Let boys be boys: The followup of BSA policy change on sexual orientation and Scouting

The Boy Scouts were in the news the other day in the swirling controversy whether to allow boys with same sex attraction into the century old scouting program.  After months of internal reflection within the organization,  the decision came out on Thursday. A portions of the official announcement reads as follows...

"Approved a resolution to remove the restriction denying membership to youth on the basis of sexual orientation alone. The resolution also reinforces that Scouting is a youth program, and any sexual conduct, whether heterosexual or homosexual, by youth of Scouting age is contrary to the virtues of Scouting.

Here is the clincher quote from BSA officials that stands out for me;  "While people have different opinions about this policy, we can all agree that kids are better off when they are in Scouting."
  
From what I've been reading, the varied opinions are hotly contested on both sides of the spectrum. This is a topic which I certainly have wrestled with and could understand both sides of the argument. I believe BSA has made the right choice but with a caveat. The bottom line is that teenage boys are going through so many hormonal and body changes that I don't think a boy of 15 can self proclaim himself as a "homosexual or gay" The culture so easily likes to  put labels on us and if we don't fit into one of the labels, where should we go? I have seen several instances where teenagers have "come out" and declared their sexual orientation as early as 16 years old. To find out a few years later they have changed their minds. Human bodies go through so many changes during those years that any orientation may not finally settle in until our 20s or maybe even later in life.  Our culture and the media as put so much emphasis on our sexual orientation and labels that we haven't allowed to let boys be boys.  

I think we can acknowledge that there is same sex attraction in our world. The debate on what causes these attractions are many, and my guess is a mix of cultural and biological influences. I would lean heavily on the cultural side but that argument can be for another day.  My guess is most of us have experienced same sex attraction in varying degrees through portions of our lives.

This whole debate that has focused on the boys sexual orientation should be redirected into just let the boys  have fun camping, hiking, and learning a variety of life skills.  As a formal Eagle Scout, this program offers so much to each boy in building character and shaping them into the men they will become. As in the BSA quote from above, "kids are better off in scouting."  I couldn't agree more!  Can we keep the sex part out of it for a few more years?    You might say that if I believe in the Theology of the Body teachings within this blog that my endorsement of the BSA decision is hypocritical.  This is my caveat, that I believe all boys should have the chance to belong in scouting; but all the labeling of "sexual orientation, gay, and homosexual language should be removed from the BSA documents.

You can certainly see how this topic may fit into our previous discussions on relativism, truth, and Theology of the Body. I will be addressing more of this in the future. In the meantime, I invite comments and opinions on this topic.