The New York Times Magazine, Sunday, August 22 - Unauthorized ...

Camping Lessons
Francais" badge and got out of there.
Wasn't there also a "Troubador"
badge?
You know, I learned my appreciation
for show tunes and cabaret no place
other than the Boy Scouts of America.
There were more skits in drag and
campfire songs than in any gay bar
that I've ever been in. But it takes a
while to perfect those skills. Actually,
I became more and more valuable in
the program as I got older. Most kids
drop out at 13, 14 -- cars, girls, you
know, whatever the average
heterosexual boy is interested in. But I
was being recruited by troops to be the
older Scout, a role model. I was
always picked on a lot in school, but
the Boy Scouts was a community that
accepted me, welcomed me, gave me
positive reinforcement.
Photograph by Ashkan Sahihi
Now you live in New York, world capital of jaded, world-weary anomie. Have you
ever had to be in the closet about being a Scout? Have you ever walked into a
party and thought: "People can be very intolerant. I'd better not act scouty."
I remember running into my first jaded New Yorker at my first
job. He would constantly make fun of me because I couldn't
quote Bette Davis or Elizabeth Taylor films. I went and rented
each and every one of those gosh-darn films -- well, I don't want
to swear. Even the fact that I can joke about this is proving your
point.
And did you memorize the films? How's your Elizabeth Taylor?
"I am not a whore, Mama!" "Butterfield 8."
Related Article
New Jersey Court Overturns
Ouster of Gay Boy Scout
(Aug. 5)
You quoted the movie like a true Boy Scout; the actual line is, "I was the slut of all time!" I think
you have an internal V-chip. But tell me, how much of your life has your legal crusade taken
over? Does it play a role in your relationships?
I wouldn't necessarily say that it caused the demise of my last major relationship, but it didn't
help. I see this case as an important community thing. I tremendously believe in the value of
community. And I don't think that my boyfriend viewed it in the same light. He viewed the
victory as "Good for you!" instead of "Good for us."
What about your family? Your brother is a former Scout, right? And he's gay?
http://www.nytimes.com/library/magazine/home/19990822mag-gay-scout.html (2 of 3) [8/22/1999 9:58:19 PM]
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