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Governor Rick Perry: ‘I am greatly disappointed’ that the Boy Scouts will allow gay members

May 24 2013
Written by Joseph McCormick

Texas Governor Rick Perry, has voiced his disappointment at the Boy Scouts of America’s (BSA) decision to lift its national ban on gay youth members.

Perry, who has been vocally opposed to the BSA lifting the ban, said in a statement on Thursday that he woud “cherish” his scouting days, but that he was “greatly disappointed” with the outcome of the vote.

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 lifting of the ban will take effect on 1 January 2014, and will mean local scouting troops can decide on whether or not to allow gay members. A ban on openly-gay adult scout leaders and volunteers remains in place.

“The Boys Scouts of America has been built upon the values of faith and family for more than 100 years and today’s decision contradicts generations of tradition in the name of political correctness,” said Perry in the statement.

“While I will always cherish my time as a scout and the life lessons I learned, I am greatly disappointed with this decision.”

Perry said in February that he thought the Boy Scouts of America shouldn’t remove its ban on openly gay scouts, volunteers and staff.

He also said that Madonna had taken a “gratuitous shot” at the BSA, when she said that it should lift its ban on gay volunteers, members and staff at the GLAAD Media Awards.