Eagle1993

Perhaps you can hazard a guess why...

Anyone can sue, what are outcomes? Show a result where a leader ended up paying when they followed BSA rules and regulations....

I would expect it would apply to any similar law nationwide. The specific lawsuit is California, but now anyone can sue a state with similar laws and likely win at District, probably fairly quickly.

I never understood schools or anyone hiding something this significant from parents. If the parents are abusive, then department of family services, police, courts can play their role. It isn't up to the school to decide this. I enjoyed talking with parents and sometimes surprising them with what I saw from their kid (a quiet kid became an active leader, a troubled youth giving good advice to a younger scout, etc). It was one of the joys of the job to surprise parents by sharing what was going on, sometimes some tough conversations, .... I can't imagine hiding something from them.

About 1.2 -3% of youth are trans, so let's go with 1.2% and assume the rate is half of that in BSA ... So 650,000 youth * 0.6% = 3,900 trans youth. I would up guess many trans avoid scouts. Gay youth are 7-9%, assuming that number holds you probably have 50,000 gay youth in BSA.

The transgender scout in my unit staid in. Earned Eagle, went to Philmont and now in College. Parent was a leader so that helped. The main odd thing was that the scout dressed as a 1950s housewife.... It's like they changed genders and decades. They were treated well overall. I checked in frequently. One leader from another unit told her "I don't get this gender thing, but you do you.". The scout loved that response as they know most don't understand but at least they were kind enough to let them live their life. As you said, single tent, only gender neutral bathrooms, buddy group changes. I was asked but didn't wear the pride knot, I think that hurt a bit. It is a bit complicated to manage, but it is manageable.

I would just say to avoid putting yourself in legal risk, follow BSA rules and regulations. I was told, by a lawyer, I could be sued if a kid caught COVID during a scout outing. "I'll sue the BSA, national, council, CO, committee chair and scoutmaster and let the judge determine who is liable." Just get excess liability insurance and follow BSA policy and you will be fine.

More than everything, lack of parent volunteers will damage this program. I took a similar step a few months ago .. it is sad seeing the change over the last several years. Went from more than enough parents willing to camp and lead outings to crickets.

Fully agree. I understand my council knows they will merge with another council; however, that council is not in great shape financially and likely needs to close a camp or two. My council is holding off on the merger so they aren't blamed for the camp closure. I'm sure there are many similar stories, so national will have to step in. During the bankruptcy a small/secret meeting was held by a fee national leaders. Their PPT slides were reviewed in court but never added to the docket. They included recommendations for a major reduction in councils among other ideas. It is needed and hopefully coming.

You went on a Chat GPT binge of legal advice and opinions.

Is the expectation that a birth certificate will be attached with every application? What about states that allow gender to be updated on a birth certificate, will we only accept the first print?

Political winds change and lawsuits could come from the other direction in just a few years. Let's avoid a bunch of non lawyers on this forum from giving legal advice.

You can do this through means other than sitting and discussing or visiting web pages. The issue is that as constructed, the program continues to add Eagle required MBs that are classroom style, including Citizenship in the Society. Just look at UK scouts, many of their requirements begin with take part in.... Compare to BSA citizenship badges. I've been scoutmaster for over 15 Eagle Scouts, my dad is Eagle, I'm and Eagle Scout, my son is an Eagle Scout. Overall, I believe in the program but we need more focus on aspects of the program that make unique and less on being school 2.0

Not necessarily. I see a local team play and there are outfield grass you pay to watch from. You watch through a chain link fence.

I don't know of any kid who goes through school that sees any value add in Citz in Nation or World. Both are covered many times in 6th through 12th grade. Citizenship in Community provides value and is often missed in school. Citizenship in home (family life) could continue. So go from 5 (world, nation, society, community and home) to 2. Then add in Wilderness Survival and a shooting sport as Eagle required.