Free Republic

On Monday, July 27, the National Executive Board ratified a resolution that removes the national restriction on openly gay adult leaders and employees. Of those present and voting, 79 percent voted in favor of the resolution. The resolution was recommended for ratification by the Executive Committee earlier this month. The resolution is effective immediately. Chartered organizations will continue to select their adult leaders and religious chartered organizations may continue to use religious beliefs as criteria for selecting adult leaders, including matters of sexuality. This change allows Scouting’s members and parents to select local units, chartered to organizations with similar beliefs,...

WHY THE BSA MUST RECONSIDER THE ADULT LEADER STANDARDS The existing BSA national policy that prohibits gay adults from serving as leaders is no longer legally defensible. However, the BSA’s commitment to duty to God and the right of religious chartered organizations to select their leaders is unwavering. Those two principles can coexist with a new policy that will pass legal scrutiny and protect religious freedoms. Evolution of the Law After many years of litigation, the Supreme Court of the United States in 2000 upheld the BSA’s right to exclude homosexual leaders in Boy Scouts of America v. Dale, 530...

<p>Adult homosexuals and bisexuals will soon be able to participate in Boy Scouts of America — if they are approved by local governing troops or units, the BSA said Monday.</p> <p>The BSA’s National Executive Committee unanimously adopted a resolution July 10 changing its adult membership policy to permit chartering organizations to select adult leaders without regard to sexual orientation, the BSA said on its website Monday.</p>