Boy Scouts postpone vote on homosexuality policy

CWN - February 06, 2013

The leadership of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) has postponed a decision on a proposed policy change that would have allowed ended a ban on openly homosexual members.

The BSA executive board announced that “due to the complexity of this issue, the organization needs time for a more deliberate review of its membership policy.” The decision will be made in May, after consultation with members, the board said.

The proposed policy change had drawn an outpouring of reactions from members of the Boy Scouts and sponsoring organizations. The drive to allow homosexual members had caught many members by surprise, since just last summer the BSA had reaffirmed its traditional policy. The scouting organization was reportedly under pressure from corporate sponsors to allow homosexuals.

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  • Posted by: dmva9806 - Feb. 09, 2013 1:27 PM ET USA

    Money is the major motivator for this attempt to change BSA policy toward admitting openly active homosexuals as members and scout masters. It is time to stop accepting "gifts" from private and government sponsors, and simplify scout activities to what dues and freewill contributions allow. It's a very old but true saying: He who pays the piper calls the tunes. Don't stay in debt to companies and government. Cut loose and live free.

  • Posted by: nix898049 - Feb. 08, 2013 1:29 PM ET USA

    Now that this organization is focusing on an inclination that does not, to my knowedge, 'build character' (and isn't that what the BSA is about?) maybe it's time to disband. So sad.

  • Posted by: DrJazz - Feb. 07, 2013 10:31 AM ET USA

    A standard technique of our time: If you're going to lose, postpone the voting. Schedule another meeting a few weeks or months down the line, when the "hot-headed" traditionalists might have "calmed down" (i.e., either forgotten the issue, moved onto another, or lost steam), gin up a small-but-vocal constituency for your side, then take the vote. Keep repeating this until you get the result you want. It's going to take a great deal of tenacity to keep them from changing their current policy.

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