Although Logan Blythe’s family recently dropped its lawsuit against the Boy Scouts of America, don’t expect the 15-year-old to put his uniform back on anytime soon.
Logan’s dad, Chad, says his son still isn’t ready to return to Scouting.
“If he changes his mind, or is so inclined to try it after all this, which will probably be in July or August after the Special Olympics is done for the year, we’ll pick it up then. But as it stands right now, it’s pretty much a moot issue,” Chad Blythe said.
The Blythes, of Payson, sued the Boy Scouts in March, asking for at least $1 and for Logan to be accommodated and and reinstated in the Scouts, after the boy’s Eagle Scout project was suspended because Logan hadn’t completed the merit badge requirements to qualify for the award “as written,” the family has said.
The family said Logan couldn’t meet the requirements exactly because of his limited verbal skills and other developmental delays.
Attorneys for the family announced Wednesday that they had agreed to drop the lawsuit after meeting with Boy Scouts of America representatives, who said they still recognize his merit badges and would help Logan earn the Eagle Scout award.
In addition to providing resources for Logan, after the conversation with the Blythes, it appears the Scouts have taken down a link on their website referencing Scouting documents that use the word “retarded.”
The word was used in a definition for the term “moderate cognitive disabilities” in a document titled, “Guide to Working With Scouts With Special Needs and DisABILITIES.”
The Boy Scouts of America did not respond to The Salt Lake Tribune’s request on Thursday for comment about that and any other changes.
But the group released a statement Wednesday saying, “Moving forward, we are committed to avoiding this type of misunderstanding and will take appropriate steps to ensure it is known that Scouts with disabilities are welcome, celebrated and empowered through Scouting.”
As of Thursday, Logan doesn’t seem to want the Boy Scouts’ help to get the Eagle Scout award. Since his project was suspended, he hasn’t wanted to put on or even look at his uniform.
(Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune) Chad Blythe and his son Logan, 15, embrace during an interview at VF Law in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 16, 2018.
Instead of Scouting, Chad Blythe said his son would focus on the Special Olympics. Logan recently took home a silver medal for basketball, and was intent on placing in the competition’s swimming and water events this summer.
Once that’s over, Chad Blythe said he’s not sure what Logan will choose.
Scout officials apparently told Chad Blythe that his son could apply for the Eagle Scout award with the project the Blythes pitched (which was approved and then declined) in November.
Chad Blythe said he and his son have already done the project, which included delivering kits to a local hospital to help parents of newborns. All that is left to now now is paperwork — if Logan is still interested.
“We’ll kind of take a look at it at that point, as well, and we’ll see how he feels about it all,” Chad Blythe said. “That’s going to be the big question.”
