Excellent article, from Newweek. As one who was abused by the scoutmaster, for 2 years sexual and then mental abuse by telling me am and never will be a good leader for the next 15 years. I have also witnessed done to others. Pushing boys out of the troop if it looked like they were nit going to make Eagle Scout. I was the exception to that rule. I wanted to be just like the scoutmaster FJ. I grow a mustache, becomes very heavy, ran a company, was liked by all the boys etc. But I did not sexual abuse any of the scouts. That did mean I did not have my share of problems, FJ covered them.up out of fear I would tell on him what he did. My problems had to do with setting fires. Which he knew about and covered up including an arrest when I was 17 years old.
It wad not for an other 14 years later they asked me to leave quotes for being GAY. When I did not they fired me claiming gays were not allow to be asst. Scoutmasters.
When I tired to complain about it and then tell my story about being abused at the hands of the scoutmaster who by now became an icon in NYC sounding. I was told to go away or i.be suited and brought up on charges for abuse when.i was 14. They turned the table around and claimed I abused others when I was 14. When the facts was the Scoutmaster FJ did it to us 8 members at the same time while he watched. So I left quietly though I had a nervous breakdown. Ending in be hospitalized .
Years later when I heard the scoutmaster deid, I know it was over and I no longer was able to explain myself any more.
It's only this past 1 year now 26 years after i.left the troop, that I learned and understood that all my behavior problems were based on the abuse I suffered from. Not just in Scoutting but from others as well.
Thanks to these space for helping me deal with and understanding my abuse and helping me heal from it
