Source: The Daily Mail

Britain’s best-known youth movement is going gay-friendly.

The Scout Association has revealed plans to boost its number of gay members and leaders in a bid to banish the perception that homosexuals cannot sign up.

The half-a-million-strong movement has released a video as part of the campaign - which will also let Scouts attend gay pride parades in uniform.

The move has been praised for dragging the group into the 21st century. But some have slammed it for ’steering the organisation’ away from its original Christian values.

Wayne Bulpitt, the association’s UK chief commissioner, filmed a video offering support to an anti-bullying campaign led by gay rights charity Stonewall.

In it he stated: ‘Bullying is wrong on every level, not just for the person being bullied, but for the bully too.

‘In Scouting we believe that all young people, irrespective of their sexuality, gender, race, creed or background, have an equal opportunity to develop and to be themselves.’

Scouts spokesman Simon Carter said the campaign was designed to move the group away from its reputation as being ‘austere and militaristic’.

He said: ‘There was an assumption that being gay meant you couldn’t be part of the movement

‘That was never the case and we are keen to make it clear that we accept people of any particular orientation.

‘We have had youth members and adults attend Pride events and plan to do so again this year.

‘It shows that we are not just taking about it but are demonstrating our support publicly.’

The association, which ended its ban on female members in 1991, has created a series of advisory documents on gay issues for members and adult leaders.

They are aimed at counselling young people about informing others about their sexuality.

It states: ‘Coming out is a major decision in your life. You may decide to tell your family, a friend, your teacher or a Scout leader.

‘There is nothing wrong with being gay and being a Scout and the person that you tell should be supportive and non-judgemental to what you are telling them.’

Leaders are advised to treat such conversations as confidential, but to have other adults ‘within hearing or sight’, and to be prepared to pass on details for specialised support organisations.

A second leaflet, called Gay Adults In Scouting, reassures prospective leaders and volunteers they will not be turned away on the basis of their sexuality.

Patrick Harvie, the Scottish Green leader, welcomed the move and urged the Scouts to go further and lift their ban on atheists and agnostics.

But it has also been slammed for ‘diluting’ the group’s original Christian theme.

John Cormack, of the Scottish Christian Party, said: ‘My reaction to this is one of dismay and I suspect many other people will also be deeply concerned.

‘Sexual morality is an area where the parents should be taking the lead, not the Scouts. This is a huge step-change away from the Christian founding ethos of the Scout movement.’

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1394715/Be-Prepared-equality–The-Scouts-look-recruit-gay-leaders-members.html#ixzz1OW5BHPdD

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