Comments on: Where do the Mormons stand on the gay scouting issue?

By: TomTallis

TomTallis — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 23:26:06 +0000

Given the rather vicious amicus brief they filed in the SCOTUS, I’d have to say that that particular leopard has NOT changed its spots.

By: Michael C

Michael C — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 14:39:58 +0000

So, the emotionally, romantically and sexually fulfilled gay guy might be a threat but the sexually repressed guy is totally welcome?. Got it. Color me surprised.

By: Ben Mathis

Ben Mathis — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 11:47:58 +0000

Ugg, every time I hear the phrase ‘flaunt their sexual orientation’ I want to barf. Referencing cowboy´s comment.

The idea that straight scouts don´t ‘flaunt their sexuality’ is absurd.

By: Bose in St. Peter MN

Bose in St. Peter MN — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 09:03:29 +0000

It’s hard for me to imagine that the “no sex outside marriage” rule is anything more than a convenient distraction and oversimplification of where the Mormon church is at.

For example, A 15-y/o scout has a mostly-online boyfriend. They’re both out to their parents. They’ve had a couple/three face-to-face mall dates over a 6-month span which included furtive hand-holding under food court tables and side-to-side snuggles while watching a movie. But, if he mentions his boyfriend in the same social circumstances as other scouts are referencing their girlfriends, is it all OK?

Or, I picture two unmarried 25-y/o Mormon scout leaders, one straight, one gay. The former is encouraged to, and rewarded for, dating; the latter is challenged to prove his celibacy, or better yet, his virginity.

Could Mormons “welcome as scoutmaster that peculiar oddity, the openly gay Mormon living as a straight man?”

Only if the scoutmaster never let his fingers get intertwined with his boyfriend’s, and promised to never let his head rest on the “wrong” shoulder.

By: cowboy

cowboy — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 07:39:16 +0000

There are already gay Mormon scouts. They just don’t flaunt their sexual orientation and if there’s more than one gay in any troop they will find their clique. Plus, openly homosexual gay scouts would be relegated to the single pup tent and closely monitored at camp.

As for a openly gay Mormon scoutmaster… No matter how chaste or living as heterosexual as possible (even with a quiver-full of kids) would he be assigned as a scout master by his local parish/Ward Bishop. Not even in for a troop in S. F.

It’s best for gay Mormon scouts to stay circumspect.

But Dustin Lance Black could write a good screenplay about a gay Mormon Scoutmaster. Maybe collaborate with Aaron Sorkin (You can’t handle the truth!).