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The Boy Scouts of America has unfurled a middle finger in the direction of Jennifer Tyrrell—the mother and den leader the group fired for being lesbian—after GLAAD suggested the organization meet with its ousted member.
After inviting the BSA to a meeting of minds, GLAAD received a bitchy "not attending" response shadily sent to CNN.
Written in the BSA's statement:
"Our focus is on delivering the nation's foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training. Our mission does not include teaching young people about sex or sexual orientation, and we do not believe it is Scouting's role to introduce this topic in our youth development program."
How, exactly, did Jennifer's participation as a den leader translate into teaching Boy Scouts about sex or sexual orientation?
Following the BSA's refusal to meet, parents of Scouts who were included in Jen's group issued heartfelt statements.
GLAAD gives us a look at a few:
Said fellow parent Robert Dunn:
"I'm not a city person. I'm just a backwoods hick, and I don't think anybody around here have an issue with homosexuals. She did a wonderful job, and what they did to her was just horrible. When I told my son Jen was kicked out because she is gay, he didn't know what was wrong because he thought gay meant happy. He's just devastated."
Said Don Thomas, whose grandson is a scout in Tyrrell’s pack, said either he or his wife has been to "every cub scout meeting my grandson has attended, also to every function, community event, Salvation Army ringing bells, collection of food for the needy....etc. I do not know where you are getting your information, but never ever has sex been brought up, not in any way shape or form. In fact, I was not aware of Jen even being gay for quite some time.....wasn't an issue or concern."
Said parent Crystal Sabinsky:
"The boys knew her as Tiger Leader Jen, not Gay Tiger Leader Jen. They are only first graders. Most don't even understand what 'gay' or 'lesbian' mean."
Said parent Patty Morgan:
"It has been brought to my attention that BSA is now saying that the boys were being taught about sex and other inappropriate subject matter. Those accusations are not true at all. I have three children in Scouts. My youngest Jordan, was a Tiger scout with Jen. Jen has been a great leader in our scouting family. I trust her with my children completely. It is sad that she must be defended against false accusations like these!"
GLAAD President Herndon Graddick also responded to today's events with a new statement on the matter. "The only ‘character development’ and ‘values-based leadership training’ the Boy Scouts have taught our young people in this case is that blatant discrimination is OK,” said Graddick. “Tossing aside the hard work and leadership of a committed mom because of who she loves is not a ‘value’ that a majority Americans want taught to their children.”
(Source: GLAAD)
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