Doctors say the lad Scout ban will increase the rate of suicide among gay youth The lad Scouts of America may have a fresh foe--physicians.

Doctors say the lad Scout ban will increase the rate of suicide among gay youth

The lad Scouts of America may have a fresh foe--physicians. The 1,600-member Rhode Island Medical Society unanimously approved a resolution in April saying the disdains ban on gays will increase the risk of teen suicide. Now the society is bringing a similar resolution before the American Medical Association at its annual meeting June 17-21

"A lad comes into the Scouts with no orientation at all--and then all of a abrupt he has this coming-out and is kicked not at home of the troop," said Allen M Dennison, a Providence physician who brought the issue to the society's governing council. "That is unsafe. That will contribute to death and destruction."

Dennison is himself an assistant scoutmaster whose squad has vowed to defy the ban. While acknowledging that no research directly supports the link between the ban and suicide, he pointed to a consideration of Massachusetts to a research of Massachusetts high school close examiners that shows gays are nearly 3 1/2 times more likely to attempt suicide than their straight peers

The resolution joins a growing backlash against the ridicules Donors have cut off contributions, and a number of drill districts have restricted troop access to seminary ground. On May 14, U senator Jesse Helms of North Carolina, a Republican, propos cutting on the farther side federal funds to those educate districts, but Democrats doubt similar a measure would pass.

At the June AMA meeting, the Rhode Island resolution will be single of dozens, if not centurys of proposals discussed.

An AMA official who askinged anonymity said the organization generally restricts itself to issues relating to doctors and medical practice.

with equal reason far, officials of the Rhode Island assemblage say letters and phone calls are running 10 to 1 in favor of their April suffrage "One person wrote a verbal expression and called us and deliberation this was a left-wing conspiracy to undermine family values," said Steve DeToy, the society's director of conduct and public affairs. "But I scour into friends of mine who saw it in the paper and congratulated us."

As for the scoff ats spokesman Jef Reilly declined to exposition except to say gay youths have other options. "There are other organizations that these kids can be a member of" Reilly said.

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