US: Lawyer tweets cartoon suggesting gay scout leaders would trick boy scouts into sex

A Christian lawyer in the US has tweeted a cartoon which suggests that, if the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), lifted its ban on gay scout leaders, as well as possibly lifting the ban on gay members, gay men will use the position to sexually abuse scouts.

The Boy Scouts of America recently announced it would propose to members of its National Council at a meeting in Texas later this month lifting the ban on gay youth scouts, but maintaining a ban on gay adult leaders.

Matt Barber of the Liberty Counsel, tweeted the image, which appears to depict a gay man attempting to trick a boy scout into a sexual act.

The cartoon is accompanied by the text: “To earn this new merit badge for ‘tolerance’ I gotta do WHAT?”.

To earn this new merit badge for “tolerance” I gotta’ do WHAT? twitter.com/jmattbarber/st…

— Matt Barber (@jmattbarber) May 14, 2013

It originally appeared on ClashDaily, a website which posed the question: “Boy Scouts pushing a merit badge for ‘tolerance’ next?”, reports Right Wing Watch.

Not the first time Barber has spoken out to say the BSA should not lift its ban on gay volunteers, members and staff, he in February said that it could not remain “morally straight” if it allowed gay scout masters, compared homosexuality with paedophilia and suggested gay scout masters would put boy scouts at risk.

In July 2012, after a two year review, the Boy Scouts of America announced it would retain its ban on gay members, volunteers and staff.

The Boy Scouts of America is currently embroiled in a debate over whether to lift its ban on gay volunteers, members and staff. In February, it delayed a vote on whether or not to lift the ban until May “due to the complexity of the issue”.

A poll released in February found that a majority of US voters thought the Boy Scouts of America should drop its ban on gay scouts, volunteers and staff.

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