Boy Scouts Lift Ban on Gay Leaders

The Boy Scouts of America has fully lifted its ban on openly gay adult leaders and company employees. The new policy received 79 percent of the vote at Monday’s National Executive Board meeting and is effective immediately. It does not, however, prohibit chartered and religious organizations from not hiring adult leaders on the basis of sexuality. In response, New York is ending its discrimination investigation into the group. The largest sponsor of Scout units, the Mormon church, said it was "deeply troubled" by the decision and church leaders say they are looking into forming their own Boy Scouts-like organization.