It Gets Better: Eagle Scout

I am an

Eagle

Scout

and a vigil honor member of the order of the arrow in my 15 years of

scout

ing I've served in leadership positions like senior patrol leader troop committee chairman Western Region chief and a lot of others at all different levels of the organization I'm speaking up because I know that many young gay

scout

s struggle

scout

ing is a huge part of their lives and yet

scout

ing declares that another part of their life is somehow unacceptable for those

Scout

s the path can seem

dark and lonely I wanted to let all

Scout

s know that there is nothing contradictory with being a young gay man and being trustworthy loyal helpful friendly courteous kind obedient cheerful thrifty brave clean and even reverent I can remember sometimes having conflict when I raised my right hand to the

Scout

sign and pledge that on my honor I would be morally straight that conflict died when I accepted that being morally straight and far less and do with my sexual orientation than it did with

being genuinely a good person to others and following my core values sadly the Boy

Scout

s of America does not yet allow its young gay men to be out and open however if you are gay and in

Scout

ing and you have goals whether it be rank advancement or leadership position or just some great outdoor adventure I say go for it no one can take away the experiences the friends the values or skills that you learned in

Scout

ing once an

eagle

always an

eagle

gay or straight and yet if the pressure of being

gay then

scout

ing just seems like too much find someone to talk to there may be resources in your community and you can visit the Trevor Project online someday you will determine that your need to be out and open with who you truly are is greater than your desire to remain in

Scout

ing it's a tough day and for each of us it happens at a different moment in her life yet I wanted to let you know that on that day it

gets

better

most of my

scout

ing friends didn't care when I came out in fact

they were mostly bummed that I couldn't participate in the program anymore that was their main concern and I still apply

scout

ing values and skills to my everyday life in fact it was that promise I made for the first time long ago to help other people at all times that led me to making this video once again I do hereby promise on my honor as a

scout

that it

gets

better

the only people that

gets

worse for the day you come out is the Boy

Scout

s of America for they lose yet another talented

dedicated leader I hope you found this message helpful and that for those of you that struggle with being gay and then

scout

ing the journey forward seems far less treacherous until our paths shall once again cross yours in

Scout

ing Brossard