Youth Organizations Policies on GLBT
February 6, 2013 — Colorado Springs, CO. — The Boy Scouts of America’s Board of Directors announced it will delay until May their decision whether gay scouts and troop leaders be allowed to join and serve the scouting mission openly.
We are disappointed in the delay, but hold out hope that the Boy Scouts of America want to ensure deliberate decision making on such an important change to the way they include people. Unfortunately, myths and fear about GLBT people still exist in large parts of our culture, and organizational leaders can be slow to move forward.
America is up-righting equality for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, but the decision by BSA shows there is still much heavy lifting to be done before GLBT youth get the message they deserve to live honest, happy lives. The results of continued discrimination are devastating.
On Sunday Feb 3, 15-year old Jadin Bell died after two weeks on life support in a Portland, OR., hospital. Bell hanged himself at his local playground after anti-gay bullying and hopelessness took over his life. Rejection by family, church and community results in much higher risks of suicide, depression and drug addiction among LGBT youth.
With 8 in 10 LGBT students experiencing harassment and violence, messages from leaders — whether those on Capitol Hill, in national groups like Boy Scouts, or teachers in the classroom — either deepen or heal the wounds. Several young people attending Inside Out programs in Colorado Springs participate in traditional national youth programs such as scouting and ROTC. Every person has a sexual orientation. We urge BSA to make changes so LGBT youth no longer must hide this part of their identity.
Research from the Human Rights Campaign to the Journal of Pediatrics shows that 92% of LGBT youth have heard negative comments about being gay:
• 60% of LGBT youth say they have heard anti-gay messages from elected officials
• 54% say they heard anti-LGBT messages from teachers or school officials
• 30% of LGBT youth who come out to their parents are severely rejected by their families, including being kicked out of the house or physically and verbally abused
In 2012, more than 500 youth attended support and discussion groups at Inside Out Youth Services in Colorado Springs. Inside the center, youth find safety, support and the place to be themselves. Out in the community, we worked with 370 teachers, principals, students, bus drivers and school boards as well as foster parent groups to create safer climates in school and among families.
Shawna Rae Kemppainen
Shawna@insideout.uzuhost.com
Executive Director
719.328.1056 Office
719.201.5926 Cell
Safety, support, respect, possibility for LGBTIQ youth.
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