HOMO-MANIA

The homo-mania now being experienced in Russia has being highly criticized in this pre-Olympic era by most nations, including the United States.   The uncomfortable truth that we wish to ignore, is that institutionalized homophobia is still accepted here at home. 

The Boy Scouts of America are a perfect example.   Only recently have they agreed to admit gay boys into the Scouts on a ‘don’t ask, don’t tell” basis.  Gay men are still restricted from being Scout Masters or participating with their children.

This is one of those fact is stranger than fiction stories.   General Sir Robert Baden-Powell, founder of the Boy Scouts, had his own questionable peculiarities.  Though finally married at age fifty-five, Powell was known for his hostility toward women and his derogatory statements about the female figure.   He publicly declared,” A clean young man in his prime of health and strength is the finest creature God had made in the world.”    Powell was known to have a passionate friendship with his aide Kenneth McLaren who he called “the boy.’   His favorite pass time seems to be watching and photographing his young scouts swimming naked. 

On the record, I think that the Scouts are a fantastic organization for kids; but, when Scouting attempts to instill religious inspired bigotry as part of its program it takes on a whole new perspective.  

Why the hell should you or I or the government or any organization have the legal right to discriminate on the basis of what consenting adults do in the privacy of their relationship?   A person’s self image – and especially a child’s - is fragile.  The very discussion of whether a person is gay should be considered social discrimination and an intrusion into a person’s right to privacy.   

the Ol'Buzzard