Today Boy Scouts of America ended its ban on gay adult leaders despite protests from the Church of the Latter Day Saints (Mormon). The organization compromised by saying that conservative church-sponsored units could choose their leaders, however the Mormon church said they may still leave the organization.
“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is deeply troubled by today’s vote by the Boy Scouts of America National Executive Board,” said a statement issued by the Mormon Church.
According to the New York Times, Mormons use the Boy Scouts as their main nonreligious activity for boys, and the Cub Scout and Boy Scout units they sponsor accounted for 17 percent of all youths in scouting in 2013, the last year for which data have been published. The negative reaction to Monday’s vote took many Boy Scout leaders by surprise; it had been widely assumed that the exemption for religious sponsors would keep them in the fold.
Under the policy adopted today, any discrimination based upon sexual orientation is barred not only for selecting adult leaders but also in Boy Scout offices and for all paid jobs.
The Boy Scouts’ national executive board is comprised of 71 civic, corporate and church leaders and adopted the changes with 79% of those who participated in a meeting by telephone voting in favor, according to an announcement issued by the Scouts.