Awesome Boy Scout Troop Leader and His Son Pass Out Pizza to Gay Couples Waiting to Get Married

Awesome Boy Scout Troop Leader and His Son Pass Out Pizza to Gay Couples Waiting to Get Married

by John Prager

After a federal judge in Utah ruled that same-sex couples have the "fundamental right" to marry the person they love, hundreds of same sex couples lined up around the block in Salt Lake City, Utah awaiting marriage licenses. County workers skipped their lunch breaks to accommodate the rush of people who finally had the option to marry the ones they loved.

If that scene was not beautiful enough, they were visited by a Boy Scout troop leader and his 14 year-old son, an Eagle Scout. The pair greeted the waiting couples and workers who sacrificed their time to make dreams come true with the gift of Little Caesar's pizza. Peter Brownstein and son passed out 10 pizzas, slice by slice, to the crowd.

Brownstein has been a longtime advocate of equality within the Boy Scouts organization, regularly acting as an advocate for acceptance of all men and boys into the Scouts -- no matter who they love. Last June, he was reprimanded for attending a gay pride parade in uniform and had the activities of his troop suspended.

"We are very disappointed that you used Scouting to advance the gay agenda," wrote Bry Davis, council president, and Rick Barnes, Scout executive.

Brownstein argues that his actions supported no agenda. The parade was a celebration of cultural diversity, and he chose to participate. He says that he and his son's decision to feed a crowd of hungry people is no different -- they simply provided a service.  "I would say that it's meant to show what true Scouting values are -- of thinking of others and helping others and not being selective about who you are helping," said Brownstein. The United Jewish Federation of Utah, the former sponsor, suspended the troop's activities.

Brownstein's Troop 351 is still without a sponsor, and Brownstein said that despite that this action will not necessarily help with that, he would do it again "in a heartbeat." His one regret is that he did not get more pizza. There was none left for him.

John Prager