It was disappointing, but not surprising, to read comments condemning the Boy Scouts of America for considering ending its ban on gay Scouts. The usual tired arguments surfaced that this would cripple the American family, ruin our country, etc.
We have heard these erroneous projections before. The Boy Scouts survived its reversal of permitting racial segregation after decades of allowing local groups to exclude Scouts of color. Historically, many Americans fought against many reforms we now consider so obvious that their efforts seem almost unfathomable today: the right of women and people of color to vote, interracial marriage, desegregation of schools by race, etc.In the future, our current lack of civil rights and freedoms for all, regardless of sexual identity and gender expression, will seem similarly anachronistic. In my lifetime, I was able to see a reversal of heart for the man who declared, "Segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever." These words were spoken by George Wallace in his 1963 inaugural address as governor of Alabama. He later realized how wrong he was.I hope we don't have to wait 50 or more years for equality for everyone, but it will happen.-- James McGrath, Fort WorthHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
