What is he talking about?

Last July, the Boy Scouts of America ended a ban on homosexual scout leaders.  In response, John Hawkins sent out the following tweet.

The following day he wrote the blog, Gay Scoutmasters Will Lead The Boy Scouts On A March Into Oblivion.  August 2, it became a meme for his Right Wing News that has been in my facebook newsfeed a number of times. He tweeted later that day that the meme had already become very popular.

As of the writing of this blog post the meme has 83,000+ likes and 31,000+ shares.   With the background in place let's get into the blog where Hawkins was able to flesh out his idea in more than 140 characters would allow.  Again the full blog is available here.

The parents of Boy Scouts across the country may be too cowed by political correctness to say it, but the chances that teen Scouts are going to be bad-touched in the woods by Scoutmasters just shot through the roof. That shouldn’t be a shocking statement; it’s just common sense. Sending gay men into the woods with teenage boys is just as stupid and irresponsible as sending straight men into the woods with teenage girls.

Let me note at this point that some people may say, “You’re claiming gay men are all pedophiles.”

Not at all.

For example, we’ve seen lots of stories lately about adult female teachers having sex with their teen-age students. Most of these women could be better described as sexual predators than pedophiles because they’re not targeting young children, they’re targeting teens. Are most gay Scoutmasters going to be sexually attracted to a 10 year old boy? Probably not. Are they going to be sexually attracted to a good-looking 16 year old Scout? Yes, they are and that will be an issue for the parents of many of those Scouts.

While Hawkins focuses on allowing gay men "into the woods" he ignores several realities about the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.

First, the Boy Scouts' homosexual ban was also against lesbian women.  Homosexuals were banned outright whether or not they were male or female.  

Second, closely tied to lesbian scout leaders, heterosexual women have been scout leaders for years.  The Boy Scouts have put in place policies reflecting this reality.

Adult Supervision/Coed Activities

Male and female adult leaders must be present for all overnight coed Scouting trips and outings, even those including a parent and child. Both male and female adult leaders must be 21 years of age or older, and one must be a registered member of the BSA.

As a precaution, one on one interaction is prohibited.  A scout leader, male or female, is never to be alone with a scout or even privately text a scout.

One-on-one contact between adults and youth members is prohibited. In situations requiring a personal conference, such as a Scoutmaster’s conference, the meeting is to be conducted with the knowledge and in view of other adults and/or youth.

The policy of two-deep leadership and no one-on-one contact between adults and youth members includes digital communication. Leaders may not have one-on-one private online communication or engage one-on-one in other digital activities (games, social media) with youth members. Leaders should copy a parent and another leader in digital and online communication, ensuring no one-on-one contact exists in text, social media, or other forms of online or digital communication.

What about this "in the woods" problem?  How does the Boy Scouts deal with males and females needing to change clothes and shower?  Well, the scouts are given privacy except when health and safety must be protected.  Adults, male or female, are not allowed to watch scouts change, shower, or use the restroom.

Privacy of youth is respected. Adult leaders and youth must respect each other’s privacy, especially in situations such as changing clothes and taking showers at camp. Adults may enter youth changing or showering areas only to the extent that health and safety requires. Adults must protect their own privacy in similar situations.

Inappropriate use of smart phones, cameras, imaging, or digital devices is prohibited. Although most Scouts and leaders use cameras and other imaging devices responsibly, it is easy to intentionally or inadvertently invade the privacy of other individuals with those devices. The use of any device capable of recording or transmitting visual images in or near shower houses, restrooms, or other areas where privacy is expected is inappropriate.

The showers are segregated into scout, adult male, adult female sections.

Shower Facilities

Whenever possible, separate shower and latrine facilities should be provided for adults, youth, and females. If separate facilities are not available, separate shower times for adults, youth, and females should be scheduled and posted.

They have to be posted so no potential predator can try to excuse his behavior by saying he did not know.

Further, adults are only allowed to sleep with scouts if they are a parent or a guardian.

Tenting

When camping, no one is permitted to sleep with a person of the opposite sex or in the tent of an adult other than his or her own spouse, parent, or guardian. Assigning youth members more than two years apart in age to sleep in the same tent should be avoided unless the youth are relatives.

Could predatory men and women violate these standards? Sure, but they could before the ban was lifted as well.

Also, guess what?  The Girl Scouts have coed chaperons as well.

Q. Can men be Girl Scout troop leaders?

A. Absolutely! Every Girl Scout troop requires two or more adults (minimum one unrelated female) with one adult designated as the leader.

While their policy is not as stringent as the Boy Scouts, the Girl Scouts also segregate the sexes.

3. Within a camp or overnight setting, males must not share sleeping, dressing, or restroom facilities with non-related females.

4. Troops may from time to time designate an activity as an all-female activity (i.e. a mother/daughter event), as long as this arrangement does not exclude any girl from participation, e.g. a daughter whose father has full or shared custody. The proper girl/adult ratio designated in Volunteer Essentials must be maintained for all activities.

5. During father/daughter overnight events, the male participants will stay in units separated from the girls/females. Female adult volunteers will be available to provide overnight supervision of girls housed in separate units from males. Male participants who wish to stay with their daughters may do so in a designated camping area provided that the Council receives notification signed by the girl’s legal guardian.

At least one Girl Scout group also places restrictions on unrelated females sharing a sleeping space with the scouts.

It is not mandatory that an adult sleep in the tent or cabin with the girls. If an adult female does share the sleeping area, there should always be two unrelated adult females present.

Coed volunteers is just the reality of the world that we live in.  Sometimes, Dad has to work so Mom comes or vice versa.  Groups generally take all qualified volunteers that they can find.  If Hawkins had bothered to google the Boy Scout or Girl Scout volunteer policy he would have known that both organizations have been using coed volunteers for a long time.