Jan. 1, the Boy Scouts of America officially lifted the ban on gay members, although the ban on gay Scout leaders remain.
Despite widespread fears that there would be a mass exodus of members the policy change was widely supported, including by religious leaders, and produced few consequences. In fact, according to BSA spokesman Deron Smith, less than 2 percent of sponsoring members left their scouting unit.
The HRC reports that the U.S. Catholic Church, which is BSA’s third-largest sponsor and accounts for 10 percent of the national total of 2.6 million Scouts, released a statement in June, urging sponsors and leaders to continue their support of scouting programs.
“We should be encouraged that the change in BSA’s youth membership standard is not in conflict with Catholic teaching,” Martin said, asking that “Catholic Scouters and chartered organization heads not rush to judgment.”
In April, leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the largest sponsor of scouting troops in the nation, offered their stamp of approval to the end of the ban on openly gay scouts.
Under the new policy, the religious, civic or educational organizations that oversee and deliver Scouting would determine membership and leadership consistent with each organization’s mission, principles or religious beliefs.
