Boy Scouts Vote To Allow Gay Troops

BREAKING: Boy Scouts of America will end a ban on openly gay scouts. Gay adults are still not permitted to serve as scout leaders.

The Boy Scouts of America voted 61% to 39% to allow openly gay young men to become members in the 103-year-old organization. Representatives from troops across America agreed to lift the ban during their annual meeting in Grapevine, Texas.

The resolution only concerned gay youths -- young men under the age of 18 -- who wish to join the Boy Scouts. Homosexual men cannot be Scout Leaders and, as it now stands, a young man who wished to remain in the Scouts once he turned 18 would be forced out. Critics of the resolution fear that the admittance of youths will soon lead to another measure allowing adult membership.

Boy Scouts of America annual meeting attendees first tweeted that the resolution had passed.

Began with prayer. Proposed resolution on membership resolution passes.

Todd L. Moody

@ToddMoodyEsq

Began with prayer. Proposed resolution on membership resolution passes.

The BSA membership proposal passed. 61% to 39%. @MSignorile #overwhelmed

Dr. Töntig Fox, Esq.

@the_zachalope

The BSA membership proposal passed. 61% to 39%. @MSignorile #overwhelmed

/ Via

Boy #Scout membership resolution passes 61-38; eliminates sexual orientation as youth membership criterion. #BSA

Longhouse Council

@CNYScouts

Boy #Scout membership resolution passes 61-38; eliminates sexual orientation as youth membership criterion. #BSA

/ Via

#BoyScouts vote to allow gay youth. We continue working to end the ban on gay parents and leaders http://t.co/u93AYHXOPc

GLAAD

@glaad

#BoyScouts vote to allow gay youth. We continue working to end the ban on gay parents and leaders http://t.co/u93AYHXOPc

/ Via

The Boy Scouts released an official statement about the decision:

For 103 years, the Boy Scouts of America has been a part of the fabric of this nation, with a focus on working together to deliver the nation's foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training.

Based on growing input from within the Scouting family, the BSA leadership chose to conduct an additional review of the organization's long-standing membership policy and its impact on Scouting's mission. This review created an outpouring of feedback from the Scouting family and the American public, from both those who agree with the current policy and those who support a change.

Today, following this review, the most comprehensive listening exercise in Scouting's history the approximate 1,400 voting members of the Boy Scouts of America's National Council approved a resolution to remove the restriction denying membership to youth on the basis of sexual orientation alone. The resolution also reinforces that Scouting is a youth program, and any sexual conduct, whether heterosexual or homosexual, by youth of Scouting age is contrary to the virtues of Scouting. A change to the current membership policy for adult leaders was not under consideration; thus, the policy for adults remains in place. The BSA thanks all the national voting members who participated in this process and vote.

This policy change is effective Jan. 1, 2014, allowing the Boy Scouts of America the transition time needed to communicate and implement this policy to its approximately 116,000 Scouting units.

The Boy Scouts of America will not sacrifice its mission, or the youth served by the movement, by allowing the organization to be consumed by a single, divisive, and unresolved societal issue. As the National Executive Committee just completed a lengthy review process, there are no plans for further review on this matter.

While people have different opinions about this policy, we can all agree that kids are better off when they are in Scouting. Going forward, our Scouting family will continue to focus on reaching and serving youth in order to help them grow into good, strong citizens. America's youth need Scouting, and by focusing on the goals that unite us, we can continue to accomplish incredible things for young people and the communities we serve.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints responded today with the following statement:

For the past 100 years, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has enjoyed a strong relationship with Boy Scouts of America, based on our mutual interest in helping boys and young men understand and live their duty to God and develop upright moral behavior. As the Church moves forward in its association with the Boy Scouts of America, Church leaders will continue to seek the most effective ways to address the diverse needs of young people in the United States and throughout the world.

The Church's long-established policy for participation in activities is stated in the basic instructional handbook used by lay leaders of the Church: "young men … who agree to abide by Church standards" are "welcomed warmly and encouraged to participate" (Handbook 2: Administering the Church [2010], 8.17.3). This policy applies to Church-sponsored Scout units. Sexual orientation has not previously been—and is not now—a disqualifying factor for boys who want to join Latter-day Saint Scout troops. Willingness to abide by standards of behavior continues to be our compelling interest.

These standards are outlined in the booklet For the Strength of Youth and include abstinence from sexual relationships. We remain firmly committed to upholding these standards and to protecting and strengthening boys and young men.

The Church appreciates BSA's reaffirmation of its commitment to "duty to God," which includes service to others and moral behavior—central principles of our teaching to young men. As in the past, the Church will work with BSA to harmonize what Scouting has to offer with the varying needs of our young men. We trust that BSA will implement and administer the approved policy in an appropriate and effective manner.

Skip to footer