Boy Scouts of American allow gay adult group leaders; still allow local groups to ban them

By John Mack Freeman

The Boy Scouts of America recently voted to allow gay adults to serve as group leaders within the organization. However, the BSA also approved allowing local groups to ban gay adults from serving in their local areas. Via Reuters:

The new policy, which takes effect immediately, comes three years after the organization removed its prohibition on gay youth, but local Boy Scout units chartered by religious organizations will still be permitted to exclude gay adults from volunteering as den leaders, scoutmasters or camp counselors.

The latest move was widely seen as being aimed at quelling a backlash against the Boy Scouts amid declining membership and the threat of litigation, while addressing concerns of religious institutions that account for about 70 percent of the 100,000-plus Boy Scout units nationwide.

The rest are chartered to civic groups and educational organizations.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the largest of all Boy Scout sponsors, said in a statement it was “deeply troubled” by the move and said the Mormons’ “century-long association with Scouting will need to be examined.”

The resolution implementing the change was backed by 79 percent of the National Executive Board members voting and present on Monday, the Boy Scouts said. The organization’s executive committee had unanimously recommended adoption of the new policy on July 13, citing a “sea change in the law with respect to gay rights.”