Despite meeting all of the requirements to obtain an Eagle Scout award, Boy Scout Troop 212 refused to grant Ryan Andresen the honor because of his sexual orientation. Andresen spent nearly ten years completing the requirements to reach the level of Eagle, which includes attaining five ranks, earning 21 merit badges, serving six months in a leadership position, and finishing a community service project, in order to get his badge before the cut off date of his 18th birthday (James).
Andresen first came out to his parents when he was 16 years old but has never officially released the information to the Boy Scouts, who do not actively ask for the sexual orientation of their members. However, this summer Andresen addressed the troop leaders in a letter detailing a bullying incident that had previously occurred because he "thought he could help." In the letter, he confirmed their suspicions that he was gay (James). .
For his community service project, Andresen proposed completing a "tolerance wall," an idea close to his heart after the years of hazing he endured during middle school and at Boy Scout summer camp, where other kids often called him "Tinkerbell" and "faggot" (James).
"I had no idea what gay was at that point," said Andresen of the abuse he endured, citing a particular example of having "fag" written in charcoal on his chest. "It was really embarrassing and humiliating. And I was terrified" (James). .
After finding out through his letter that Andresen was gay, the Boy Scout troop refused to approve his "tolerance wall." The scoutmaster specifically approached Andresen's father, who had taken on the role of chief administrator with the troop to help ease the bullying of his son, to tell him he would not sign off on the project because of his son's sexuality, despite the fact that he had previously given his approval (James).
"He was in love with my project," said Andresen of Rainer Del Valle, the scoutmaster of Troop 212.
