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Republican presidential candidate Scott Walker is under fire for comments he made Tuesday against the Boy Scouts of America potentially lifting its ban on gay adults, saying the old policy “protected children.”

On the day after the two-term Wisconsin governor formally declared his candidacy for the White House, Walker told IJReview, a publication for millennials, he isn’t on board with allowing openly gay adults in the Boy Scouts.

“I was an Eagle Scout, my kids have been involved, Tonette (Walker) was a den mother,” Walker said. “I have had a lifelong commitment to the Scouts and support the previous membership policy because it protected children and advanced Scout values.”

The Boy Scouts already lifted in 2013 its ban on children who identify as gay from taking part in the organization, but on Monday the executive committee unanimously approved a resolution that would allow gay adults to serve as leaders. A final vote on the resolution is set for July 27.

Chad Griffin, president of the Human Rights Campaign, turned up the heat on Walker on Twitter, saying the candidate must apologize for his anti-gay remarks.

If @ScottWalker is trying to get his merit badge in being shamefully irresponsible and hateful, today he earned it with flying colors. — Chad Griffin (@ChadHGriffin) July 14, 2015

TJ Helmstetter, a spokesperson for the Democratic National Committee, also took Walker to task for his remarks, saying they demonstrate he isn’t worthy of the White House.

“Last night Scott Walker told Sean Hannity that he’s ‘not going to change to fit the times,’” Helmstetter said. “He’s proven that over and over, especially when it comes to his attitudes toward women and LGBT people. His view that children were somehow more ‘protected’ when the Boy Scouts excluded gay leaders is offensive, outrageous and out of touch. His comment is not worthy of someone running for president in this country.”

Walker has a reputation of running against LGBT rights. After the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of nationwide same-sex marriage, the candidate declared support for a U.S. constitutional amendment against the decision that would return the marriage issue to the states.