I should point out that the Boy Scouts do not actively seek to determine the sexual orientation of the boys who participate in scouts. The organization precludes gays from being leaders, but also doesn’t specifically target gay parents to keep them from parental involvement in scouting activities.
It is the leadership that the BSA focuses on, now as in 1994. I think some people get confused between the words “participate” and “serve” (like this headline did).
I realize that some people here at this site would support the BSA inquiring about sexual orientation and denying gay-identified boys from joining. The scouts do “tend” to deny atheists, after all, if they are outspoken — because it violates part of the scout oath.
Technically, when it comes to adults, it's capital 'V' Volunteers and Professionals that the BSA was officially concerned with (back when there was an official policy commonly available). Gay adults could help with their children, but they couldn't serve in any position that requires completing a BSA application to be a volunteer. Some of those Volunteer positions, such as unit committees (Pack, Troop, Crew, Team Committees), or District Commissioners (and so on) don't involve working with youth, but they're Volunteer positions. Positions such as Den Leader, Cubmaster, Assistant Den Leader, Scoutmaster, Varsity Coach, Venture Crew Advisor, etc., are all capital 'V' Volunteer positions.
For youth, the rule dealt with leadership and stated:
Boy Scouts of America believes that homosexual conduct is inconsistent with the obligations in the Scout Oath and Scout Law to be morally straight and clean in thought, word, and deed. The conduct of youth members must be in compliance with the Scout Oath and Law, and membership in Boy Scouts of America is contingent upon the willingness to accept Scouting’s values and beliefs. Most boys join Scouting when they are 10 or 11 years old. As they continue in the program, all Scouts are expected to take leadership positions. In the unlikely event that an older boy were to hold himself out as homosexual, he would not be able to continue in a youth leadership position.
Leadership tenure isn't relevant to advancement for Tiger Cubs, Cub Scouts, or Webelos - but it is for Boy Scouts. By denying leadership positions to gay Boy Scouts, the BSA was permitting them to stay in Boy Scouts, but not to advance to Star, Life, or Eagle Scout.
Five to six years ago, the official position of the BSA regarding homosexuals was removed from the bsa.org site.