The executive committee of the Boy Scouts of America have voted to remove the gay Scout leaders ban just after the US Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in a landmark judgment.
After years of debate, Boy Scouts finally allowed gay Scouts to be a part of the organization in 2013 while overturning a precedent which has been in place since the group was formed. But the option had not been extended to gay adults who wanted to serve as troop leaders or scoutmasters.
One of the reasons for this dispute was the deep religious ties of the organization. The Mormon Church was the 1st to sponsor Scouting throughout the US. Around 70% of all Scout units are currently sponsored by various churches.
Robert Gates, the president of BSA and a former Secretary of Defense for the US had asked the organization to re-examine the ban earlier this year.
He noted the quickly changing landscape as far as LGBT rights were concerned and also pointed to individual troops in the association that had gay leaders thus defying national rules.
A legal memo which was prepared by Hughes Hubbard and Reed recommended that the best way for the BSA to protect their religious freedom in the organization would be by affirming that any religious chartered organization can select adult leaders depending on religious beliefs.
An Eagle Scout, Zach Wahls, who is the head of Scouts for Equality, an advocacy group, said that this recent vote is a giant step in the right direction for the BSA.
The national executive board is going to meet on the 27th of July in order to determine whether they ratify this decision or not.
The BSA is a 105 year old group and is among the largest youth organizations throughout the country. They have around 2.6 million young members & 1 million adults. They provide outdoor activities, community service opportunities and educational programs for boys as well as young men.
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What I sent to the BSA:
Your organization “used to be” the standard for ethics and a place outside of ecclesiastical organizations where the proper attitudes and behavior for a man of class would be taught to impressionable young men. Can you possibly imagine what the great men of this country’s history would say about your choice? You were one of the last bastions of decency that stood their ground in the wake of so much depravity that becomes more legitimized each day. You have disappointed me to my core and I worry more now for the future of my son and the millions of other boys his age.
There’s a ban on gay leaders like there’s a ban on females, same reason. So, if they allow gay leaders, does that mean they can sponsor a float in the gay pride parade in NYC? Would parents be ok with their kids dressed up as fairies in g strings with dildo necklaces or is that too much?
And so, the Boy Scouts puts a bullet in its own head. For everything there is a season. A time to be born, and a time to die. The B.S. has decided to sacrifice itself on the altar of political correctness.