Beginning Jan. 1, Boy Scouts of America will no longer ban gay youth from Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts or coed Venturers solely due to their sexual orientation, the Associated Press reported.
The new policy states that although members can no longer be kept from joining BSA because they are openly gay, there will be some restrictions and adjustments for them, according to the AP.
Brad Haddock, a BSA national executive board member, hopes the policy will be considered fair by all, though he does expect minor issues after the policy is implemented, the AP reported.
"It's business as usual, nothing happens and we move forward," Haddock said, according to the AP, adding until now "there hasn't been a whole lot of fallout. If a church said they wouldn't work with us, we'd have a church right down the street say, 'We'll take the troop.'"
The policy was approved in May and passed with 60 percent of votes from 1,400 members of the BSA board, the AP reported. Though openly gay members will now be able to join BSA, the group also announced they will continue to prohibit openly gay adults from leadership roles.
Anticipating that problems will arise, the BSA released documents with numerous questions and answers to frequently asked questions, with one restriction to the new policy being that "any sexual conduct, whether heterosexual or homosexual, by youth of Scouting age is contrary to the virtues of Scouting," and "no member may use Scouting to promote or advance any social or political position or agenda, including on the matter of sexual orientation," the AP reported.
Other questions like if a scout can march in uniform in a gay-pride parade was also answered: No, according to the AP. The BSA states that "each youth member is free as an individual to express his or her thoughts or take action on political or social issues," adding that scouts "must not use Scouting's official uniforms and insignia when doing so."
The BSA also stated that though a member can express his sexual preference "that acknowledgment may not reach the level of distraction, which may include advocacy, promotion, or the distribution of information of a sexual nature," according to the AP.
New implementations for showers and sleeping arrangements were also explained through the BSA documents, the AP reported.
"The adult leaders have the discretion to arrange private showering times and locations," the BSA says, adding that unit leaders will handle sleeping arrangements as they see fit. "If a Scout or parent of a Scout makes a request to not tent with another Scout, their wishes should be honored," according to the BSA, the AP reported.
The Mormon and Roman Catholic Church, two major supporters of the BSA, are standing by the new policy and have said their parishes will continue to sponsor Scout units, the AP reported.
"As the new policy currently stands, I see no reason to prohibit our parishes from sponsoring Boy Scout troops," said Rev. Kevin Rhoades, bishop of Indiana's Fort Wayne-South Bend diocese. "At the same time, it is critical that we be vigilant on how this new policy is interpreted and implemented."
Other churches and members have decided to cut ties, like some Texas parents and leaders who have switched to Trail Life USA, a similar group to the Boy Scouts which is described as "a Christian adventure, character, and leadership program for young men," according to the AP.
"As Christians, from a scriptural basis, we love all folks, but the scripture is very clear that being homosexual is a sin," Ron Orr, a business consultant from the Fort Worth who is working with Trail Life USA to sign up members, said, the AP reported. "We've got to be able to hold a strong line and set a consistent example for our young men."
