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In reply to the discussion: NBC News: Boy Scouts Close to Ending Ban on Gay Members, Leaders [View all]Gothmog
(145,321 posts)Right now, most large councils operate on a "don't ask, don't tell" policy where so long as you do not wear your scout uniform to a gay pride event, the national policy is not enforced. The Dale case involved a young leader who wore his uniform to a gay pride event and forced the BSA to act.
Many Districts have leaders who everyone knows are gay. I am told that there are 8 or so leaders in my local district who are gay including several who trained me a decade or so ago. No one cares about these leaders being gay.
The proposed compromise is designed to answer some concerns from the LDS units. LDS may make up less than 5% of the population but LDS chartered units account for 15% to 25% of the units chartered in all of scouting. It sounds like the proposed policy will allow chartering organizations (in my case my reformed Jewish congregation) to make up their own minds as to the qualifications of their leaders and members. My unit has made it clear that we will ignore and not ask about the sexual orientation of any leaders and so we are in technical compliance with the national policy. The local and council leaders are happy with this approach in that no one wants a fight (my temple has a number of members who are on the board of the local United Way board).
A large number of leaders have been working from within the BSA to change the current policy and this change will be acceptable to many leaders in that it will make things easier.
BTW, the Dale case could have been decided on different grounds in that the BSA rules are clear than no one is suppose to wear their uniform to any political event. That rule will remain in place even under these changes.