be prepared

Boy Scouts to Accept Gay Members

Starting January 1.

Always be prepared for change. The Boy Scouts of America will begin accepting openly gay members beginning January 1, marking a historic change that BSA leaders are hoping will go over quietly. "My hope is there will be the same effect this Jan. 1 as the Y2K scare," said Brad Haddock, chair of BSA's policy implementation committee. "It's business as usual, nothing happens and we move forward." There are some limits: Scouts may not march in gay pride parades or be distracted by the "advocacy, promotion, or the distribution of information of a sexual nature." BSA also said that if a Scout or parent makes a request not to tent with another Scout, that request must be honored. Openly gay adults are still barred from leadership positions within BSA.