A landmark change for the Boy Scouts of America is scheduled to take place this Wednesday, when a new policy allowing gay scouts goes into effect.

The Boy Scouts' policy toward gay members and gay leaders has brought controversy to the organization for years. It voted earlier this year to allow gay members, but not gay leaders.

The organization has put in place some rules along with the new policy, such as the ban on scouts using their Boy Scout uniform to promote political causes, which will include gay scouts promoting gay political causes.

The BSA declined to answer questions about the implementation of the policy today, but released a statement that said there would be a "smooth transition to the new membership policy," and expected "no major changes to the delivery of the Scouting program."

"While people have different opinions about this policy, we can all agree that kids are better off when they are in Scouting," the statement said.

Scouts for Equality, a group that fought to pressure the BSA to include gay scouts, said today that it will now focus its efforts on the inclusion of gay leaders. Zach Wahls, a co-founder of the group and outspoken son of a lesbian couple, said the group will continue its work until scouting is a fully-inclusive family activity.

"Opening membership to gay youth is an historic first step toward full equality in the BSA, but we're not there yet," Wahls said. "Scouts for Equality will continue to advocate for a fully inclusive membership policy, to help build a stronger, more inclusive Boy Scouts of America."

Wahls pointed out in the statement that gay scouts will be excluded from their troops once they turn 18, even after they have achieved the highest honor in scouting, the Eagle Scout Award.

Brad Haddock, an executive board member of the BSA, told the Associated Press that the scouts are hoping the transition will happen seamlessly, noting that many churches and religious groups have said they will continue to support the BSA.

"My hope is there will be the same effect this Jan. 1 as the Y2K scare," Haddock told the AP, referring to the feared computer havoc that never materialized in the year 2000. "It's business as usual, nothing happens and we move forward."

"There hasn't been a whole lot of fallout," said Haddock, a lawyer from Wichita, Kan. "If a church said they wouldn't work with us, we'd have a church right down the street say, 'We'll take the troop.'

I'm sure that there will be new merit badges coming soon...

interesting how they might define a 'gay' scout,

is it a prepubescent boy with a 'sexual attraction' to other boys?

or any boy 'attracted' to boys,, and if so

isn't that kind of a potential distraction when children are in such close and sometimes intimate quarters?

seems like going too far in the name of equality to me,,but its not my organization

I guess that scouting is all about.

I can see it now. The end of the boy/girl scouts.

The religious right will pull their kids due to this and the liberal left will make it happen for "equality" but won't allow their kids to be part of it.....

Another piece of Americana destroyed by politics.... at our childrens expense

gov't and politics is division and control!

the Great Libtard-Policy!
Punish People before they done the Crime!

Camel's Nose In The Tent!

One cold night, as a Bedouin sat in his tent, a camel gently thrust his nose under the flap and looked in. "Master," he said, "let me put my nose in your tent. It's cold and stormy out here." "By all means," said the Bedouin, "and welcome" as he turned over and went to sleep.
A little later the Bedouin awoke to find that the camel had not only put his nose in the tent but his head and neck also. The camel, who had been turning his head from side to side, said, "I will take but little more room if I place my forelegs within the tent. It is difficult standing out here." "Yes, you may put your forelegs within," said the Bedouin, moving a little to make room, for the tent was small.
Finally, the camel said, "May I not stand wholly inside? I keep the tent open by standing as I do." "Yes, yes," said the Bedouin. "Come wholly inside. Perhaps it will be better for both of us." So the camel crowded in. The Bedouin with difficulty in the crowded quarters again went to sleep. When he woke up the next time, he was outside in the cold and the camel had the tent to himself.

You see,this is what happens if you let Government Nose in your Life!

what is the connection between the story and punishing people before a crime is committed?

isn't the story a suggestion that we should ASSUME there will be a crime,,,,?

The body politic is the crime. It is always simply waiting for the chance to happen.... regardless of the nature of the intent

you really don't know the nature of Government,do you?

is that an answer?

I will repeat the question

what is the connection between the story and punishing people before a crime is committed?

isn't the story a suggestion that we should ASSUME there will be a crime?

Unless the question "Are you gay?" was asked before a boy was able to join the scouts before this decision I don't understand why it's even an issue. WTF????

People need to let kids be kids and not involve them in social issues they neither cared about or knew existed until adults influence them. This whole thing is about adults who want to "win", no matter what their position is, by indoctrinating children.

This is nothing more than children being used as pawns to forward an agenda, can it get more pathetic? This whole thing is ridiculous.

For more about Americana being destroyed read The Great Withdrawal.

this was my concern too,, that we are even pushing children in this way to choose a 'sexual identity' disturbs me,,,,

its manageable by making inappropriate behaviors actionabale,, its an experience to teach solidarity and character,, its not a dating social

make that clear and leave them on their way,,,,

Gov't, politics and "PC", is NOT about teaching anything.... it's about controlling through influence the mindset of future generations for easier control..... like common core's introduction/indoctrination to education

It's not whether the boys are gay or not. I'm sure that they can deal with it. It's allowing gay predator scout leaders in the tent, as the camel did.

I'm sure they are lining up to join.

The Camel's Nose in the Tent!

I'm sure that gay males have always been in the scouts as have gay females most likely..... we need a "tempest in a teapot" icon.

I am still back on harmony's first comment about prepubescent boys....I think it is a little extreme to worry about little children and sexual preferences. I would be more suspicious of those who came up with this issue who think 8 yr olds have a sexual preference. that is just nas-tay. Lock'em up.

I wonder if scouting will now give a MAMBLA Merit Badge?
I think that scouting will see a decline in membership.