Boy Scouts of America

Carly Rae Jepsen has announced via Twitter that she will not headline the Boy Scouts of America's Jamboree because of the Scouts' ban on gay scouts and gay and lesbian scout leaders. [ Read more → ]

The rock band Train has announced it is cancelling its planned appearance at this year’s Boy Scouts National Jamboree in protest of the organization’s ban on gay scouts and gay and lesbian scout leaders. [ Read more → ]

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The nation's largest Protestant group is calling on members of the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America to uphold a ban on gay leaders and Scouts when it votes in May. [ Read more → ]

A California state Senator on Tuesday introduced legislation that would remove the state's tax exempt status for any youth group -- including the Boy Scouts of America -- that bans members on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity [ Read more → ]

Following recent news that the Boy Scouts of America is considering a change to its membership policy banning gay scouts, the organization is now embroiled in new charges of discrimination, this time regarding its hiring practices. [ Read more → ]

It is so disappointing that an organization that has meant so much to millions of boys and young men and that has espoused the values of honesty, integrity and character is so reluctant to end a policy antithetical to our nation’s principles of equality. This was apparent when the organization chose to delay until May a vote to end this ban. While the Boy Scouts of America has never engaged in the tactics of anti-gay hate groups by defaming or attacking the LGBT community directly, such well-publicized, discriminatory policies can have the effect of encouraging bigotry. [ Read more → ]

It promises to be a campaign as passionate and dramatic as any big election. For the next 14 weeks, the Boy Scouts of America will be the focus of prayers, petitions and pressure tactics aimed at swaying a vote on whether to ease its ban on gays as Scouts or adult leaders. [ Read more → ]

In addition to being deeply offensive, BSA’s policy has always struck me as profoundly stupid. Maybe it’s just my own experience, but who did they think was joining the Scouts? In my troop, at least, it wasn’t just the “normal” kids. It was those of us who were a little… off. A little too awkward. A little too hyper. A little too helpful. A little too queer. In short, it was the kind of kid who grows up to be interesting, committed, successful and, none too rarely, gay.... [ Read more → ]

LGBT advocacy groups responded Wednesday to an announcement by the Boy Scouts of America that it would delay until May a decision on whether to end its longstanding policy that prohibits gay scouts and gay and lesbian scout leaders. [ Read more → ]

IRVING, Texas — The Boy Scouts of America put off a decision Wednesday on whether to lift its ban on gay members and leaders, saying the question will be taken up at the organization's national meeting in May. [ Read more → ]

IRVING, Texas — The Boy Scouts of America's national executive board began three days of closed meetings Monday that are expected to include a discussion of its policy excluding gay members and leaders, and Scouts on both sides of the debate are publicly weighing in. [ Read more → ]

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says the Boy Scouts of America should open its membership to gays and lesbians when its national executive board discusses the issue this week. [ Read more → ]

Two days before an expected vote, the Human Rights Campaign will run a full-page ad in the Dallas Morning News on Monday calling on the leadership at Boy Scouts of America to end its discriminatory policy prohibiting gay people from Scouting and adopt a national non-discrimination standard. [ Read more → ]

AUSTIN, Texas -- Texas Gov. Rick Perry said emphatically Saturday that the Boy Scouts of America shouldn't soften its strict no-gays membership policy, and dismissed the idea of bending the organization to the whims of "popular culture." [ Read more → ]

The Boy Scouts of America faces intensifying criticism from the left and right over a proposal to move away from a mandatory no-gays membership policy and allow troop sponsors to decide the matter for themselves. [ Read more → ]

Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council once again warned that incidents of child abuse will rise if the Boy Scouts end their national prohibition on gay members. [ Read more → ]

NEW YORK — The Boy Scouts of America's proposed move away from its no-gays membership policy has outraged some longtime admirers, gratified many critics and raised intriguing questions about the iconic organization's future. [ Read more → ]

After news reports came out today that the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) may drop its national policy banning openly gay members in favor of “passing any decisions on gay membership to the local level,” outrage among Religious Right activists has just begun. [ Read more → ]

NEW YORK — The Boys Scouts of America is considering a dramatic retreat from its controversial policy of excluding gays as leaders and youth members. [ Read more → ]

A Cub Scout pack in Maryland has been forced to rescind its gay-inclusive non-discrimination policy in order to keep its charter with the Boy Scouts of America. [ Read more → ]