Speak Out: Boy Scouts to Continue Banning Out Gay Kids, Leaders

The Boy Scouts of America recently voted to uphold its traditional policy of banning out gay members and LGBTQ leaders, The New York Times reported. 

“The vast majority of the parents of youth we serve value their right to address issues of same-sex orientation within their family, with spiritual advisers, and at the appropriate time and in the right setting,” Chief Scout Executive Bob Mazzuca said in a statement. “While a majority of our membership agrees with our policy, we fully understand that no single policy will accommodate the many diverse views among our membership or society.”

This decision served as response to a resolution asking the BSA to reconsider its ban on gay members and leaders. Former Cub Scout Leader Jennifer Tyrrell, a lesbian, delivered a petition with 300,000 signatures to the BSA today asking them to change this policy. Zach Wahls, a 20-year-old Iowan Eagle Scout with two lesbian moms, also supports ending the ban. 

What are your thoughts on this continued ban? Do you think the BSA made the right decision? Were you a Boy Scout or do you have children or siblings who are Boy Scouts?