- Jon Langbert and his son, Carter (Courtesy of Jon Langbert)
Jon Langbert, a gay father of triplets who lives in University Park, has been told that he can’t serve as a leader in his 9-year-old son’s Cub Scout troop.
For the last two years, Langbert has been in charge of the popcorn sales fundraiser for Pack 70 at University Park Elementary, according to Park Cities People. In 2009, Langbert helped the troop raise $13,000, up from $4,000 the previous year. And in September of this year, Langbert and his son, Carter, were invited to recruit new scouts on the school’s morning televised announcements.
But then someone complained about Langbert’s “homosexuality.” And now he’s been told he can’t wear his Scout leader T-shirt or serve in a leadership position, according to The Dallas Morning News:
“What message does that send to my son? It says I’m a second-class citizen,” Langbert said.
Robert McTaggart, the Cubmaster for Pack 70, said Langbert will be allowed to continue as a popcorn fundraiser. That position is not considered a leadership role and can be held by a volunteer.
The Boys Scouts of America has had a long-standing policy that rejects leaders who are gay or atheist. In 2000, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the organization’s rules in a 5-4 decision.
“Our policy is not meant to serve as social commentary outside the Scout program,” said Pat Currie of the Circle 10 Council, the umbrella organization that oversees Pack 70. “We respect people who have a different opinion from us. We just hope those same people will respect our right to have a different opinion.”
Langbert says he plans to stay on with this year’s popcorn fundraising campaign. But he’s also contacted attorneys and plans to challenge the Cub Scouts’ decision in court. He noted that the Highland Park school district, which includes UP elementary, allows the troop to use its property despite the discriminatory policy.
Langbert and his partner were featured on 20/20 several years ago, when they lived in New York. Langbert, described as a wildly successful entrepreneur, is the father of triplets, two girls and a boy, who were conceived with donor and surrogate mothers using vitro fertilization.
UPDATE: A commenter below points us to the website for Scouting for All. Here’s their mission statement: “THE MISSION of Scouting For All, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, is to advocate on behalf of its members and supporters for the restoration of the traditionally unbiased values of Scouting as expressed and embodied in the Scout Oath & the Scout Law, and to influence the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) to serve and include as participating members ALL youth and adult leaders, regardless of their spiritual belief, gender, or sexual orientation.”
What a Sad Story, to have to tell you son. The Boy Scouts of America really, need to rethink this. I was in the BSA in the 1970’s and this subject was never brought up. Another case of Don’t ask and Don’t Tell. You have to Break the Boy Scout Code to be a Scout.
Please visit https://scoutingforall.org/ for lots of information that might illuminate.
It’s noteworthy that the BSA is a member of the World Scouting Organization and the their are other member countries that DO NOT practice these exclusionary policies.
The internalized conflict between public entities, and certain churches is also worth looking at.
And most importantly see it’s interesting to ponder the religious and non-religious sponsorship statistics and how influence flows within the BSA.
Mike Montalvo
Dallas, Texas
Recipient of the Scouting for All Volunteer of the Year award, 2000
Langbert voices concern about what his son will think about his perceived status as a second-class citizen (because of his own homosexuality.) Although I have no children of my own, I, as a gay man, think Langbert might also want to give some time to thinking about the mixed message of values he is instilling in his children by allowing them to participate in a blatantly discriminatory organization which openly and, without apology, excludes participants – all with the blessing of the United States Supreme Court. If memory serves me, there is an alternative organization for just such families, called “Scouting For All.” Just a thought.
Rolling Stone July 6, 2000
The STRUGGLE for the SOUL of the BOY SCOUTS by Chuck Sudetic
(in which I provided statistics)
The Clout of the Churches
The Mormon Chruch in particular has deep and abiding connections to the BSA’s professional
organization. The BSA takes seriously the Mormons’ threat that they would withdraw from the
Scouts if the ban on gay members is lifted.
1998
Top 10 Scout Sponsors
1. United Methodists 421,579 12.46%
2. Mormons 412,240 12.19%
3. Public Schools 362,989 10.73%
4. Roman Catholics 354,568 10.48%
5. Parents Clubs 186,821 5.25%
6. Lutherans 150.009 4.34%
7. Presbyterians 146,870 4.34%
8. Baptists 115,961 3.43%
9. Lions International 105,930 3.13%
10. PTA 98,870 2.92%
Hi Kevin,
Scouting for All is more of an educational organization than youth participation alternative
It’s also interesting to note the difference of the Girl Scouts of America & there different stance
https://www.womensenews.org/story/lesbian-transgender/000707/girl-scouts-blazing-its-own-trail-lesbian-issue
Suggested highly to read:
The Boy-Man by Tim Jeal – The Life of Lord Baden-Powell (Founder of the Scouts)
It’s fascinating to consider Lord Baden-Powell’s supositioned gay tendencies and situations that would probably have excluded him as being a Leader in the Boy Scouts of America.
Merritt Patterson, from the Park Cities People, wrote a nice column back in 2006 about Jon Langbert when he had just moved to University Park.
Here’s the article —
https://www.scribd.com/doc/39400968/10-05-06-Jon-Langbert-Column
If I remember correctly, Scouting For All was founded by a 12-year-old boy who considered himself heterosexual, but was fed up with the discriminatory policies and actions of the Boy Scouts of America. I always admired that young man for stepping up for what is right, and for his father’s support of him doing so.
James,
It is worth noting that when I worked with Dennis Vercher on his article, he told me that a large number of the guys at the Dallas Voice (~5 of 7 from memory) were former scouts and a few Eagle Scouts.
12-year-old Boy Scout seeks to change BSA’s exclusion of gays
(Dallas man joins effort to gather one million signatures)
by Dennis Vercher
DALLAS MORNING NEWS ยท February 16, 1998
Petition to support gay membership in Scouts gains signatures, support
by Aline McKenzie (excerps)
Mike Montalvo, a Dallas computer technician, learned about the petition drive through the Internet and has made it his passion.
A former Scout, he said the policy excluding gays is especially hurtful because boys who join as Cub Scouts may not realize they’re gay until their teen years, when they’re thrown out of a group they’ve known most of their lives.
“Everything you are, all the values you’re taught, all the principles you live by, are worthless in light of the fact that you’re gay,” Mr. Montalvo said. “It’s not people lining up to get in. It’s people, once they discover their sexuality, trying to stay in.”
Since learning about the petition drive, Mr. Montalvo has distributed petition sheets to Oak Lawn businesses, churches, community centers and anywhere else he can think of, he said.
“It’s not something that’s going to be finished in a few days,” Mr. Montalvo said. “It’s something I’m going to keep doing for weeks or months.”
Sorry the pasted stuff above from Dallas Morning News was not meant to be put in, i was editing & copied from the wrong notepad that I had open – I did work with Aline on that one though.
Dennis Vercher had about 3 paragraphs mentioning me, the Dallas man.
One of the best articles locally that I contributed to (which I will happily email you Mike_Montalvo@yahoo.com) is by Gip Plaster. It has a LOT of information about Steven Cozza.
Steven and Goliath:
Young Steven Cozza Challenges the Texas-Based Boy Scouts of America
By Gip Plaster, TRIANGLE Staff February 26, 1998
I say screw the Boy Scouts. It is about time that enlightened parents, both straight and gay, formed a progressive, pro-environment, pro-tolerance, secular alternative to this dubious institution.
The Boy Scouts are showing discrimination. What makes it THEIR business who someone sleeps with? It’s time to stop enrolling our kids in these biased organizations and form new ones that are accepting of people’s differences, and choices of beliefs.
@merrywhiterose: unfortunately, in a landmark Supreme Court case, the court ruled that the Boy Scouts of America are a private organization, and can therefore set any rules they want to regarding who may or may not belong to their organization, as unsavory as it sounds to us. Where they and society have to be held accountable is the many relationships they have enjoyed with public organizations, such as public schools and municipalities. The BSA has enjoyed having free rent and such other perks from schools and cities, usually as a gesture of goodwill to the organization, but many cities now have nondiscrimination clauses in their clauses which (rightfully) precludes doing business with discriminatory organizations, such as the Boy Scouts. Every effort must be made to keep pressure on the BSA’s top leadership, to feel every ounce of pain which can be legally inflicted on them to change their bigoted ways, or stop receiving free benefits at the expense of the general public.
Merrywhiterose,
But I lament the generations of kids that won’t get to experience what many of us found so rewarding.
Not to suggest using BSA as a baby-sitter, but what of the single mother or other households in which kids don’t have male role models?
This kids will miss out of some great learning and stuff.
I’ve seen in the reasoning (sometimes) of the BSA over time that which gives me small glimmers of hope for the future.
It can be a difficult decision.
Some troops and internal sponsors have tried to voice for change. Heck there’s some leaders in the BSA that I have communicated with (that are not gay) that don’t like the BSA’s stance.
I do agree on the public funding.
I absolutely support their right to do it IF they were strictly a private organization.
Former Boy Scout, that just happens to be gay
Or participate with your own son on some BSA, excursions….. It’s stupid
I have never commented on a news story before, but this just made me so angry. We live in a suburb of San Francisco and someone started a cub scout den at our school. All of my sons friends joined. He wanted to join so badly, but I told him we couldn’t because they discriminate against gay people. he understood because his best friends mom is gay. But then all of his friends were telling him how much fun it it, the camp outs, soap box derby, etc…He REALLY wants to join. But I refuse. My friends in it say I’m crazy. they say “but WE don’t discriminate” But the organization you are a part of does. therefore, so do you…I’m hoping this is treaching my son to stand up for what you believe in, even if it isn’t fun. even if all your friends are doing it…
Lisa,
Completely understand your feelings.
Very difficult choice.
Some parents I’ve communicated with have allowed their kids to participate and spend additional time explaining an reinforcing there principals of non-descrimination.
I don’t know what choice I’d personally make, I’d be very conflicted.
It just so sad to see kids missing out on the activities.
@Lisa: Since I do not have children, I can only try to imagine the many challenges that parents go through in the 21st Century, trying to strike a balance between letting your kids participate in fun activities and drawing a difficult line in the sand when the activites conflict with personal values you wish to instill in your kids. No doubt, the youngsters will not immediately see the value in taking that principled stand, but as time goes by, they will thank you for teaching them to share the belief that all of us really are created equally, and that this is not just something you pay lip service to.