The resolution will mean different things for different local groups
By: Christine Nicco/TRT Reporter—
The Boy Scouts of America issued a new resolution that moves closer to equality for gay adult employees and others whose local units also believe in the Adult Leadership Standards update, according to a release from the BSA website stated.
“As a result of the rapid changes in society and increasing legal challenges at the federal, state, and local levels, on Friday, July 10, the Boy Scouts of America Executive Committee adopted a resolution amending the adult leadership standards policy,” read some of the release. “This resolution will allow chartered organizations to select adult leaders without regard to sexual orientation, continuing Scouting’s longstanding policy of chartered organizations selecting their leaders. The National Executive Board will meet to ratify this resolution on Monday, July 27.”
The resolution, passed last Friday, is not fully comprehensive. The BSA decided to allow local groups to make autonomous decisions based on each group’s beliefs and religious views, something that will still leave out those whose local units are not open to the “evolution” that the resolution states. [pullquote]The BSA decided to allow local groups to make autonomous decisions based on each group’s beliefs and religious views, something that will still leave out those whose local units are not open to the “evolution” that the resolution states.[/pullquote]
“This change allows Scouting’s members and parents to select local units, chartered to organizations with similar beliefs, that best meet the needs of their families,” stated the updated release. “This change would also respect the right of religious chartered organizations to continue to choose adult leaders whose beliefs are consistent with their own. The 2013 youth membership policy will not be affected and remains unchanged.”
BSA lifted its ban on gay and bisexual youth members at the beginning of 2014, but the prohibition on gay and bi adults remained, according to the Advocate.
Read more here.
