Samuel Brown, Eagle Scout and Den Leader Pack 198, Connecticut Rivers Council

Chief Scout Executive
Boy Scouts of America
PO Box 152079
Irving, Texas 75015-2079

Harry L. Pokorny, Council Scout Executive
Boy Scouts of America
Connecticut Rivers Council
P.O. Box 380098
East Hartford, CT 06128-0098

April 2, 2001

Dear BSA,

I have gone from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts; earning the rank of Eagle in 1977 and going on to become the assistant scoutmaster of a troop during college. Last year when my son entered first grade I enthusiastically enrolled him in Tiger Cubs and became the leader of his den. He has enjoyed this year immensely and looks forward to crossing over into Cub Scouts soon. I am happy that he seems to be benefiting from being involved in scouts and I hope that he remains involved. In particular, I hope that his exposure to the values espoused in the Scout Oath and the Scout Law is as beneficial to him as it was to me when I was growing up.

I am deeply troubled, however, by the mentality of the BSA that denies the opportunity of someone who is gay to participate as a member or leader of a scout troop. In the current climate of intolerance, hate-crimes, and bigotry in the U.S. the stance of the BSA only serves to reinforce the notion that discrimination should be tolerated. There is too much that is good about scouting to let this divisive policy continue to blemish the movement.

Therefore, as a Den Leader in Pack 198, Connecticut Rivers Council of Boy Scouts of America, I hereby state my intention to close our membership to no one, regardless of race, religion, disability, or sexual orientation.


Sincerely,

Samuel Brown, Ph.D.
Den Leader, Pack 198
Connecticut Rivers Council