I am an Eagle Scout

This eagle scout badge is *my* eagle scout badge. I dug it out from the shoe box under my bed. No really. I keep it in a shoe box under my bed.

I'm proud of being Eagle Scout, and I'm grateful.

I'm grateful for the skills gained from the pursuits of scouting.

Tonite I took a fellow to the Emergency Room. I didn't know him. He fell suddenly ill as we were playing cards at a social afternoon.

As he slowly descended into shock and pain a set of latent skills slowly kicked in. I wasn't exactly conscious of the point at which I became his protector. But once I realized I'd assumed the role I knew what to do.

This is not the first time I've needed to keep my cool in a crisis. The scout motto is, "Be prepared." First aid and water safety have come in handy many times. I thank the Scouts for these skills.

How sad it is that Boy Scouts of America has decided that homophobia is more important than teaching boys and young men how to help people in need.

I'm proud of being an Eagle Scout, but I wouldn't be if they'd known I was gay all those year ago.

Being rejected by the scouts would have made me sad. But I'd have gotten over it, and could have lived without my Eagle training.

But here's the thing....

Every time I use the skills I learned in the scouts to help someone I can't help but wonder, "What would have happened to this person if the Boy Scouts of America had kicked me out because I'm gay?"