Ryan Andresen Denied Eagle Scout Award Because He's Gay

Ryan Andresen and his Tolerance Wall, which does not include the Boy Scouts

Ryan Andresen is in the Boy Scouts and he recently completed the requirements for the Eagle Scout award, which included building a "tolerance wall" for victims of bullying like himself. Sadly, though, Ryan’s Scoutmaster would not sign off on honoring him with the Boy Scouts’ highest ranking because Ryan Andresen is gay.

And, of course, the Boy Scouts of America [BSA] stands by its decision, releasing a statement that, because of Andresen's sexual orientation and that he did not agree to Scouting’s principle of ‘Duty to God,’ “he is no longer eligible for membership in Scouting.”

Ryan’s mother, Karen, says, “I want everyone to know that [the Eagle award] should be based on accomplishment, not your sexual orientation. Ryan entered Scouts when he was six years old and in no way knew what he was. I think right now the Scoutmaster is sending Ryan the message that he’s not a valued human being and I want Ryan to know that he is valued … and that people care about him.”

Oh, Ryan is valued, because Ryan is standing up to all those who have bullied him throughout the years, the latest of which is the Boy Scouts of America. And, as is the case with bullies, like the BSA, they wait until just the right moment to strike.

See, Ryan Andresen came out as gay last July, and the Scoutmaster knew about it. But he said nothing, and did nothing, until it was time to sign off on Ryan’s award as an Eagle Scout and then suddenly, it mattered that Ryan Andresen is gay. The Scoutmaster isn’t talking these days, as bullies often do.

But Deron Smith, spokestool for the BSA, is talking and said that Andresen recently "notified his unit leadership and Eagle Scout Counselor that he does not agree to Scouting’s principle of 'Duty to God' and does not meet Scouting’s membership standard on sexual orientation. While the BSA did not proactively ask for this information, based on his statements and after discussion with his family he is being informed that he is no longer eligible for membership in Scouting.”

Oh, so the Boy Scouts want to play the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell routine? Do they not know how that worked out for the military, or are they so stuck in the Dark Ages and so far behind the times, that they cannot see the future?

Ryan’s family is disputing the BSA statement, saying, “The Boy Scouts of America's statement that Ryan does not agree to Scouting's principle of 'Duty to God' is inaccurate. Ryan has never said that he does not believe in a higher power, and the only reason he's being denied the rank of Eagle is because the Boy Scouts of America has a problem with Ryan being gay."

So, you have to be a straight male Christian to be an Eagle Scout. Sounds like a wonderful organization, bent on teaching young boys the value of homophobia and religious intolerance and, well, bullying. I would bet Ryan Andresen is better off getting out of that group. And I bet it will be quite a while before the BSA finds itself added to anyone’s Wall of Tolerance.

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