Boy Scouts of America votes to end national ban on gay leaders

The Boy Scouts of America is expected to end its blanket ban on gay leaders Monday (July 27). The change will become official policy if it’s ratified by the organization’s 80-member board, which is expected to vote Monday.

The Boy Scouts has seen a steady decline in membership in recent years. Church-based units may “continue to choose adult leaders whose beliefs are consistent with their own, ” according to a statement that the Scouts top executives sent this month to regional board members. “It doesn’t mean the Mormons have to pick a gay scoutmaster, but please don’t tell the Unitarians they can’t”. Some 70 percent of Boy Scout troops are run by faith-based groups, many from orthodox communities including Mormons, Catholics, Southern Baptists and Muslims who do not accept gay equality.

Gates, who oversaw the repeal of the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy during his tenure as U.S. Secretary of Defense, used a speech at the Boy Scouts’ annual national meeting this year to call on the organization to repeal the ban on openly gay adults.

In May, Gates referenced possible legal conflicts and internal debates – like the one in the Greater New York Council, which hired an openly gay camp leader in April – if the group didn’t change its policy, global Business Times previously reported.

But Boies added: “I think this will be a way station on the road to full equality, ” and he questioned whether the exemption for religious sponsors could endure.

This middle-of-the-road arrangement has caused some outlets to view this as less than a total victory for gay rights. “Any resolution adopted by the Boy Scouts of America regarding leadership in Scouting must continue to affirm that right”.

Yet many in the Boy Scouts remained uncomfortable with the decision to ban gay troop leaders and counselors.

“We must, at all costs, preserve the religious freedom of our church partners to do this”, Gates said.