Boy Scout president calls for end to ban on gay leaders

John Bacon | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Boy Scouts might end ban on gay leaders The national president of the Boy Scouts of America hinted that he may reverse course and allow gay leaders to join the 105-year-old organization.

The president of the Boy Scouts of America on Thursday called for an end to the group's ban on gay troop leaders.

Robert Gates, a former secretary of Defense, told a meeting of the organization's leadership in Atlanta that "we cannot ignore the social, political and judicial changes taking place in our country."

Gates said he would not ask the board to vote today to drop the ban but said the board must consider the proposal. Even if the board votes to end the ban, Gates said sponsors for each of the 100,000 troops nationwide could set their own rules for their troop's leadership.

"Such a rule would allow all churches, which sponsor some 70% of our scout units, to establish leadership standards consistent with their faith," he said.

"I must speak as plainly and bluntly to you as I spoke to presidents when I was director of the CIA and secretary of Defense," he said. "We must deal with the world as it is, not as we might wish it to be. The status quo in our movement's membership standards cannot be sustained."

Part of Gates' problem is that gay Scouts are growing up. The organization voted two years ago to allow openly gay Scouts. Last month, the Greater New York Councils said it was hiring the first openly gay Eagle Scout, Pascal Tessier, 18, to work as a camp leader this summer.

"We have a long-standing anti-discrimination policy," Richard Mason, a member of the New York's board, said in April. "We have not kept that policy a secret."

Gates noted in his speech that "we can expect more councils to openly challenge the current policy." Although the national board has the power to revoke charters, he said such a decision "would deny the lifelong benefits of scouting to hundreds of thousands of boys."

Gates also said dozens of states are passing employment equality laws. Thus, Boy Scouts could face challenges from inside and outside the organization. The courts ultimately could force the group to drop the ban, Gates said.

Roger Oldham, spokesman for the Southern Baptist Convention executive committee, said some of the convention's 46,000 churches that sponsored troops dropped them two years ago. Expect more to do so now, he said. Oldham said it is clear the Boy Scouts ultimately will require troops not to reject a leader based on sexual orientation.

"They are telegraphing their end-game goal. We find it disappointing but not surprising," Oldham said.

John Stemberger, a former Scout and vocal opponent of allowing gays to participate, founded Trail Life USA, a Christian youth group claiming 23,000 members in 48 states. He said he was "saddened" by Gates' comments.

"It is tragic that the BSA is willing to risk the safety and security of its boys because of peer pressure from activist groups," he said.

Gates' comments drew praise from Scouts for Equality, a group composed largely of scouting alumni dedicated to ending the ban.

"This is another step forward for the Boy Scouts of America," Scouts for Equality executive director Zach Wahls said in a statement. "I'm proud to see Dr. Gates charting a course towards full equality in the BSA. While our work won't be done until we see a full end to their ban on gay adults once and for all, today's announcement is a significant step in that direction."

Gates' comments also drew partial applause from Human Rights Campaign, a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization.

"We welcome as a step in the right direction President Gates' announcement that the organization will not revoke the charters of chapters that welcome gay Scout leaders and employees," HRC President Chad Griffin said. "But, as we have said many times previously, half measures are unacceptable, especially at one of America's most storied institutions."

Gates served as secretary of Defense from 2006-11. In 2010 he approved regulations making it more difficult to kick gays out of the military. In May 2014, he began a two-year-term as the Boy Scouts' national president. He said then that he supported dropping the ban but also respected the organization's wishes to keep it in place.