The original content of Democracy Now! Headlines appears under the Creative
Commons BY-NC-ND 3.0 License (United States). For more, including their other
shows and media, visit www.democracynow.org.
May 24, 2013

Boy Scouts Lift Ban on Gay Scouts; Gay Adult Leaders Still Barred 
------------------------------------------------------------------


 
The Boy Scouts of America has voted to lift a century-old ban on openly
gay scouts. More than 60 percent of the group's National Council voted
in favor of ending the ban, effective January 1, 2014. Tico Perez,
national commissioner of the Boy Scouts of America, said a prohibition
on openly gay adult leaders remains in place.

Tico Perez: "Our adult membership standard has not changed. Any gay
scout can remain in scouting so long as they meet and live by the scout
oath and law. The membership standards for adults are different. When a
child reaches the age of 18, a boy — or 21 in Venturing, they have
to change their roles in this movement."

 

.