As some of you may recall, I was my son's Tiger Den Leader for a year. By all accounts, I was a terrific leader. Then, after becoming pack treasurer and discovering financial inconsistencies, I received a phone call terminating my Scout Leader registration. In response, I started my change.org petition, which is still active and able to be signed. That was one year ago. Since then I have become a full fledged LGBT advocate. An "accidental advocate" I always say. Why do I call myself an "accidental advocate"?
Before my forced resignation from the BSA, I had never been involved in anything. I had never even been to a gay pride parade! I had a perfectly simple, non-involved life. Our family did all the things your family probably does. We go to work, school, after school activities, help the kids with homework, eat dinner on the fly, go to sleep, and do it all over again the next day. You see, I had adopted the attitude, why bother to get involved, one person won't make a difference.
I was clearly wrong about that. I feel that by simply sharing my story and starting my change.org petition, I have helped create a firestorm of equality that is sweeping across the nation and will most likely lead to the BSA changing their anti-gay policy in May 2013. I have teamed up with GLAAD and have been traveling all over the country telling my story. I have now attended TWO gay pride parades, one in New York where I got to ride in a car with George Takei --
-- and one as Grand Marshall in the Toledo, Ohio Pride Parade.
I have spoken at three GLAAD Media Awards events. At the 2013 GLAAD Media Awards in New York, Madonna pledged her support and appeared on stage in a Boy Scout uniform!
What a shining moment that was for my family and me. I have had a helping hand in getting Corporations to discontinue funding, spoken at several Marriage Equality Rallies, events, and meetings. The list of my involvement in the LGBT community goes on an on.
Most recently I have joined Freedom to Marry Ohio as steering committee co-chair. With this partnership I hope to help bring marriage equality to my home state of Ohio.
As you can see, I went from not involved at all to gayest person ever in no time flat! I have to say, in a way, being kicked out of the Boy Scouts may have been a blessing in disguise. After all, it has led to a revival of support to end this ridiculous ban on LGBT scouts and leaders. To learn more about my journey check out these sources: