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

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ing I served in leadership positions such as Senior Patrol Leader, Troop Committee Chairman, Western Region Chief and many others throughout. the different levels of the organization. I'm speaking out because I know that many young gay explorers struggle because exploring is a big part of their lives and yet exploring declares that another part of their life is somehow unacceptable to those explorers, the path can seem dark and lonely. . I wanted to let all the explorers know that there is nothing contradictory between being a young gay man and being trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and even reverent.

I remember sometimes having conflicts when I raise my right hand to the scan sign and pledge on my honor. I would be morally heterosexual, that conflict died when I accepted that being morally heterosexual had much less to do with my sexual orientation than with being a genuinely good person to others and following my core values, unfortunately the boy

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s of the United States still do not tell me allow. Your young gays should be open and open, however, if you are gay and exploring and have goals, whether it be a promotion in rank or a leadership position or just a great outdoor adventure, I say go for it, no one can take it away from you. the experiences, the friends, the values. or skills you learn in exploring once you are an

eagle

, always a gay or straight

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and yet if the pressure of being gay and exploring seems too much, find someone to talk to, there may be resources in your community and you can visit the Trevor project. online you will someday determine that your need to be open and open with who you really are is greater than your desire to remain in Scouting.

It's a difficult day and for each of us it happens at a different time in our lives, but I wanted to let you know that things get

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that day, most of my explorer friends didn't care when I went out, in fact they were bummed because I could no longer participate in the program, that was my main concern and I still apply the explorer values ​​and skills to my daily life. In fact, it was that promise I first made a long time ago to help other people at all times that It led me to make this video once again.

I hereby promise on my honor as a scout that it will get

better

. The only people who get worse the day you come out are the boy scouts of America because they lose another talented and dedicated leader. I hope you found this message helpful and that for those of you struggling with being queer and exploring, the journey forward seems far away. less treacherous until our paths cross yours once more in exploration ross armstrong