GREENVILLE, SC (FOX Carolina) -
Michael Washington's son, Griffin, learned a little more than swinging a baseball Tuesday afternoon.
Washington said it's important to teach his son about teamwork, patience and character.
"I think everybody should be treated equally, we're all God's children," Washington said.
He said maybe one day his son will even become a member of the Boy Scouts of America, but right now, he doesn't agree with their membership policy.
"I don't see what it has to do with their character," he said.
He believes members with the Boy Scouts of America aren't being fair. A couple of years ago, Scout executives decided to evaluate their membership standards. The policy bans gays from becoming members and they decided to keep it that way.
"Our effort is to teach young people citizenship develop their character duty to God, country, respect for other folks," Mike Butler said.
Butler is a Scout executive with the Blue Ridge Council in Greenville.
"And we understand that others may have differing opinions than we do. We respect those opinions and we would ask them that they would respect our position," Butler said.
The Chief Scout Executive, Bob Mazzuca, also released a statement.
"The vast majority of the parents of youth we serve value their right to address issues of same-sex orientation within their family, with spiritual advisers and at the appropriate time and at the appropriate time and in the right setting," Mazzuca said.
FOX Carolina asked others in the Upstate about the issue and Walter Tuttle agreed with the decision.
"I think they have the right to keep their rules like they have them," Tuttle said.
He said the Boy Scouts of America is doing what's best for the organization.
"I think they're an organization that has their rules and they shouldn't be forced to change their rules to suit other people," Tuttle said.
But Washington said he hopes when his son is old enough to join the Boy Scouts of America, Scout executives will change their minds.
"It's the new world order so things do change," Washington said.
Copyright 2012 FOX Carolina (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved.
A Boy Scouts uniform on display at the Blue Ridge Council in Greenville. (July 17, 2012/FOX Carolina)
