Steven's DC Speech Asking President Bush to Step Down


Scouting for all would like to dedicateour rally and protest today in front of the White House in memoryto all the gay youth who have taken their lives because they felt rejected and like they didn't belong.

We are asking President Bush to step down as the honorary president of the Boy Scouts of America. The leading cause of death for homosexualand questioning youth is suicide and President Bush's silence on this issue just adds to this problem.

I would like to read a poem that was written by Robbie Kirkland a gay 15 year old that took his own life because of hate and rejection.

(POEM)

Poem by Robbie Kirkland (2-22-82 to 1-2-97) Died at 15

"Remember Me"

I may be gone, but I hope I'm not forgotten. Remember me.

(9-1-94)

"I'm Dying and No One Cares"

I try to stand and walk
I fall to the hard cold ground.
It feels as if to life I'm no longer bound.
The others look and laugh at my plight.
Blood pours from my nose, I am not a pretty sight.
I try to stand and again but fall
To the others I call
But they don't care
The pain is unbearable
The world is not fair
I'm lost and cold
I wish one would lend a hand to hold
My tears mix with my blood
The end of my life
It nears
I'm Dying and No One Cares
The pain. The pain.
THE PAIN!I scream in pain!
My body shakes in violent spasms
I cry out in pain again!
I scream
My blood pours like a stream
I'm Dying and No One Cares
I scream in pain one last time
and then its over.
I am Dead and No One Cares.


President Bush and organizations like the Boy Scouts of America only add to gay youth's feelings of rejection. I am holding President Bush and organizations like the BSA who discriminateresponsible for being one of the causes that make suicide the leading cause of death for gay youth. Matthew Shepard, a gay college studentwas murdered because he was gay. His murders were an Eagle Scout and a Mormon. Both of these institutions are homophobic and discriminate against thegay community. Scouting for All holds these homophobic institutionsaccountable for giving out a harmful and destructive message to both gay and straight youth.Robbie Kirklandwas just another tragicexample of the destructive message the BSA gives through its discriminatory policy.


We must all count. We must all be able to experience the same rights that are afforded to all Americans. We all stand with our hands over our hearts and pledge allegiance to our flag, our country, but still to this day, some Americans are not included in the saying, "for Liberty and justice for all. The BSA who is supposed to represent the very best in us has now chosen to embrace the very worst in us, bigotry and discrimination. If you are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and or an atheist you are not allowed to participate in the BSA. How can President Bush support this?


We have a President, who is supposed to represent all theAmerican people, but is theHonorary President of the Boy Scouts of America. What message does hegive gay and atheist youth when he says "No child left behind." But he represents an organization that leaves gay and atheist youth behind. You would think thatour President would be trying to make this world a better place, but he seems to not even care.Through his silence, not addressing this issue,President Bush becomes part of the problem.


President Bush standing with us to end discrimination would be a step in therightdirection. President Bush I am an Eagle Scout here telling you that it is not right that only some oftheyouth in this country canhave the opportunity to be an Eagle Scout or to just participate in the Boy Scouts of America.No, American youth should bediscriminated against in this country of ours and you as President of the United States of America should not in anyway endorse or support a discriminatory organizationthat discriminates against any segment of our society nor should our federal government support such discriminatory organizations.

President Bush through your silence you turn your back on gay and atheist youth and both homosexual and atheist Americans. The question I leave with you:


Should we turn our backs and walk away when we experience or become aware of a social injustice or should we stand up and be counted? As an American and as an Eagle Scout, President Bush I ask you now, this day, to stand up and be counted bystepping down as the Honorary President of the Boy Scouts of America.This moral act would give all Americans the message that we are all included, that we all share together in the American dream of justice far all.And that we as a nation will not tolerate any form of discrimination towards any segment of our society.


Steven Cozza, Eagle Scout
National Press Club
Washington, DC
11/3/05