The Boy Scouts of America officially changed its stance this week, ending its ban on gay leaders, while allowing church-sponsored troops to continue to exclude them based on religious beliefs.
But that exemption may not be enough for the Mormon Church, which issued a statement Monday saying that it would have to examine its 100-year relationship with the Boy Scouts, The New York Times reported.
The vote came just weeks after the Boy Scouts’ executive committee recommended that local charter organizations be allowed to choose their own leaders, regardless of their sexual orientation.
BSA President Robert Gates said in a video message Monday: “For far too long, this issue has divided and distracted us. Now it’s time to unite behind our shared belief in the extraordinary power of scouting to be a force for good in a community, and in the lives of its youth members.”
Be sure to check out the August edition of Seattle’s Child for a more in-depth look at scouting — both boys and girls — and its relationship with the LGBT community.
