The Boy Scouts of America opened itself to gay Scouts. The decision, which does not permit gay Scout leaders was fiercely contested and could lead to the loss of members. The vote of the national council was 61% in favor of the action.
Of course this decision does not end the debate within the organization. While some conservatives have threatened to stop supporting the Scouts, liberal Scout leaders want the BSA to allow gay Scout leaders as well. They will keep pushing.
‘‘I’m so proud of how far we’ve come, but until there’s a place for everyone in Scouting, my work will continue,’’ said Jennifer Tyrrell, a former lesbian Cub Scout den leader.
The BSA’s overall membership including the Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Venturers is about 2.6 million, compared with more than 4 million in peak years of the past. It also has about 1 million adult leaders and volunteers. Religious institutions including some very large conservative churches like the Roman Catholic Church and Southern Baptists, charter 70 percent of more than 100,000 scouting units. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints welcomed the decision.
“Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot.” Luke 17:28