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 ofscout
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 gayscout
s strugglescout
ing is a huge part of their lives and yetscout
ing declares that another part of their life is somehow unacceptable for thoseScout
s the path can seemdark 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 theScout
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 withbeing 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 inScout
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 inScout
ing once aneagle
always aneagle
gay or straight and yet if the pressure of beinggay 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 inScout
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 itgets
better
most of myscout
ing friends didn't care when I came out in factthey 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 ascout
that itgets
better
the only people thatgets
worse for the day you come out is the BoyScout
s of America for they lose yet another talenteddedicated leader I hope you found this message helpful and that for those of you that struggle with being gay and then