Today’s issue of The New York Times features a nice story by Kirk Johnson highlighting the Boy Scouts of America about a year after their historic vote to allow gay scouts while banning gay leaders. I contributed some photos here in Seattle, while the main character – a gay Eagle Scout who will be banned after he turns 18, was photographed by Drew Angerer in the DC area. My job in Seattle was to document Troop 98, whose gay leader was banned and whose sponsoring church was also banned after it refused to remove that leader, Geoff McGrath.
Pictures are below; thanks for looking. You can read the story online here.
Seattle Troop 98 members Adrian Benitez, right, and Angel Arvizu, second from right, joke around while they wait for their father, Kevin Reed, center, who adopted the boys with his husband, while he chats with the Rev. Dr. Monica K. Corsaro, left, after a troop meeting at Rainier Beach United Methodist Church in Seattle, Washington on April 24, 2014. The Boy Scouts of America recently revoked the church’s charter and banned the troop’s leader, Geoff McGrath, because he is gay, and this meeting was the first to take place since the church’s charter was revoked.
Seattle Troop 98 member Jon Mimura stands for a portrait with the logo for the troop, which he designed, at Rainier Beach United Methodist Church in Seattle, Washington on April 24, 2014. The Boy Scouts of America recently revoked the church’s charter and banned the troop’s leader, Geoff McGrath, because he is gay, which leaves an uncertain future for Troop 98.
From left, Seattle Troop 98 Assistant Scoutmasters Andrew Vose, Adrian Cowens, and Donovan O’Brien are pictured after a troop meeting at Rainier Beach United Methodist Church in Seattle, Washington on April 24, 2014.
A rainbow illuminates the sky during a meeting of Seattle Boy Scout Troop 98 at Rainier Beach United Methodist Church in Seattle, Washington on April 24, 2014.
Seattle Troop 98 members Adrian Benitez, left, and Angel Arvizu wait for their father, Kevin Reed, who has adopted the boys with his husband, while leaving a troop meeting at Rainier Beach United Methodist Church in Seattle, Washington on April 24, 2014.
The Rev. Dr. Monica K. Corsaro stands for a portrait at Rainier Beach United Methodist Church in Seattle, Washington on April 24, 2014.
Badges adorn the uniform of Seattle Troop 98 Assistant Scoutmaster Donovan O’Brien after a troop meeting at Rainier Beach United Methodist Church in Seattle, Washington on April 24, 2014.
The Rev. Dr. Monica K. Corsaro, center, stands for a portrait with Seattle Troop 98 Assistant Scoutmasters Adrian Cowens, left, and Donovan O’Brien, right, at Rainier Beach United Methodist Church in Seattle, Washington on April 24, 2014.