Scott Walker: The Boy Scouts’ Ban On Gay Troop Leaders ‘Protected Children’

Governor Scott Walker (Republican of Wisconsin) speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Gaylord National at National Harbor, Maryland on Thursday, February 26, 2015. Credit: Ron Sachs / C... Governor Scott Walker (Republican of Wisconsin) speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Gaylord National at National Harbor, Maryland on Thursday, February 26, 2015. Credit: Ron Sachs / CNP - NO WIRE SERVICE - Photo by: Ron Sachs/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images MORE LESS
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Presidential candidate and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) said on Tuesday that the longstanding ban on gay troop leaders by the Boy Scouts of America had “protected children.”

The Boy Scouts decided on Monday to end that ban, and Walker, an Eagle Scout, responded with a statement to the Independent Journal Review.

From Walker’s statement:

I have had a lifelong commitment to the Scouts and support the previous membership policy because it protected children and advanced Scout values.

Chad Griffin, President of the Human Rights Campaign, an LGBT rights group, spoke out against Walker’s comments in a statement issued Tuesday.

According to Griffin, “His comments imply that we represent a threat to the safety and well-being of young people…. If Scott Walker is trying to get his merit badge in being shamefully irresponsible, he just earned it with flying colors.”

Walker has referred to his service as an Eagle Scout in campaign speeches. In March, he even suggested to an audience at the Chamber of Commerce in Phoenix that this experience had prepared him to be commander-in-chief. Walker’s wife, Tonette, also served as a den mother for the organization.

The Boy Scouts voted to allow openly gay youths to join the organization in March 2013, and the policy went into effect on Jan. 1, 2014.

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Notable Replies

  1. No it didn’t. Quite a number of incidents happened where Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts were sexually molested and the BSA covered it up. Plus, the majority of pedophiles are not gay even if they target boys.

    I’ve done way too much research on the subject not to know that stuff like this is rank and stinking homophobia.

  2. Protected them? I think telling the lads that gay men are dangerous while making them wear neckerchiefs just confused them, Scott.

  3. Wait, so are you telling me Walker was lying he said this during his announcement speech:

    “As long as you don’t violate the health and safety of your neighbors – go out and start your own career, build your own business, live your own life.”

    I wonder how Walker will reconcile his “live your own life” philosophy with his belief that gay men should be banned from certain career and volunteer opportunities.

  4. I have had a lifelong commitment to the Scouts and support the previous membership policy because it protected children

    From??? Don’t be coy, Walker. Finish that thought.

  5. So if Walker is one of the presumptive front-runners, how does this shit pile pivot from crazy during the primary to “mainstream” for the general election? Like voters won’t remember his hate spewing bullshit?

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