To the editor:

This month, the Boy Scouts of America will consider ending its policy discriminating against gay scouts. As an Eagle Scout and now a scouting parent and volunteer, I would very much like to see our National Capitol Area Council and the national organization take this strong stand for equality.

My wife and I love seeing our son grow in scouting, where he earned the highest Cub Scout award and just moved into Boy Scouts. At the same time, we know that the life skills and values he is learning are incomplete if the organization continues to exclude gay scouts.

How can we reconcile the policy with our daily lives, where many of our friends — including amazing teachers, loved ones in committed same-sex marriages and the like — would be automatically excluded? How are we preparing young men for their future — be it at a university, corporation or the military — where such discrimination is not tolerated?

Here’s hoping the Boy Scouts of America will take this important step forward.

– Tom Tyler
Alexandria