UPDATE 10:55 a.m.: The Boy Scouts of America's national executive board announced the decision on whether it would allow gay members and leaders will be delayed until the board's May meeting, according to the Associated Press.
A 100-year-old organization that boasts conservative, traditional values might open its doors to gay members and leaders this week.
The Boy Scouts of America has been adamant in denying openly gay members and leaders entry to the organization, and the Boy Scouts’ national executive board is expected to vote Wednesday on whether to lift the ban.
Though supporters of the ban believe changing the rules will have negative effects on the organization’s traditions, Athens Troop 357 Scoutmaster Michael Fletcher said he doesn’t think his local troop would be affected.
“I came out in favor of this policy change a long time ago and have been pretty vocal about it to the troop families, so they understand my position,” Fletcher said. “We’re a very inclusive-based troop, and when the national (leaders) reaffirmed this policy last summer, we said this is not right and started pushing the other way.”
Last summer, the Boy Scouts’ national executive board voted on whether to lift the ban and ultimately chose to reaffirm the policy. Since then, some national organizations have cut their funding to the Boy Scouts because of their exclusion policy, Fletcher said.
The total number of traditional scouts has decreased by almost 1 percent, and the number of traditional scout leaders has decreased by more than 3 percent, according to the 2011 Boy Scouts of America Annual Report.
“We hope (the ban) is lifted, but it’ll be questionable as to whether it happens or not,” Fletcher said. “You have lots of different churches and organizations that are sponsors of individual units across the country. The Mormon Church is one of the biggest sponsors, and they are a very conservative bunch, so they’re not in favor of this program on the whole. How they respond could cause a big change nationwide.”
The decision to consider lifting the ban comes less than a week after President Barack Obama came out in support of allowing gay members in the Boys Scouts.
“My attitude is that gays and lesbians should have access and opportunity the same way everybody else does, in every institution and walk of life,” Obama said. “The scouts are a great institution that are promoting young people and exposing them to opportunities and leadership that will serve people for the rest of their lives, and I think that nobody should be barred from that.”
Jenny Hall-Jones, OU’s interim dean of students and former LGBT coordinator, has two sons in Athens Troop 357 and is also an avid supporter of lifting the ban.
“I was hesitant to let (my kids) get involved with the Boy Scouts, because we want them to be open about everything,” Hall-Jones said. “My gut reaction was not to let them join, but they really wanted to, so we let them. It’s fabulous that things are moving on a national level.”
Hall-Jones said she has friends who refuse to even buy popcorn — similar to Girl Scouts selling cookies — because of the Boy Scouts’ exclusion policy.
“It’s been kind of like the military’s ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy,” Fletcher said. “It really shouldn’t be a subject of conversation. Why should your sexual orientation have to be questioned?”
az346610@ohiou.edu
