Logo of Boy Scouts of America/courtesy photo

I was stunned to read Thomas Prol's recent "hit" piece on the Boy Scouts of America in the New Jersey Law Journal, "Revisiting 'Boy Scouts of America v. Dale' and the Right to Discriminate." Not only does Mr. Prol mischaracterize the Scouts' position on gay leaders in the organization, but he describes the Scouts' sponsorship woes with a noticeable schadenfreude. Ultimately, it's the kids that get hurt, but we should be happy about that. Really?

So let's set the record straight. First, the Boy Scouts of America formally lifted the ban on gay adults as Scout leaders on July 27, 2015. While local units still have some discretion (e.g., church sponsored units), the Scouts' national policy allows gay leaders in the organization. Mr. Prol's description of the Scouts' historic position and his blatant omission of their policy change leaves readers with the distinct impression that gay adults still can't serve as Scout leaders. Not so.

But there's more. On Feb. 1, 2019, the Boy Scouts of America opened their doors to girls. As an Eagle Scout and a father of three daughters, I was ecstatic. In the past 10 months, my daughters and their friends have met with national and local government officials to learn about challenges our country and local communities face, toured Gettysburg, hiked Mount Marcy in the Adirondacks, navigated a raft through white water rapids, pitched a tent in the dark in the rain, built a fire with flint and steel, saved the lives of an elderly rafter and a disoriented hiker, worked with EMS personnel to teach first aid skills to children, participated in environmental restoration projects, harvested crops for the hungry in Morris County, and made many, many, many friends.

In the 30-plus years I've been involved with the organization, I have yet to see the bigotry and discrimination Mr. Prol seems eager to smear the Scouts with. This is what I have seen—laughter and tears, triumphs and challenges, new friends and new faces, and lots and lots of smiles. That's the legacy of Scouting, and that's the future of our country. (And to any sponsors and potential sponsors out there, it's worth every penny!) But don't take my word for it. Come see for yourself. Gay or straight, the door's always open. We meet in Morristown on Tuesday night.

Stephen F. Herbes is an Eagle Scout and Assistant General Counsel at Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A.