When you consider that the real crimes of Sodom & Gomorah are discussed in other books of the Bible and described as inhospitality and literal highway robbery (confiscating trade goods or demanding "protection money") and failing to care for the poor and sick residents withing the two cities, well maybe the sodom-like merit badge has been there for years.
I was happy to retire from Boy Scouts when I came out. I had been a District Merit Badge Coordinator and the number of churchified parents getting their nose out of joint because a merit badge counselor actually made the kids work for the badge and did not put up with bull hocky was quite large. Oh my have I got some stories there. The parents never called me to bellyach before 10:00 PM, and I was on the phone many nights until the next morning, especially if the brat's 18th birthday was within two days.
