Don’t reinvent the (DEI) wheel
Not sure how to get started? Your fellow scouters are here to help.
If you’re trying to make your corner of Scouting more inclusive, there are lots of local efforts that you can learn from.
Why it matters: Many scouters want to create diverse and affirming environments, but don’t know where to start. Thankfully, someone has (probably) already figured it out for you. To name just a few:
Troops are teaching the Citizenship in Society merit badge and marching in Pride parades.
Adult volunteers are leading with vulnerability and authenticity.
Scout executives are putting inclusion at the top of their priorities.
Go deeper: My archive features Scouts BSA units, councils and territories that are succeeding in their DEI efforts. Here are some of my favorite examples:
Before you go: Two news articles from this past spring highlight progress that LGBTQ+ scouters and allies are making in the BSA.
An article in LGBTQ Nation titled, “The new LGBTQ+ leaders of the Boy Scouts bring hope for a brighter future,” profiles a “new generation of leaders [that] is encouraging youth members to take ownership of their futures.” You’ll see some familiar names in the story, like Gary Carroll and Davis Kellogg.
A story in the Washington City Paper titled, “The Ethical Dilemma of Scouting,” features a Scouts BSA troop that “is challenging Scouting’s rigid gender rules.”