Scout's
Honor (2001)
When I was young, my mother had this clipping from
"Dear Abby" on the refrigerator. I don't remember it
word for word but it made a lasting impression on me.
To paraphrase: When the Nazis came for the Gypsies,
I did not speak out because I was not a Gypsy. When
the Nazis came for the homosexuals, I did not speak
out because I was not a homosexual. When the Nazis came
for the Jews, I did not speak out because I was not
a Jew... When the Nazis came for me, there was no one
left to speak out for me...
This is the message of "Scout's Honor." With that
title and knowing this is a gay film, a documentary,
it is pretty simple to deduce the theme of the movie.
This is about the fight to allow homosexuals to take
part in the Boy Scouts of America organization. Now,
I am not likening the BSA to Nazism. In fact, this film
makes it pretty clear that the BSA is an exemplary organization.
Anyone who knows the struggle this country has in keeping
our youth thoughtful and moral knows how important an
organization like the BSA is in helping to develop good
male citizens. We want every boy in America who wants
to be a scout to be able to join.
Fact is, they can. But once a scout or a scout leader
identifies himself as "homosexual," then they are ousted
from the group. When young scout Steve Cozza found out
about this, he organized Scouting for All, an organization
working to change the BSA's unwritten rule about not
allowing homosexuals into the organization. Steve is
not gay himself but he has a mentor, a youth leader
in his church, who is.
What we see here is Steve's extraordinary and unflinching
courage. I have never seen a young person with such
conviction, valiancy and fortitude. This young man does
not give up. The film follows him for a few years, from
the time he is about 14-15 until he is 18 or 19. It
begins with his grassroots petition campaign when he
is young and continues, as he grows up, climaxing with
a wonderful speech he gives at a gay rally in DC.
Through it all, Steve is just a normal kid. Yes, he
is caught up in a fight that often brings the media
to his door making him a spokesperson. And he plays
out this duty admirably. But there are also moving and
heart-stopping moments where he becomes just a simple
boy, gently fighting off his mother's affection or speaking
about the way other young men treat him because of his
crusade. In speaking out for gay rights, as a self-proclaimed
heterosexual himself. Steve finds out what it is like
to be gay, to be ostracized, to be called names, to
be picked on. And through it all he does not flinch.
He does not question his belief. He never wavers. It's
extraordinary.
There are other stories in the film as well including
two out young men who have taken the BSA to court to
overturn their ousting from the group. And there is
Dave Rice, an older gentleman, himself a heterosexual,
a Scout leader who helped work with Scouting for All.
He loves scouting and his stories of his youth in scouting,
accompanied by old footage of scouts camping, are wonderful.
Rice was eventually dismissed from the organization
for his belief that every boy, gay or straight, should
be allowed the chance to partake in scouting.
While I watched "Scout's Honor," I thought about the
few times I was a Scout and how much I hated it. I never
fit in as a child and Scouts didn't fulfill any needs
I had. But I still believe that it should be open to
any boy who wants to partake in the group. That's obvious.
I also thought about "choice" versus "genetics." Homosexuals
are seemingly constantly fighting the nature versus
nurture argument with genetics often being cited as
the reason someone "is" gay. I don't know if I fully
believe this. I think I was born gay, yes. But my nurturing,
the parenting I received certainly allowed me to accept
myself for who I was. I think when religious zealots
suggest that we "choose" homosexuality, they are partially
right. What we choose is to be ourselves, to accept
ourselves, to allow ourselves to live unashamed of who
we are. We make a choice to be open, honest, forthright
and accepting of ourselves. We make a choice not to
lie, deceive and cheat. This is our "choice." We accept
ourselves. Steve Cozza made a choice too. He chose to
accept gays as normal. He chose to fight for what he
believed in. He chose to keep his faith no matter what
the obstacles, no matter what others said. He is courageous
and brave and a good citizen. He is a good Scout, possibly
the most exemplary Scout to be found in America. More
than that, Steve Cozza is a great American.
Note:
Directed by Tom Shepard
Winner of the "Freedom of Expression Award" and the
"Audience Award for Best documentary" at Sundance 2001.
|
Report
Card
Content:
A+
Completeness: A+
Cinematography\Lighting: A+
Special Effects\Make Up:A+
Music: A+
Final
Grade: A+
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