A year's worth of deep dives

When I launched paid subscriptions for this newsletter a year ago, I promised an additional post each month—a deep dive on policy, or a guest essay, or an interview with an expert.

Looking back on those past 12 posts, I’m really proud of what I’ve been able to dig up and share with my (lovely, incredible, very generous) paid subscribers. Today I’m rounding up those deep dives, in case you missed them or want to revisit them:

• September 2021: Winning inclusion in America's most important institutions / Sasha Issenberg, author of a new book on same-sex marriage, talks to me about how gay activists convinced a majority of Americans to let them into the most important institutions of American life.
• October 2021: Inside the new Scouts BSA task force for diversity, equity and inclusion / Kaleen Deatherage, leader of the new 12-person group, wants the BSA to be a place where all youth are not simply invited, but welcomed.
• November 2021: Guest Essay: What’s Past Can Be Prologue / How can Scouting making amends for the harm it has caused to marginalized communities? Sam Aronson argues that it starts with being honest about that harm, but also includes celebrating our heroes.
• December 2021: An expert analysis of the Citizenship in Society merit badge / An inclusion strategist offers critique (and solutions) on the Boy Scouts' attempt to incorporate diversity, equity and inclusion work into its program for youth.
• January 2022: A failed policy compromise, 20 years later / In 2001, the presidents of nine major metropolitan Boy Scout councils proposed a way forward on the gay membership policy. Their solution was not adopted, and their dire predictions came true.
• February 2022: A difference in DNA / The Boy Scouts of America is fundamentally different than the Girl Scouts of the USA — and not because of gender. Chartering organizations have shaped the BSA in a way that has lasting impacts.
• April 2022: A conversation with Garfield Murden, national director of Scouts BSA / "Don't give up on us. Remember why it is that you joined the program. Help out in any way that you feel possible. There are many youth that need the support."
• May 2022: A deeper look at two affinity spaces planned for this summer's NOAC / The conference will feature programming for the LGBTQ+ community, scouts of color, scouts with disabilities, and women in Scouting. Here's what to expect.
• June 2022: A deeper look at the Scouts with Disabilities space planned for NOAC / “We want everyone to have that fun, dignified experience, and be able to do it and enjoy it," says Eleanor Philips, the adult adviser for the space.
• July 2022: A preview of the Scouts of Color space planned for NOAC / "We need to make sure that everyone feels like they have a space here, and that they can bring their whole selves to the space,” says lead adviser Rodrigo Córdova Rosado.
• August 2022: A conversation with LGBTQ+ former national officers / Preston Marquis, Taylor Bobrow, Dwayne Fontenette and Zach Schonfeld shared their experiences during a panel discussion at the National Order of the Conference.
• September 2022: A behind-the-scenes book update / Writing, it turns out, has not been the most challenging part of writing a book.

And if you’re not a paid subscriber, well, what are you waiting for?

You can become one or upgrade your existing subscription below, for access to all of the juicy content I’ve just listed. Doing so helps me keep the bulk of this newsletter free for everyone else, and funds more ambitious reporting in the future.