Conroe Boy Scouts disband rather than allow gays in

A Conroe Boy Scout troop chartered by a Baptist church has chosen to disband in response to a ruling by the Boy Scouts of America to allow gays to become scouts, according to a report in The Villager.

The paper quoted Troop 1855 Leader Mike Davis from an email it says he sent to parents that they will not be renewing their charter in December.

The 1855 is currently camping at El Rancho Cima in Wimberly until July 6, according to their official site. Conroe troop leaders didn't immediately return calls for comment.

The BSA voted on May 23 that youth cannot be kept from joining the group because of sexual preference or orientation.

Boys who are 11 through 17 , or have earned the Cub Scouting Arrow of Light award and are at least 10 years old, or have completed the fifth grade and are at least 10 years old are eligible to join the Scouts.

This Conroe pack is governed by the Sam Houston Area Council of the BSA. In April, that council voted to continue a policy effectively banning gays from becoming scouts or adult volunteers, ahead of the larger BSA vote.

A recent survey of parents, volunteers and backers in the Sam Houston Council showed strong support for keeping the policy as it is, officials said.

They said 75 percent of respondents to the survey were against changing the current national membership policy.

SHAC spokesperson Lynda Sanders reminds that the BSA has already made a decision on not allowing gay adult leaders, pointing to the May 23 statment from the group on the matter.

"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."