Perry 'greatly disappointed' after Scouts ease gay ban

Gov. Rick Perry, left, bows his head for the invocation during the annual Boy Scouts Parade and Report to State in the House Chambers at the Texas State Capitol, Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013, in Austin, Texas. Perry says he hopes the Boy Scouts of America doesn't move soften its mandatory no-gays membership policy. less Gov. Rick Perry, left, bows his head for the invocation during the annual Boy Scouts Parade and Report to State in the House Chambers at the Texas State Capitol, Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013, in Austin, Texas. Perry ... more Photo: Eric Gay, Associated Press Photo: Eric Gay, Associated Press Image 1 of / 24 Caption Close Perry 'greatly disappointed' after Scouts ease gay ban 1 / 24 Back to Gallery

AUSTIN — Gov. Rick Perry says he's disappointed with the Boy Scouts of America allowing openly gay boys to be accepted as Scouts.

The organization's National Council voted Thursday to ease its long-standing ban.

Perry is an Eagle Scout and wrote a 2008 book praising the organization and saying it should continue to exclude openly gay members. In February, he dismissed bending the group to the whims of "popular culture."

The governor released a statement Thursday night saying BSA "has been built upon the values of faith and family for more than 100 years, and today's decision contradicts generations of tradition in the name of political correctness."

Perry added: "While I will always cherish my time as a scout and the life lessons I learned, I am greatly disappointed with this decision."