Presumption Comes In All Shapes

Yesterday I was listening to KRLD Radio 1080 coming into Dallas. One of the stories they were playing was about a father who was a Boy Scouts of America local volunteer. (Sorry, unable to find the link as I was writing this.) His son was in a local troop and the man was the chair of the popcorn fundraiser.

He had done such a good job that he was awarded a leader's shirt. Not too shabby for a divorced father staying connected in his son's life. He should be acknowledged for taking an active role in his son's life and as a scout leader.

Now the man has been asked to stop wearing his leader's shirt. Sure, he can still raise the money, please raise the money, but he can't wear the shirt.

He was asked not to wear the shirt because he is gay. Oh, and this was not news to anyone when he ran the fundraiser or got the shirt. His sexuality was not an issue when this began, but it is now.

The story goes on with the man objecting to the Boy Scouts discriminating against him, particularly since the troop meets in a local public school "funded by my tax dollars." He goes on to say that the courts have ruled that Scouts can discriminate against gays in and maintain a presence in the public schools. Then he did say he just may sue them.

This bugs me: He's a father, he's involved with his son, he raises money, he's a model of involved parent (so I would assume from what I heard on the radio). Now he can't wear the shirt the troop bestowed upon him because he's gay. That's not right.

But here's what really bugs me: The interview ended with him saying that such discrimination does not belong in public schools. If you are going to discriminate it should be done in the churches "where it belongs."

I got the quote right, he said discrimination, particularly the discrimination he faces, belongs in the church.

Here's what I want to say to the man: "Yes, there are churches that don't welcome gays and there are churches that do. But in lumping all people of faith together in one homophobic lump, you have just committed a sin of discrimination against people of faith. You say discrimination against you is wrong, and I agree. But you have just made the same judgement against me that the troop made against you.

Beware of glass houses... I have found they get drafty when you throw too many stones.