The Boy Scouts of America has sent a detailed survey about its exclusion of gay members to 1.1 million scouts.
As The New York Times reports, the survey doesn't just pose a simple yes or no question on whether the Scouts should lift its ban on gay members and leaders. Instead it seeks answers using detailed hypotheticals.
The Times explains:
"Should gay and straight scouts, for example, be allowed to share a tent on a camping trip? What role should faith play in scouting, if a church sponsoring a local scout troop has taken a position on the inclusion or exclusion of gays and lesbians in its congregation? Does the scout oath, with its language about staying "morally straight," declare a value about sexual orientation or just a general, admirable code of conduct?"
The Associated Press reports the survey included 13 questions, including two "open-ended questions about the impact of either banning or allowing gay member." The AP adds:
"Many of the questions indicate scenarios that would likely arise should the ban on gays be lifted.
"For instance, should the lesbian mother of a Tiger Cub be allowed to serve as den leader if the pack is chartered to a church that teaches that homosexuality is not wrong? Should a gay youth minister be allowed to serve as a Scoutmaster? Should a boy with the qualifications for Eagle Scout be denied the award if he reveals he's gay at his board review?"
As we've reported, the Boy Scouts have been considering repealing a ban. But in July decided to delay a decision.
The organization has also considered allowing local organizations to make their own decision on whether to allow gays in the scouts.
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