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US: Boy Scouts of America lifts national ban on gay youth members

May 23 2013
Written by Joseph McCormick

The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) on Thursday ended its long-time ban on gay youth members, after its national council voted to lift the national ban.

The final vote took place today, in Dallas-Fort Worth, Grapevine, where over 60% of the 1,400 strong national council of local leaders, voted to lift the national ban.

The decision will allow local scouting troops to decide on whether to permit gay members, however leaves in place a policy which forbids openly gay adult volunteers and staff.

The President of the BSA Wayne Perry, today wrote an editorial piece for USA Today, in which he said allowing gay members into the scouts would be “the right decision.”

In July 2012, after a two year review, the Boy Scouts of America announced it would retain its ban on gay members, volunteers and staff.

Earlier this month, the Western Los Angeles branch of the BSA voiced its opposition to the discriminatory policy.

The LA council backed a resolution which states that no youth or adult should be excluded “as a leader, volunteer or staff member solely based on their sexual orientation or preference.”

The Boy Scouts of America is currently embroiled in a debate over whether to lift its ban on gay volunteers, members and staff. In February, it delayed the vote until May “due to the complexity of the issue”.

A poll released in February found that a majority of US voters thought the Boy Scouts of America should drop its ban on gay scouts, volunteers and staff.