Boy Scouts reaffirm anti-gay stance

George Takei stands with ousted scout mom Jennifer Tyrrell. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)

IRVING, Texas — The Boy Scouts of America announced Tuesday the group has decided to keep in place a policy that bars participation by openly gay scouts, scout masters and parents.

“With organizations including the Girl Scouts of the USA, the Boys & Girls Club and the U.S. military allowing gay Americans to participate, the Boy Scouts of America need to find a way to treat all children and their parents fairly,” said GLAAD President Herndon Graddick, upon the organization’s announcement that it had conducted a two-year study on the matter and concluded parents would prefer the ban to remain in place. “Until this ban is lifted, the Scouts are putting parents in a situation where they have to explain to their children why some scouts and hard-working scout leaders are being turned away simply because of who they are. It’s unfair policies like this that contribute to a climate of bullying in our schools and communities.”

The Scouts’ statement suggested the organization is unlikely to visit the issue again for some time, but advocates and activists have vowed to continue to push the organization regardless, including online petition engine, Change.org, which delivered another round of petitions to the organization the day after the announcement.