In reply to Mr. Wattier’s letter concerning the Boy Scouts (Sept. 7):

While I commend you for giving your donation of money to a

youth program of your choice, I feel compelled to help you in

understanding some of the discrepancies voiced in your letter.

I agree that there is a host of challenging problems facing today’s

youth, and it is important to provide positive ethical and moral teachings.

However, for the Boy Scouts to deny gay youth those same opportunities, is to

deny them positive childhood experiences that should be afforded to all

youth equally.

We should wish to provide all youth alternatives to gangs, drugs

and violence, regardless of who they are. I also wish to point out that

organizations such as the KKK, neo-Nazis and the NRA, and also occupations

such as loggers, mink farmers and miners, are examples of things that people

do. Gay youth are, on the other hand, something that people are. To

exclude youth for who they are is wrong and is the issue here.

Julia Benson

Snoqualmie