Gay Dad Ousted as Cub Scout Volunteer

[Jazzy]

Jon Langbert is a self-described hands-on dad, volunteering with his 9-year-old son's Cub Scout pack in Dallas and raising $13,000 last year through popcorn sales and other fundraisers.



He also happens to be openly gay -- something the other dads don't like.



They complained to the local pack leader, and the issue went all the way up to the national leadership of the Boy Scouts of America, which governs Cub Scouts activities as well. Last week, backed by a Supreme Court case 10 years ago that ruled the Boy Scouts aren't required to accept gay members or leaders, the group ousted Langbert and banned him from wearing his Cub Scouts volunteer uniform.



I just found out a few days ago that some of the dads are not happy about having a gay guy running the popcorn fundraiser, Langbert told his local CBS 11 TV station.





Full story with video: http://www.aolnews.com/nation/article/gay-dad-jon-langbert-ousted-as-cub-scout-volunteer/19683128



Do you agree with this ruling?

 

[Cranos]

That's just sad, wrong and pathetic... It would've been illegal here though.

 

[The Dragon Master]

That's sad. They did this even after he raised $13,000 for them?

 

[Jazzy]

This is just so wrong and makes me so angry! This dad raised $13,000 and they didn't complain then and took the money. Shame on them!

 

[beowulf]

whats the problem with him being gay?.......are they scared he will abuse the kids or something?..........being gay and a pedophile are not the same thing....hope he sues them and wins

 

[Jazzy]

Sounds more like a religious cult to me than a place where young boys can be just that, young boys. The national leadership of the Boy Scouts of America, which governs Cub Scouts activities as well. Last week, backed by a Supreme Court case 10 years ago that ruled the Boy Scouts aren't required to accept gay members or leaders. WTF! This freaking rule needs to go and I would NEVER let my son (if I had one) join such a discriminatory organization. We are all created equal and it's time The Boy Scouts of America are stopped from doing what they're doing!

The Boy Scout Oath has three main clauses which are good to remember and may help you understand that the oath is meant to cover all parts of your life:

DUTY TO GOD AND COUNTRY

The core of your being is your relationship with God. Your family and religious leaders teach you about knowing and serving God and you do your duty by following their teachings and being a good family member. Your duty to your country is being a good citizen, obeying the laws, working to make it a stronger nation, and defending it and its principals.

DUTY TO OTHER PEOPLE

Doing your Good Turn each day, looking for people that could use a hand, and providing aid for community services are all ways to help others. We are obligated to help those that can not help themselves and helping with a cheerful spirit builds our own character.

DUTY TO SELF

Caring for yourself physically, mentally, and morally will result in a more rewarding life. Only you can control how you respond to challenges, hardships, and pleasures - and being strong in body, mind, and spirit will aid you in handling anything that comes your way.



Oath link: http://www.boyscouttrail.com/boy-scouts/scout-oath.asp



*Please let's not turn this post into a religious debate as that was not my intent*

 

[Nebulous]

I can understand the other dad's point of view. Adults are in clubs like that are looked up to as role models. Its perfectly natural for a dad to not want his child to have a gay or flamboyant male role model.



However people seem to have misconceptions about gay people being around children. Just because a gay person is attracted to men, that does not automatically mean he is attracted to young boys. Same goes for straight men. Just because a man is attracted to women, that does not automatically mean he is attracted to young girls.

 

[Jazzy]

I can understand the other dad's point of view. Adults are in clubs like that are looked up to as role models. Its perfectly natural for a dad to not want his child to have a gay or flamboyant male role model.

Your statement is homophobic in my opinion. All this dad did was raise $13,000 and they took the money. Why did they take the money?

 

[The Dragon Master]

Nobody's saying that Jazzy. Nebulous was just saying that he can see the point of view that some parents have, doesn't mean he holds the same view as they do. As the second paragraph, in his post, states.

 

[Evil Eye]

Isn't Boy Scouts of America private? So, if so they can have their own rules, no?



Just like me trying to sue a club just because they banned me for some reason, I'm not going to win...

Yeah, though I think they should return the money.

 

[Jazzy]

Nobody's saying that Jazzy. Nebulous was just saying that he can see the point of view that some parents have, doesn't mean he holds the same view as they do. As the second paragraph, in his post, states.

I understand what Nebulous was saying and added more to his statement than I should have. I was just throwing out some questions in the quoted reply by Nebulous. I will go separate those now and thank you for bringing this to my attention.

 

[Jazzy]

Isn't Boy Scouts of America private? So, if so they can have their own rules, no?

Correct. The rules are 10 years old and do you honestly believe that no one met this dad before he raised the $13,000?

 

[Temerit]

I can conceive of the thought process behind the homophobic parents and it is a pathetic excuse for reasoning.



These parents are bigoted and are complete assholes. This man should have the complete right to continue serving his son's boy scout troop, especially if he has done nothing wrong other than being born with a sexual orientation that isn't seen as acceptable by the other parents.

 

[Jazzy]

Langbert has been an active volunteer with his son's local Pack 70 for the past two years, organizing weekly meetings, camping trips and fundraisers. When he joined, he told the local cubmaster he was openly gay and asked if it would be a problem.



He said, 'Absolutely not, sign him up,' Langbert recalled in an interview with Fox.



I just found out a few days ago that some of the dads are not happy about having a gay guy running the popcorn fundraiser, Langbert told his local CBS 11 TV station.

Two years they allowed this dad to be Cub Pack leader. Why all of a sudden, did they decide to ban him? Why was he allowed to join in the first place?

 

[Jonathan]

That is so ghey.



Lame excuse for not having an awesome person on a team.

 

[Temerit]

Yes born homosexual, but that is besides the point, it is irrelevant.



This is where I part ways with hardcore libertarians, groups like this should not be able to exclude on the basis of gender, race, sexual orientation etc.



Anyone who does so is an idiot in the first place.

 

[Temerit]

I never said I hate such people I just said that they are ignorant and are bigots. Its the exact same as discriminating against black people or against females or against poly-amorous households. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, nowhere did I question that, but just because you have the right to an opinion doesn't make it right to go out and actively discriminate against a certain group of people, denying them basic rights and treating them with disdain simply because of who they are.



I classify it as a phobia because I believe it falls much more closely in line with irrational fear rather than a personal view, but it could be either or a mix of the two.

 

[Temerit]

It isn't natural? Homosexual behavior isn't natural? Then why does it occur time and again throughout nature in species other than homosapien? Why would guys be stoned to death for being gay when they knew that was the punishment for being so? Don't you think they would just choose to be straight?



After all this guy had done for them they really had no case for ousting him. I'm not saying its illegal, its just pathetic.

 

[Bluezone777]

I really question the logic in allowing any organization to not only disallow gays simply for being gay which is also teaching and validating the mindset of bigotry to young children as being ok in today's society. It's the very same thing which is encouraging and validating straight children into bullying gay children into suicide. Why else would they do it if there wasn't something somewhere saying it was perfectly acceptable to treat gay people differently?

 

[McConnaughay]

Discrimination is truly almost entirely formulated for the ignorance and the narrow minded, which unfortunately results in the misfortune of those discriminated against even whenever they did nothing wrong.