Irv Conrad of the Pioneer Valley Council, Massachusetts scouting district commissioner, Tells the BSA National to STOP Its Discrimination against Gays

THIS BOY SCOUT LEADER SAYS GAYS BELONG
Date: July11, 2001
Publication: Boston Globe Weblink: (E-Mail: letter@globe.com)
(http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/192/oped/This_Boy_Scout_leader_says_gays_belong+.html)
Writer: Derrick Z. Jackson

Summarized Article:

A column reporting a Massachusetts Scouting district commissioner's open letter to the National Council of the BSA
advocating admission of gay males. Irv Conrad of the Pioneer Valley Council, which serves the Holyoke and Springfield areas, cited his 60 years of support for scouting values in proposing that the national council "proclaim and accept the concept" that a gay person "can be a valuable and trustworthy leader." Conrad said there is nothing about being gay that prevents a scout from passing on scouting skills and values.

His letter was read at a recent national meeting of the Scouts in Boston. He said that by making the change in policy now, the BSA would avoid being eventually forced into it by society's growing acceptance of gays. Conrad, who is also dean of administration at the American International College in Springfield, said it was important to express support within Scouting
for the change. ....