Boy Scouts end ban on gay leaders

The Boy Scouts of America will no longer ban openly gay adult leaders and employees. The BSA’s National Executive Board voted Monday to remove the restriction. The decision on whether or not to allow gay leaders will now rest with individual chartered organizations, as those with religious affiliation will be allowed to use religious beliefs as criteria for selecting adult leaders. The criteria may include matters of sexuality. The BSA says this “allows Scouting’s members and parents to select local units, chartered to organizations with similar beliefs, that best meet the needs of their families.” The scouts have been around for 105 years. In 2013, the organization allowed openly gay youth to becomes scouts for the first time.

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