The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) have officially ended its longstanding ban on gay scout leaders.
The national ban ends immediately and allows previously removed leaders to reapply for their positions.
Last week, a BSA's executive committee unanimously just voted to get rid of the organization’s ban on gay adult leaders and volunteers, paving the way for the organization to become as inclusive for adults as it is for youth.
The new policy will not prevent church-led groups from choosing adult leaders based on their beliefs.
However, to gain the acquiescence of conservative religious groups that sponsor many packs and troops, like the Mormon and Roman Catholic Churches, the policy will allow church-run units to pick leaders who agree with their moral precepts.
Remember that BSA lifted a ban on gay youth in 2013.
Congrats Boy Scouts of America, you have finally got it!
April 2013:
Scouts for Equality collected almost 2.000.000 signatures to ending ban
April 2015:
NY Boy Scouts defy national ban hiring a gay leader
May 2015:
BSA's President affirmed time of ban was over
July 2015:
Equality is finally a reality in BSA
This is great. I was a cub scout master for a few years, and it became too stressful worrying they would find out that I am gay.
ReplyDeleteI used to be a boy scout when I was growing up in New York City. The only problem was we could not exactly take camping trips in Central Park, and identifying "wildlife" was limited to little animals running down in the subway tracks (lets not go there). I did learn how to tie a cool knot though and how to pick locks with safety pins on the side from the other scouts, even though that was not a recognized Scouting activity that could earn you a merit badge!
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