The Boy Scouts of America will accept openly gay members starting on New Year's Day, the Associated Press reports. It's a landmark move for an organization that previously barred gay youths and still disallows gay leaders.
Gay Scouts will face some limitations, many of which are explained in a wordy, 10-page document the BSA released about its policy-change. In spite of its newfound gay-friendliness, the organization still wants to get a few things straight:
Scouts may not march in uniform in gay pride parades, can't advocate for the LGBTQ community at BSA functions, and may have to make special shower and sleeping arrangements depending on the preferences of their fellow Scouts and leaders.
'Any sexual conduct, whether heterosexual or homosexual, by youth of Scouting age is contrary to the virtues of Scouting,' reads the doc. 'No member may use Scouting to promote or advance any social or political position or agenda, including on the matter of sexual orientation.'
Considering 70 percent of BSA units are sponsored by religious organizations, the new policy hasn't come without backlash. Some churches are withdrawing their funding while some families are withdrawing their kids and opting for a more conservative Boy Scouts alternative known as Trail Life USA.
And the equality cup still seems a half empty to some LGBTQ people and activists, who argue that the BSA's strict set of rules pertaining to gay Scouts will only cause further sexual segregation.
RYOT NOTE: The momentum for gay rights, especially marriage equality, has been growing in the U.S. and is at an all-time high. You can help keep it that way by supporting The Human Rights Campaign. Click on the action box atop this story to learn more, donate and Become the News!
Posted by Unknown on Saturday, December 28, 2013 - Rating: 4.5
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