This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The Boy Scouts of America decided last week that gay boys may be Scouts, but gay men are still banned from being Scout leaders ("Boy Scouts approve plan to accept openly gay boys," Tribune, May )
In my years as a Scout, I was almost killed three times by a Scout leader. Twice by accident; once on purpose. Competence and mental stability are definitely not prerequisites for the position, only sexual orientation.
If any of these incidents had been the result of a gay leader, he would have been lynched. But since they were by a straight Mormon leader, they were swept under the rug.
Gay or not, Scouts are in a lot of danger at the hands of their Scout leaders. Beware!
Richard Pittenger
Salt Lake City