7/28/2019 Letter Urging Vote to End BSA's Discriminatory Membership Policies

1/2

BradDempsey

13468W.61stPlaceArvada,Colorado80004

(303)619-4085

dempseyb@comcast.net

Twitter:@BradDempseyLinkedIn:www.linkedin.com/pub/bradford-brad-e-dempsey/9/70/3a3/

EagleScout,DenverAreaCouncil

DenLeader,CubScoutPack203

JohnCabeza

ScoutExecutive

DenverAreaCouncil

John.cabeza@scouting.org

AndDenverAreaCouncilVotingMembers

c/oJohnCabeza

RE: EqualityinScouting

DearMr.CabezaandtheDenverAreaCouncilVotingMembers:

Asalife-longandloyalmemberofScouting,Iwritetourgeyoutotakepositive

actionattheMay24thNationalCouncilMeetingandvotetosupporttheproposalto

endtheBSAsmembershippoliciesthatoperatetoexcludeandunfairlydiscriminateagainstmembersofthegaycommunity.

Tome,Scoutingshouldbeandcanbeaninstitutionthatreflects,honors,and

continuouslypromotesourmostpositiveandlaudablevaluesacrossgenerationsof

Americans.Suchvaluesincludetreatingourfellowcitizenswithmutualrespect,

fairness,andequalityofopportunity.Today,BSAsdiscriminatorymembership

policiesfailtoabidebyandpromotethesevalues.Assuch,theyarewrongand

shouldbechanged.RatherthanreturnmyEagleawardtoprotesttheBSAspolicies,

IhopetopushforchangewithintheBSAandworktowardimprovingthe

organizationthatIvelovedandsupportedformanyyears.

AsanEagleScoutandacurrentDenLeaderinCubScoutPack203,Istrongly

supporttheBSAanditsmissionandenthusiasticallydevotemanyhoursworkingwithmysonandhisfellowcubscoutsinlearningandpromotingthemanyother

valuesofScouting.Giventheextraordinaryleadershipchallengeswefaceatthe

national,state,andlocallevels,IadamantlybelieveweneedtoaggressivelyencourageandwelcomemoreofourcitizenstobecomememberstotheScouting

family.

7/28/2019 Letter Urging Vote to End BSA's Discriminatory Membership Policies

2/2

AsIsuspectyouarehearing,ScoutsofallpoliticalpersuasionsareworkingtogethertoputanendtheBSAsdiscriminatorypolicies.I,andmanyotherRepublicansthat

areScoutsorareinvolvedinScoutinginsomeway,hopethattheBSAwillputan

endtothismatterandmoveforwardwithpromotinganinclusiveculturethat

supportsallScouts,parents,andleaders.Ifthepolicyisnotchanged,IanticipatethatIandmanyothervolunteerleadersanddonorswillbecomeverydiscouragedandloseinterestinsupportingandperpetuatinganorganizationthatfailsto

supportbasicprinciplesofequality.

Toputitbluntly,thisvoteiscriticallyimportanttothefutureandlongevityofthe

BSA.EithertheBSAistruetotheprinciplesitclaimstopromote,oritisnot.I

remainhopefulthatourScoutingleadershipwilldotherightthingandadoptand

embracetheprinciplesofequalityofopportunity.

Iwelcomeyourphonecallsormessagesifyouoranyofthevotingmemberswishto

followupanddiscussthisfurther.ItismysinceresthopethattheDenverAreaCouncilwillbeastrongandeffectivevoiceforcorrectingtheBSAsmembershippoliciesattheMay24thmeeting.Thankyouforconsideringmyopinion.

Regards,

BradDempsey