy Scout programs were carefully developed with these considerations in mind. The Exploring program, however, is designed to provide a variety of programs for both boys and girls between the ages of 14 and 21. Ap- proximately 40% of the nation's more than one million Explorers are female. There are no plans to restructure Cub Scouting and Boy Scouting to allow for the registration of girls. JSsd 6/6/91 -------------------------------- Questions & Answers Q. Why can't girls participate in Cub and Boy Scouting? 1. The BSA was originally chartered by Congress to assist in the physical, mental and emotional development of boys. Simi- larly, the Girl Scouts U.S.A. was chartered by Congress to serve the needs of girls. 2. Cub Scouting and Boy Scouting were designed to meet the emotional, psychological, physical and other needs of boys at various stages of their development. Boys in this age range seek out and enjoy group activities with other boys. These programs were developed after careful professional consider- ation. The Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. and other female youth organizations have developed programs designed to meet the needs of young girls. 3. The Boy Scouts of America is a private organization, and as such, determines it's own membership standards. Q. Why does the BSA discriminate against girls? 1.We don't. We simply are providing a program designed for young boys which corresponds to the Girl Scout program de- signed for young girls. Q. If Scouting is for boys. then why is Exploring co-ed? 1.The BSA was started 81 years ago to meet the specific needs of boys. However, it was determined that these needs change as boys grow older. As a result, the Explorer program was developed. 2.Research conducted in the 1960s indicated that young men of Exploring age wanted opportunities for supervised social inter- action with young women. Explorer posts offer these young men and women a variety of educational activities in a co-ed environment. Q. Why did the BSA open all of the volunteer ranks to women several years ago? 1.Women have been an essential aspect of the BSA's leadership for many years. The last few positions traditionally held by men were opened to women several years ago. Today over 402,000 women serve as registered volunteers in all levels of Scouting. Q. Why allow women in Scouting and not girls? 1.Women serve in leadership positions in the BSA. The Cub Scout and Boy Scout programs serve the needs of boys, and other organ- izations such as the Girl Scouts serve the needs of girls. Q. Is the BSA giving consideration to changing its position on registering girls? 1.There are no plans to restructure Cub Scouting and Boy Scouting to allow for the registration of girls. Q. What harm would there be in admitting girls in Boy Scouting and Cub Scouting? 1.The BSA was created and developed to serve boys. Our intention is to help young boys become personal, professional and civic leaders. That is what our program is designed to do. -------------------------------- POSITION STATEMENT REAFFIRMATION OF THE POSITION OF THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA ON "DUTY TO GOD" Resolved, that the following reaffirmation of the position of the Boy Scouts of America relating to "Duty to God" be, and hereby is, enacted and that the Bylaws, Rules and Regulations, and literature of Corporation reflect this reaffirmation accordingly. In 1985, America celebrated the 75th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America. Since 1910, 80 million. Americans have subscribed to the Scout Oath and the Scout Law which have stood the test of time. The national Executive Board of the BSA proudly states, through its Mission Statement, that the values which the organization strives to instill in young people are those based upon the Scout Oath and the Scout Law. A Scout pledges: "On my honor I will do my best, to do my duty to God and my country, and to obey the Scout Law ..." The first Boy Scouts of America Handbook for Boys, published in August 1911, declares that "... no boy can grow into the best kind of citizenship without recognizing his obligation to God." (Page 215) The latest edition of The Official Boy Scout Handbook, published in 1990 reads: "A Scout is reverent toward God. He is faithful in his religious duties. He respects the beliefs of others." (Page 561) While not intending to define what constitutes belief in God, the Boy Scouts of America is proud to reaffirm the Scout Oath and its declaration of "Duty to God." * The following statements are additional information on the BSA position: The Boy Scouts of America has always been committed to the moral, ethical, and spiritual development of our youth. Scouting is not a religion, but duty to God is a basic tenet of the Scout Oath and Law. Scouting does not seek to impose its beliefs upon others who do not share them. Virtually every religion is represented in Scouting and the BSA does not define or interpret God. That is the role of the Scout's family and religious advisors. Scouting respects those who do not share its beliefs and it would not ask others to alter their faith in any fashion in order to become Scouts. They too are free to follow their own beliefs. Rather, the BSA membership believes that the principles set forth in the Scout Oath and Law are central to the BSA goal of teaching the values of self reliance, courage, integrity, and consideration to others. Scouting may not be for everyone, but for eight decades, Scouting has provided meaningful programs and adventure to more than 80 million young people in the United States. JSsd6/6/91 Questions and Answers June 7, 1991 -------------------------------- Questions and Answers June 7, 1991 Duty to God Q. Can an individual who states that he does not believe in God be a Volunteer Scout leader or member? No. The Scout Oath, which documents the basic values of Scouting, literally and figuratively addresses the issue of "duty to God" before duty to country, others and self. Q. Why is duty to God important to Scouting? A. Since its founding in the United States in 1916, the Boy Scouts of America has had an ongoing commitment to encouraging moral, ethical and spiritual growth. The BSA believes that the principles set forth in the Scout Oath and Law are central to the BSA's goals of teaching the values of self-reliance, courage, integrity and consi- deration of others. Q. What harm would come of admitting young people who can not support the BSA position on duty to God? The Scout Oath and Law have served as the foundation of Scouting for over 81 years. It would be a disservice to over five million youth and adult members of Scouting to allow selective adherence to one or more elements of the Oath or Law. To do so would result in an organization that lacked the clear definition enjoyed by the BSA. Q. How does the BSA define religion? The BSA does not interpret God or religion. That is the role of the Scout's family and religious leaders. Q. What religions are involved with Scouting? Virtually every religion is represented in the BSA. Q. Some people maintain that God is a tree, a rock or a stream. Would a person believing such be eligible to be a member of Scouting? The BSA does not seek to interpret God or religion. The Scout Oath states a requirement for a Scout to observe a duty to God, and the Scout Law requires a Scout to be reverent. Again, interpretation is the responsibility of the Scout, his parents and religious leaders. What allows the BSA to exclude atheists from membership? The BSA is a private membership group. As with any private organi- zation, the BSA retains the Constitutional right to establish and maintain standards for membership. Anyone who supports the values of Scouting and meets these standards is welcome to join the organ- ization. -------------------------------- POSITION STATEMENT HOMOSEXUALITY AND THE BSA For more than 80 years, the Boy Scouts of America has brought the moral values of the Scout Oath and Scout Law to American boys, help- ing them to achieve the objectives of Scouting. The Boy Scouts of America also places strong emphasis on traditional family values as being necessary components of a strong, healthy society. The Scouting program is designed to be a shared, family experience. We believe that homosexual conduct is inconsistent with the require- ments in the Scout Oath that a Scout be morally straight and in the Scout Law that a Scout be clean in word and deed, and that homosexuals do not provide a desirable role model for Scouts. Because of these beliefs, the Boy Scouts of America does not accept homosexuals as members or as leaders, whether in volunteer or profes- sional capacities. Our position on this issue is based solely upon our desire to provide the appropriate environment and role models which reflect Scouting's values and beliefs. As a private membership organization, we believe our right to deter- mine the qualifications of our members and leaders is protected by the Constitution of the United States. JSsd 6/6/91 -------------------------------- QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Q. May an individual who openly declares himself to be a homosexual be a volunteer Scout leader or member? A. No. The Boy Scouts of America is a private membership organization and leadership therein is a privilege and not a right. We believe that homosexual conduct is not compatible with the aims and purposes of Scouting and that it does not present a desirable role model for the youth in our program. We will continue to select only those who in our judgment meet our standards and qualifications for membership. Q. May a group of individuals who openly profess to be homosexuals obtain a unit charter? A. No. As in the case with membership, a Boy Scouts of America unit charter is a privilege and not a right. We reserve the right to grant or withhold charters upon the basis of the aims and purposes of the Scouting program. Q. Are you implying by your policy that homosexuals do not have good moral or emotional character? A. Our position is that they do not present a role model which we seek for our youth members Q. By what procedure may an individual's registration in the Boy Scouts of America be revoked? A. This procedure is set forth in detail in the publication Maintaining Standards of Membership. Q. What procedure should be followed in the event that an individual involved in Scouting is alleged to be a homosexual? A. The matter should be investigated in a discreet and responsible fashion, with the utmost regard for the concerned individual's civil rights. Q. What procedure should be followed in the event that a professional or non-professional employee is arrested and charged with an offense involving public morals? A. The council representative should respectfully decline to comment or to take any action without the advice of the council's attorney. Any comment, speculation, or volunteering of gratuitous information may be prejudicial to the civil rights of the accused ... and under certain conditions, could lead to a suit for damages.