Choosing and Hiring Candidates

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There are some flaws and legal issues with going against national policy; the BSA feels they do not discriminate against people’s sexuality and use a “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. The video, “Why Can’t Boy Scout Leaders Be Gay”, explains how the BSA policies are closely tied to military and Christianity tradition. The video also mentions, “70% of Scouting units are sponsored by faith-based organizations”. With this being said, there are multiple churches that do not support the gay community. Churches have already pulled their sponsorships form troops because of the admitting of openly gay troops. If different chapters went against the BSA national policy there could be a domino effect of a huge loss of sponsorship of the troops. Furthermore, the different chapters have binding contracts with the BSA and to go against this would be illegal. When the New York chapter of the BSA gave Pascal Tessier the job as troop leader there was a large amount of backlash from the national organization. Boy Scouts’ national spokesman, Deron Smith, said that the organization's policy of hiring gay troop leaders would not change and in regards to Pascal Tessier, “we are looking into this matter” (Barron, 15). Relating this back to the book, the national organization could have the power to renege the contract that the New York chapter gave to Mr. Tessier. Even though Pascal Tessier accepted the job offer as troop leader, the national organization could say that this is not allowed due to their policies and take back the entire contract offer.

Nevertheless, the roughly 1,400 member council have yet to vote on the policy of admitting openly gay leaders. This means they did not dismiss this argument and there is still hope for change. In fact, Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who became the BSA's president in May 2014, said at the time that he personally would have favored ending the ban on gay adults (The Associated Press, 2015). The BSA is slowly moving towards change so it might be best for chapters to wait for national policy to change before causing numerous issues among the BSA.

In conclusion, we strongly believe that the different chapters should go against the BSA policy. The policy seems to be outdated within today’s society and openly discriminates the gay community. Our belief, going against national policy, makes a clear statement to the BSA, and will help jump start a new chapter in the organization. People will continue to support the BSA and troops all over regardless of their leaders sexuality. Although there will cuts within the support of previous sponsors, there will be just as many pro-gay organizations that will show support. Finally, there has already been much positive response regarding the hire of Tessier. The BSA will eventually change their policy, it just needs a little push to get started.

Bibliography

The Associated Press. (2015, April 2). NY Boy Scouts Hire Gay Eagle Scout Despite National Policy. Retrieved April 24, 2015, from The New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/04/02/us/ap-us-boy-scouts-gay-hire.html

Barron, J. (2015, April 2). With Hire, Boy Scouts Affiliate in New York Defies Ban on Gays. Retrieved April 24, 2015, from The New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/03/nyregion/with-hire-boy-scouts-affiliate-in-new-york-defies-ban-on-gays.html?_r=1

Phillips, J. M., & Gully, S. M. (2012). Strategic Staffing. New Jersey: Pearson.

Boy Scouts Troop Banned for Having Gay Leader

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prtvQV3iDvo

Why Can't Boy Scout Leaders Be Gay?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUkvnNmjrU8