Boy Scouts of America Delay Decision on Gay Membership
By: NBC NEWS/CNN
Updated: February 6, 2013
NBC NEWS -- Whether or not the Boy Scouts of America will allow gay Scouts and leaders into its organization remains uncertain.
BSA officials announced Wednesday that it needs more time to review its membership policy.
"In the past two weeks, Scouting has received an outpouring of feedback from the American public. It reinforces how deeply people care about Scouting and how passionate they are about the organization," the organization said in a statement.
"After careful consideration and extensive dialogue within the Scouting family, along with comments from those outside the organization, the volunteer officers of the Boy Scouts of America's National Executive Board concluded that due to the complexity of this issue, the organization needs time for a more deliberate review of its membership policy."
The executive board has directed its committees to further engage representatives of Scouting's membership and take in their perspectives and concerns as officers work toward a resolution on membership standards.
Last week BSA officials said they were considering changing the policy, leaving local sponsoring organizations free to decide for themselves whether to admit gay scouts.
The 1,400 voting members of the national council will take action on the resolution at the national meeting in May.
BSA officials announced Wednesday that it needs more time to review its membership policy.
"In the past two weeks, Scouting has received an outpouring of feedback from the American public. It reinforces how deeply people care about Scouting and how passionate they are about the organization," the organization said in a statement.
"After careful consideration and extensive dialogue within the Scouting family, along with comments from those outside the organization, the volunteer officers of the Boy Scouts of America's National Executive Board concluded that due to the complexity of this issue, the organization needs time for a more deliberate review of its membership policy."
The executive board has directed its committees to further engage representatives of Scouting's membership and take in their perspectives and concerns as officers work toward a resolution on membership standards.
Last week BSA officials said they were considering changing the policy, leaving local sponsoring organizations free to decide for themselves whether to admit gay scouts.
The 1,400 voting members of the national council will take action on the resolution at the national meeting in May.
