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cal04

(41,505 posts) Fri Jun 8, 2012, 03:17 PM Jun 2012

EXCLUSIVE: Zach Wahls On The Boy Scouts’ Decision To Reconsider Anti-Gay Discrimination Policy

EXCLUSIVE: Zach Wahls On The Boy Scouts’ Decision To Reconsider Anti-Gay Discrimination Policy

Today, ThinkProgress caught up with Zach Wahls, who has been advocating for the Boy Scouts of America to change their policy discriminating against LGBT scouts and scout leaders. Last week, he delivered over 275,000 petition signatures from individuals opposed to the policy, a response to the ousting of Ohio mom Jen Tyrrell as a den leader because she is a lesbian. BSA announced today that it will reconsider allowing gay scouts and scouters next year, and Wahls is hopeful that the prospect of change is legitimate, not just a public relations ploy:

WAHLS: It’s not a smokescreen. This proposal was made after Jen Tyrrell’s pettion on Change.org. So even though this has been brought up in the past, it’s never gotten nearly the level of attention that it has today. And as another departure from the past, there’s never been a group — which I actually launched in coordination with a number of other Eagle Scouts today called Scouts For Equality — and we’re going to be working with a number of different groups to really build a community of scouts — Eagle scouts, former scout leaders, that sort of thing — we’re really going to work toward making this policy change.

Watch the full exclusive interview:
http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2012/06/07/496437/exclusive-zach-wahls-discusses-boy-scouts-decision-to-reconsider-anti-gay-discrimination-policy/

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EXCLUSIVE: Zach Wahls On The Boy Scouts’ Decision To Reconsider Anti-Gay Discrimination Policy (Original Post) cal04 Jun 2012 OP

This right-wing site says they are NOT reconsidering... Ian David Jun 2012 #1

Ian David

(69,059 posts)

1. This right-wing site says they are NOT reconsidering...

Reply to cal04 (Original post)

Fri Jun 8, 2012, 03:27 PM

Jun 2012

Boy Scouts Not Changing Membership Policy That Bans Openly Gay Scouts and Scout Leaders

(CNSNews.com) -- The Boy Scouts of America will not reconsider its policy banning openly gay boy scouts and scout leaders from participating in the organization despite a recent online petition, signed by 275,000 people, calling for a change in policy and a resolution calling for local Boy Scout chapters to decide their own membership policies.

“Contrary to media reports, the Boy Scouts of America has no plans to change its membership policy. The introduction of a resolution does not indicate the organization is ‘reviewing’ a policy or signal a change in direction,” according to an official statement from the Boy Scouts of America national office.

“The BSA is a voluntary, private organization that sets policies that are best for the organization,” reads the statement. “The BSA welcomes all who share its beliefs but does not criticize or condemn those who wish to follow a different path.”

<snip>

As a courtesy to Wahls and Tyrrell, the Boy Scouts of America accepted the petition in a private meeting. The BSA maintains that the resolution introduced in April and the petition are not related in any way.

More:
http://cnsnews.com/news/article/boy-scouts-not-changing-membership-policy-bans-openly-gay-scouts-and-scout-leaders

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