With a national executive board vote today, the Boy Scouts of America ratified the decision to eliminate the group’s blanket ban on gay leaders.
It’s another big step forward for the organization, which in 2013 lifted its ban on gay youth participation. Many dedicated Scouts, former Scouts and supporters have pushed for these changes for over a decade.
The new policy will still allow local chapters to vote one whether to allow gay adults to serve in leadership positions, which has some saying there is still more work to do.
The updated policy was announced in a video from former United States Secretary of Defense and current President of the Boy Scouts of America, Skip Gates.
Our campaign manager, Matt McTighe, release the following statement:
“Freedom for All Americans applauds the Boy Scouts of America for taking this monumental step forward. This reflects a sea change within the Scouts that, just a few years ago, seemed unimaginable.
“For generations, the Scouts have played central roles in so many of our communities – teaching young men the skills necessary to make positive contributions to our nation. That’s why it’s so important that they continually strive to send a positive message to our youth. And while this policy is a big step forward, it’s not perfect. We look forward to the day when every unit will welcome each and every leader based on their qualifications alone.”