The boys are finally taking a hint from the girls and letting more people up into their clubhouse.
The Boys Scouts of America’s 17-member executive committee voted unanimously last week to end the ban on gay adults acting as troop leaders. Now the motion will go before a meeting of the full 80-member executive board on July 27th, effective immediately if passed.
“This change allows Scouting’s members and parents to select local units, chartered to organizations with similar beliefs, that best meet the needs of their families,” a BSA statement said.
Two months ago, former US defense secretary and current president of BSA Robert Gates called for an end to the ban, warning Scout executives that “we must deal with the world as it is, not as we might wish it to be,” and that “any other alternative will be the end of us as a national movement.”
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A month before Gates’ comments, the Scouts’ New York chapter openly defied the ban by hiring 18-year-old Pascal Tessier as a camp counselor.
David Boies, a prominent lawyer in touch with Tessier at the time, said, “We hope that is the beginning of the end, if you will, of the policy nationwide.”
And while these are all wonderful overdue developments, chapters sponsored by churches — 70 percent of all troops — will remain able to continue with discriminatory hiring practices under Americas’s newly reclaimed favorite buzzwords: religious freedom.
“This change would also respect the right of religious chartered organizations to continue to choose adult leaders whose beliefs are consistent with their own,” the BSA statement continued.
The Girl Scouts, on the other hand, continue to kick major ass.
Ladbrook
Look for the religi-cons to keep a microscopic watch on ALL scout leaders in the coming years. All they’ll need is ONE gay-pedo to secure a position with a troop. Once they find him, they’ll use him to tar and feather the entire LGBT community.
Never mind the fact that we aren’t allowed to do the same when some straight guy rapes and murders 15 or 20 females. Straight privilege trumps everything.
Brian JC Kneeland
Until it is approved it means nothing!
jwtraveler
So bigoted parents will still be able to choose anti-gay chapters. The new rule just means that the chapters don’t HAVE TO discriminate against gay leaders. Baby steps.
BlueDude
Well, at least some of the LGBT parents will be able find the non-church-y troops, or even serve as counselors for their children.
DimAsAnEmber
Seems like this whole “religious freedom” thing is going to take time. Republicans have found another bulwark of the past to rally around, but it will crumble with time.
Robby Robinson
fix it jesus
DarkZephyr
We shall see.
RobvR
Even the “freedom of religion” argument will fade over the years. In the Netherlands it took more than ten years to get rid of the refuse-official (someone who refuses to marry gays because of his or her personal religious views). Just keep fighting the fundamentalists and you’ll be rewarded. If you’re not allowed to dicriminate when you’re an atheist then that should also apply to a christian, jew, etc. Christians are part of society, they don’t stand above it. They already did that for centuries. We know god doesn’t live in the clouds, now it’s the religious fanatics know they don’t either.
boblong
Folks … this is not about gay rights, human rights or anything like that. Hint: Its what makes the world go ’round. Its about the MONEY HONEY. Contributions to Boy Scouts have fallen off – that’s ALL.
Ogre Magi
@RobvR: http://haydengise.com/post/123082199823/education-kills-ignorance
Miss Understood
So let’s make sure we are clear. They are lifting the national ban BUT not creating any sort of nondiscrimination policy. Ok, so they are shitty, just little less shitty than before. I still do not respect them as an organization. The girls scouts should start a group for boys, they are smart and progressive.
Matt1961
The mormon church has already given their tacit approval, so this will happen. The fundies are already making noise like they did in 2013 when the vote was taken to allow gay youth. The Family Research Council, American Family Association, etc are all lined up again to try and use this as a fundraising moment. Let’s see how long it takes before a fundie chartered unit makes a big stink about attending a multi unit event where an out Scout leader is present.
For the record, I’m a member of the BSA and have been since the late 60’s. Change from within works if you have enough time.
Transiteer
Keep religion OUT of Scouting. It’s just another indoctrination into the dogma venue. Be right and decent and welcome everyone. Keep the religious-nuts out of it.
jwtraveler
I don’t think they’ve changed their policy on banning atheists.