9-year-old Boy Scout quits, says he doesn’t like unfairness of anti-gay rule

A nine-year-old Cub Scout has quit over the Boy Scouts of America’s policy which does not allow any gay member, volunteer or staff member.

Christopher Tiner, of Minot, Maine, had seen in the news that many Eagle Scouts had returned their badges in protest against the exclusion of gay members, volunteers and staff by the Boy Scouts of America.

Scott Tiner, Christopher’s father, said that the Cub Scout made the decision entirely on his own. Christopher reflected on his position:

“I didn’t like it that they were kicking people out,” he said. “I don’t think it’s fair.”

Christopher, formerly of pack 139, is reported to be the first scout in Maine to have quit over the controversy, and said that the decision was easy once he thought about it.

Scott, former Scout Leader also commented, saying:

“I don’t want to have a membership card to an organization that makes it very clear that this is how they feel.”

The Boy Scouts of America announced back in July that it would retain its anti-gay policy. The Boy Scouts of America has adopted positions since 1991 which state that homosexuality is “inconsistent with the Scout Oath that a Scout be morally straight and in the Scout Law that a Scout be clean in word and deed”.

Many Eagle Scouts in the US have returned their medals to the Boy Scouts of America in protest against their anti-gay policy which does not allow any gay members, volunteers or staff.

Ten scouts staff in northern California had also returned their badges to protest the firing of an openly gay 22-year-old Eagle Scout.

82,132 people have signed a petition on Change.org to urge California’s Golden Empire Council to reinstate 22-year-old Eagle Scout Tim Griffin and to reject the Boy Scouts of America’s policy barring LGBT scouts and leaders.

• Nov 29 2023

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