Boys still sexually abused by Scout volunteers despite reforms, arrest suggests
He played Santa Claus at a charity Christmas breakfast. He volunteered at tree plantings and neighborhood clean-ups. He worked the pancake breakfast to raise money for Boy Scout programs in low-income Long Beach schools.
“I love to help,” says Lewis Brownson’s Facebook page by way of introduction.
Brownson, 43, has been feted in the city’s “Sparks of Change Neighborhood Leadership Program” for his contributions and hard work. But, in an agonizingly common twist, the Boy Scout leader was arrested June 16 on two counts of lewd acts upon a child under age 14, with an allegation of multiple victims, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
“The Boy Scouts say they’ve put safeguards in place, that abuse is a problem of the past,” said Andrew VanArsdale, a lead attorney with AbusedInScouting.com. “But we represent the families of children who were abused in the past year, the past two years.
“If the Boy Scouts of America has proven anything over its history, it’s that they allowed this to happen and never cared enough to stop it.”
So far, AIS represents more than 4,500 men and boys who say they were abused in Scouting. The oldest is 93. The youngest is 8.
Filed for bankruptcy
The iconic, national Boy Scouts of America filed for bankruptcy in February as hundreds of lawsuits piled up from men who said they were sexually abused by BSA Scoutmasters and volunteers as children. The bankruptcy court set a Nov. 16 deadline for men to file a notice of claims against the organization, or lose the right to seek redress.
“The fact that there’s a bar date just a couple of months out that forever cuts off the accountability of the BSA is one of the most important things we need to think about right now,” said Mike Reck, an attorney with Jeff Anderson & Associates, which represents hundreds of alleged victims. “That’s a very important date for survivors.”
Stepping forward is excruciatingly difficult for many men, who’ve been carrying their pain and shame in silence for decades, the attorneys say. Only a small percentage of victims will likely come forward, but there can be great relief — and perhaps a measure of justice — from speaking out.
“I remember the terror,” said Gill Gayle, 58, an actor and producer in Los Angeles who said he was abused by two Scout leaders in Tennessee as a boy. “There was this fear of being discovered, so everything from that moment forward really became, ironically, about creating a way to protect what happened. I didn’t want anyone to find out. Ever. No matter wh...
Winter Appeal 2023
To our friends,
2023 has been a long year with many ups and downs for us all. As we close out the year, we at SNAP hope that you are feeling like you are on your way to being healthy, fulfilled, and happy. This past year has brought both successes and challenges. Thanks to the support you have shown in the past, we’ve been able to celebrate the good days and weather the stormy ones. Now, we are once again asking for your support as we work to support survivors new and old as we ‘Move SNAP Forward.’
At SNAP we are proud to have hosted a very well-attended conference in August 2023. This event allowed us to gather friends, survivors, advocates, and allies for a weekend of camaraderie and connection. We were so happy to be able to welcome many first-time attendees to gather in person and are already looking forward to the next conference.
To strengthen our movement for justice, healing, and prevention, SNAP will be expanding our peer support and providing more volunteer opportunities in the coming year. Through this great work, we are ensuring survivor voices are represented as we work for significant change that will benefit children and survivors.
Right now, survivors worldwide are getting the help they need from SNAP, and more and more reach out to us daily, but we need your help to keep those programs going and get our volunteers the training they need to thrive.
Your tax-deductible gift to SNAP can help offset the cost of our important mission. If you are not in a position to contribute, you can still support us by sharing this letter with those who can. As we continue to fight for survivors across the globe, your donation or sharing the great work SNAP does will help us continue our work to protect the vulnerable, heal the wounded, and prevent abuse.
Your donation ensures SNAP will be there for those who need us more than ever!
Warmly,
Michael W. McDonnell, C.P.S.
Interim Executive Director