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| Boy Scouts expected to relax ban on gay and lesbian troop leaders | Boy Scouts expected to relax ban on gay and lesbian troop leaders |
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| The Boy Scouts of America’s longstanding ban on gay leaders is expected to fall on Monday, after the group’s leadership votes on a rule it went to the US supreme court to defend 15 years ago. | The Boy Scouts of America’s longstanding ban on gay leaders is expected to fall on Monday, after the group’s leadership votes on a rule it went to the US supreme court to defend 15 years ago. |
| The ban has pitted leaders and members of the 105-year-old organization against each other, often fragmenting according to faith. The new proposal seeks a compromise between more liberal groups, such as the New York City scouting group, and scouting regions whose groups are run by staunchly conservative faiths, such as the Mormon church. | |
| Related: Boy Scouts on track to change policy and allow gay and lesbian troop leaders | Related: Boy Scouts on track to change policy and allow gay and lesbian troop leaders |
| Under the new policy, local units will be able to select their own leaders according to their own standards, meaning church-run groups can “choose adult leaders whose beliefs are consistent with their own”, according to a statement from organization executives. | Under the new policy, local units will be able to select their own leaders according to their own standards, meaning church-run groups can “choose adult leaders whose beliefs are consistent with their own”, according to a statement from organization executives. |
| The ban has torn the Boy Scouts between conservative and liberal supporters, and its Texas-based leadership has proven reluctant to upset the religious groups who sponsor many units and send youths into the organization. | The ban has torn the Boy Scouts between conservative and liberal supporters, and its Texas-based leadership has proven reluctant to upset the religious groups who sponsor many units and send youths into the organization. |
| On 13 July, the organization’s executive committee, headed by Boy Scout president and former defense secretary Robert Gates, unanimously approved the resolution, saying there had been a “sea change in the law with respect to gay rights”. | On 13 July, the organization’s executive committee, headed by Boy Scout president and former defense secretary Robert Gates, unanimously approved the resolution, saying there had been a “sea change in the law with respect to gay rights”. |
| “The BSA national policy that prohibits gay adults from serving as leaders is no longer legally defensible,” the organization said in statement earlier this month. | “The BSA national policy that prohibits gay adults from serving as leaders is no longer legally defensible,” the organization said in statement earlier this month. |
| “However, the BSA’s commitment to duty to God and the rights of religious chartered organizations to select their leaders is unwavering.” | “However, the BSA’s commitment to duty to God and the rights of religious chartered organizations to select their leaders is unwavering.” |
| Gates, who oversaw the end of a ban on openly gay people in the US military, has said the Boy Scouts’ ban “cannot be sustained” and called for it to change. | Gates, who oversaw the end of a ban on openly gay people in the US military, has said the Boy Scouts’ ban “cannot be sustained” and called for it to change. |
| The organization’s 80-member board is also expected to forbid discrimination based on orientation in all its paying jobs and national offices. | The organization’s 80-member board is also expected to forbid discrimination based on orientation in all its paying jobs and national offices. |
| The vote arrives only a month and a day after the US supreme court legalized same-sex marriage throughout the United States, striking down state bans and punctuating the swift progress of gay rights with its 5-4 vote. | The vote arrives only a month and a day after the US supreme court legalized same-sex marriage throughout the United States, striking down state bans and punctuating the swift progress of gay rights with its 5-4 vote. |
| The board’s vote also follows only two years after a long and bitter debate at the organization’s 2013 meeting in Texas, where 60% of some 1,400 scout leaders voted to end the ban. The organization said at the time that it had no intentions of revisiting the issue. | |
| But earlier this year the New York City chapter hired a gay camp counselor, and said it would force the issue in court if necessary to keep the counselor employed. | But earlier this year the New York City chapter hired a gay camp counselor, and said it would force the issue in court if necessary to keep the counselor employed. |
| Related: New York Boy Scouts chapter hires openly gay scout in defiance of ban | Related: New York Boy Scouts chapter hires openly gay scout in defiance of ban |
| The Boy Scouts has about 2.5 million members between the ages of seven and 21, as well as 960,000 volunteers in local units, according to the organization. Membership has steadily declined about 4-6% each year for several years, contributing to the internal crisis over what to do. | The Boy Scouts has about 2.5 million members between the ages of seven and 21, as well as 960,000 volunteers in local units, according to the organization. Membership has steadily declined about 4-6% each year for several years, contributing to the internal crisis over what to do. |
| Some conservative groups have argued that relaxing the ban will prompt a sharp decline in membership by religious people, who may start their own groups. Proponents of ending the ban say that its discrimination against gay people, as well as a cloud hanging over the Boy Scouts as a discriminatory entity, have already reduced membership. | Some conservative groups have argued that relaxing the ban will prompt a sharp decline in membership by religious people, who may start their own groups. Proponents of ending the ban say that its discrimination against gay people, as well as a cloud hanging over the Boy Scouts as a discriminatory entity, have already reduced membership. |
| Zach Wahls, an Eagle Scout and executive director of Scouts for Equality, has called the ban a “towering example of explicit, institutional homophobia”. | Zach Wahls, an Eagle Scout and executive director of Scouts for Equality, has called the ban a “towering example of explicit, institutional homophobia”. |
| “While this policy change is not perfect – BSA’s religious chartering partners will be allowed to continue to discriminate against gay adults – it is difficult to overstate [its] importance,” he said. | “While this policy change is not perfect – BSA’s religious chartering partners will be allowed to continue to discriminate against gay adults – it is difficult to overstate [its] importance,” he said. |
| John Stemberger, chairman of the breakaway Christian youth outdoor program Tail Life USA, told Reuters on Friday that lifting the ban is an affront to Christian morals and will make it “even more challenging for a church to integrate a [Boy Scouts] unit as part of a church’s ministry offerings”. | John Stemberger, chairman of the breakaway Christian youth outdoor program Tail Life USA, told Reuters on Friday that lifting the ban is an affront to Christian morals and will make it “even more challenging for a church to integrate a [Boy Scouts] unit as part of a church’s ministry offerings”. |
| But major Catholic and Mormon supporters appear to approve of the new policy. On its site, the National Catholic Committee on Scouting says that the Boy Scouts do not endorse homosexuality. The committee then writes: “Any sexual conduct, whether homosexual or heterosexual, by youth of Scouting age is contrary to the virtues of Scouting.” | But major Catholic and Mormon supporters appear to approve of the new policy. On its site, the National Catholic Committee on Scouting says that the Boy Scouts do not endorse homosexuality. The committee then writes: “Any sexual conduct, whether homosexual or heterosexual, by youth of Scouting age is contrary to the virtues of Scouting.” |
| The Mormon church meanwhile reasserted itself earlier this month, saying in a statement that it has “always had the right to select Scout leaders who adhere to moral and religious principles that are consistent with our doctrines and beliefs”. | The Mormon church meanwhile reasserted itself earlier this month, saying in a statement that it has “always had the right to select Scout leaders who adhere to moral and religious principles that are consistent with our doctrines and beliefs”. |