Boy Scouts approve plan to accept openly gay boys

GRAPEVINE, Texas (AP) — The Boy Scouts of America threw open its ranks Thursday to gay Scouts but not gay Scout leaders — a fiercely contested compromise that some warned could fracture the organization and lead to mass defections of members and donors.

Of the roughly 1,400 voting members of the BSA's National Council who cast ballots, 61 percent supported the proposal drafted by the governing Executive Committee. The policy change takes effect Jan. 1.

"This has been a challenging chapter in our history," the BSA chief executive, Wayne Brock, said after the vote. "While people have differing opinions on this policy, kids are better off when they're in Scouting."

However, the outcome will not end the bitter debate over the Scouts' membership policy.

Liberal Scout leaders — while supporting the proposal to accept gay youth — have made clear they want the ban on gay adults lifted as well.

Full story and video:

http://www.wfaa.com/news/texas-news/Boy-Scouts-approve-plan-to-accept-openly-gay-boys--208733751.html

The result was welcomed by many liberal members of the Scouting community and by gay-rights activists, though most of the praise was coupled with calls for ending the ban on gay adults.

I guess this will call for a new type of Merit Badge.

I would quit the scouts. I will no longer make donations to them.

Unnatural sexual deviant behavior should not be encouraged or viewed as normal.

It will be interesting to see how many will leave the Boy Scouts.

There are some already talking about starting a new scout group.

I'm actually at a loss for words on this one... Times they are a changin'

fashion and hair design badges?

that would be better than learning how to tie knots or start a fire without matches...