Belong 2 linking up with Scouting Ireland. I feel this is extremely inappropriate

[Nonpoliticalmum]

Scouting Ireland is marching with Belong 2 in Dublin Pride. Given the historical background & legal cases within Scouting Ireland I do not feel comfortable with this. Surely scouting is supposed to be non political.
Parents pay huge membership fees, surely they should be consulted.
Also they are launching a "Rainbow Award" with Belong 2 according to their fb page which has comments turned off..

Scouting Irelands "Rainbow Award" in conjunction with Belong 2.
I feel this has no place in the Scouting Movement.

There are unsafe, non inclusive and unsupportive places all over the country. Why is it just LGBTaphabetsoup getting the publicity? I know it's Pride week, but that's my view. LGBTetc have the same rights as everyone else now. Thanks to their sterling work in ensuring that.

Enough already. Where's the straight week anyway?

As virtually anything can be described as political, what specifically do you object to?

I feel as Scouting Ireland is a children's organisation this is completely inappropriate.
Also the "Rainbow Award" which they are rolling out is completely & utterly not acceptable. Scouting is about giving back to the community & getting outdoors.
Why have Scouting Ireland linked up with Belong 2? As a parent of scouting kids this does not sit right with me.

@RiaOverTheRainbow I object to Scouting Ireland moving away from the core values of scouting which is about relishing the great out doors in a safe manner. My children are very young & I don't believe sexuality should be a topic of discussion in their Scouting Group. It is not OK with me. Also we are members of Scouting Ireland, I do not wish my children to have any associations with Belong 2.

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There are many LGBT+ scouts, and more with LGBT+ friends and family. I'm sure this isn't the only not-strictly-scouting event Scouting Ireland have participated in. It sounds like places are limited anyway so I'm sure no one will mind if your dc don't attend.

I understand what you are saying but kids should be allowed be kids. I don't think celebrating sexuality straight, gay or anything else has any place in children's activities. It is unnecessary.
Why can't they do an award for celebrating children with neurodiversity or integrating refugees children in the community. Both of those would be inclusive, celebrate diversity & would not need to have sexuality brought into scouting by organisations such as Belong 2.

an award for celebrating children with neurodiversity or integrating refugees children in the community

I think those are excellent ideas for awards! If you have any ideas for how to implement them you should contact Scouting Ireland.

I'm sure they could be implemented in the same way as the "Rainbow Award". It's all about celebrating inclusivity & diversity so I'm sure they could figure it out 😏

Why is acknowledging LGBT+ not appropriate for children ? You are aware that some children, volunteers and scout community are also from the LGBT+ community?

I assume the aim is to support scouts who are LGBT+ and show them they can be open in the scouting community 🤷‍♀️.

Its pride there will be activities throughout schools etc I have brought my children to the pride parade in Dublin since they were born.

And while LGBT+ share the same rights on paper I assume you are aware of horrific homophobic bullying statistics that impact on young people? That as a person of the LGBT+ community there are still spaces that it wouldn't be safe to be out, e.g. premiership football, it must be an amazing anomaly that the sport of thousands household names a teeny tiny fraction are gay?

Many of the children attending scouts will have gay parents or in fact be gay themselves. I wouldn't have a problem with this unless they started telling them they were born in the wrong body.

I agree that scouts should have a range of badges celebrating diversity though not just LGBT.

My children are very young & Pride is not celebrated in their school. I don't feel sexuality is an appropriate topic to cover in a child's activity group.
Why are Scouts getting involved with Belong 2?

If you are in Ireland then most schools mark Pride it is one of the DES commitments to inclusivity. The likelihood is statistically your child in school with a family from the LGBT community, why shouldn't they be acknowledged?

In very young primary it may be a story that references a family with same sex parents. Sexuality is simply acknowledgement of families from LGBT are equal, and that they may mean two mums two dads etc.

That message is in early years throughout our curriculum. It isn't sex education, so why on earth would it not be appropriate!

Yes I'm in Ireland & no my dc's school has not marked Pride & never did. I know of many schools who do & many who don't! It's a guideline not a commitment!
I am friends with gay couples who have kids who despise Pride & just want to get on with their lives. They would hate attention being drawn to them & their lovely family in front of the school community, they muddle along with the rest of us & are very much accepted as they should be. No need for rainbow fanfare!

Well there are obviously thousands of others who do want the fanfare, our school will be one of them which will have their own pride parade, where they will celebrate the community. Classes will represent a colour of the rainbow they will learn about the history aspect, human rights and identify any changes that would help them be more inclusive.

The older classes will study the horrific laws that exist today in some countries. They will cover historic Irish law that took generations to change here. My ten year old last year spoke at the assembly about the time he met Senator Norris who explained about the fight he took for equality. I find all of the above a wonderful piece of quality social history for children and completely age appropriate.

We will go to the parade and celebrate with our friends and family who are organising and taking part.

Enjoy yourself at the parade & well done to your son for his assembly speech.
However my point stands I do not belive that organisations like Scouts should be collaborating with organisations such a Belong 2 or TENI. An organisation focusing on neurodiversity, downs syndrome, refugee integration or climate change would be more appropriate.

Why would it be more appropriate? As appropriate maybe 🤷

All of the above should of course be included. But it is very important for young people who will be LGBT adults to see they are recognised also.

Surely those scouts would benefit from seeing a future ally, in an age appropriate way?

@Bluestarling many young children attend Scouts & I don't like the idea of a collaboration with Belong 2. Parents pay membership so should have been consulted.

Just because you don't like it doesn't make it wrong

Not necessarily. Children shoulfd be allowed to be children & enjoy their extracurriculars without sexuality being shoved into it.

Well my son is a scout and he has two mums. And we'll have our rainbow fanfare thank you. It'll do no harm to anyone !

@Bluestarling good for you. Enjoy. As a scouting parent were you consulted regarding the collaboration with Belong 2 & the Rainbow Award? I certainly wasn't, I saw it on Facebook.

I’m a scout leader and my kids are youth members. We have scouts, ventures and rovers who are quietly coming to terms with their homosexuality; scouts is a massive part of their lives so showing support at an organisational level is significant and makes a difference. These kids need to feel cocooned in support, I’m happy to see this because I know of specific LGB kids who will be very grateful.

inclusion isn’t shoving sexuality at child. You may want to explore why you think it is? Children knowing of the LGBTQ+ community doesn’t make them less children!

You seem to be equating sexuality with sex. That usually is a default of people who don’t appreciate how much heterosexual “norms” are thrown at children everyday.