‘The Boy Scouts Have the Right to Exclude Gays, But Are Wrong to Do So’

That was the title of the contribution I submitted to the New York Times online “debate” about the Boy Scouts of America’s decision to maintain its anti‐​gay membership policy.


Here’s my conclusion:

The scouts are fully within their rights to maintain that exclusive policy—private groups should be able to discriminate on whatever basis they wish—but it’s a shame that many Americans associate scouting with that constitutionally protected policy instead of the organization’s valuable core mission of providing a unique space where boys can grow and develop into honorable men.

The editors thus changed the title of my piece to “Free to Discriminate,” which is only one part of what I said, but in any event should get more people to click on my piece in anger. Read the whole thing.