For 103 years,
the Boy Scouts of America has been a part of the fabric of this nation, with a
focus on working together to deliver the nation’s foremost youth program of
character development and values-based leadership training.
Based on growing
input from within the Scouting family, the BSA leadership chose to conduct an
additional review of the organization’s long-standing membership policy and its
impact on Scouting’s mission. This review created an outpouring of feedback
from the Scouting family and the American public, from both those who agree
with the current policy and those who support a change.
On May 23, following
this review, the most comprehensive listening exercise in Scouting’s history,
the approximate 1,400 voting members of the Boy Scouts of America’s National
Council approved a resolution to remove the restriction denying membership to
youth on the basis of sexual orientation alone. The resolution also reinforces
that Scouting is a youth program, and any sexual conduct, whether heterosexual
or homosexual, by youth of Scouting age is contrary to the virtues of Scouting.
A change to the current membership policy for adult leaders was not under
consideration; thus, the policy for adults remains in place. The BSA thanks all
the national voting members who participated in this process and vote.
This policy
change is effective Jan. 1, 2014, allowing the Boy Scouts of America the
transition time needed to communicate and implement this policy to its
approximately 116,000 Scouting units.
The Boy Scouts of
America will not sacrifice its mission, or the youth served by the movement, by
allowing the organization to be consumed by a single, divisive, and unresolved
societal issue. As the National Executive Committee just completed a lengthy
review process, there are no plans for further review on this matter.
While people have
different opinions about this policy, we can all agree that kids are better off
when they are in Scouting. Going forward, our Scouting family will continue to
focus on reaching and serving youth in order to help them grow into good,
strong citizens. America’s youth need Scouting, and by focusing on the goals
that unite us, we can continue to accomplish incredible things for young people
and the communities we serve.
Further information on the membership standards review can be reviewed be visiting bsamembershipstandards.org.
