Boy Scouts’ Ban on Gays

Re “Gays as Scouts: ‘Sexual Brokenness’ ” (Voices, May 20) spoke of the violation of morals to have a gay as a member, stating that the scouts “organization is based on biblical virtues for leadership.” When are the Boy Scouts of America going to ban boys who have not honored their parents, have stolen, lied, envied something belonging to another person or looked at a girl lustfully?

Then on the Religion page are a couple of articles relating to sexuality. How many ministers would there be if the criterion was to live a totally pure life?

When are we going to realize that we all have faults and are not completely in control of our lives? We do more damage to individuals by rejecting them than if we would accept them and try to understand their problems. Before we shun another person for his or her faults we need to count to 10--10 of our own faults. Only when we become perfect will we have any right to judge another person’s faults.

DAVID S. EICHER

Glendale

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The Boy Scouts is a private organization, and so enjoys broad 1st Amendment rights. As a gay man, I understand and accept this.

I do not accept Jonathan Hunter’s hyperbolic, kulturkampf statements. The overwhelming evidence suggests that most molestations occur between straight men and minor girls. To suggest that an openly gay man cannot be a leader to youth implies that a closeted individual can, because he is not espousing his orientation. My sexual orientation is a nontransferable gift from God. Hunter’s hysterics will do nothing to protect one child, boy or girl, from molestation and will only make the lives of those still in the closet miserable.

DARRELL K. BROWN

Los Angeles