After reviewing its policies on excluding gays from the Boy Scouts of America, the organization once again reaffirmed its policy on Tuesday. It has decided to make no changes to this rule, despite continued protests against it. The committee was said to be unanimous on its decision.
A small committee formed by top Scout leaders in 2010, "came to the conclusion that this policy is absolutely the best policy for the Boy Scouts," said Deron Smith, the organization's national spokesman.
Members of the Scouts' special committee were not revealed, however a statement said that the group was composed of "a diversity of perspectives and opinions."
Scouts' chief executive, Bob Mazzuca, said that most families of both leaders and Scouts are in support of the policy.
"The vast majority of the parents of youth we serve value their right to address issues of same-sex orientation within their family, with spiritual advisers and at the appropriate time and in the right setting," Mazzuca said. "We fully understand that no single policy will accommodate the many diverse views among our membership or society."
President of the largest gay-rights group, Chad Griffin, said the decision the special committee made was "a missed opportunity of colossal proportions."
"With the country moving toward inclusion, the leaders of the Boy Scouts of America have instead sent a message to young people that only some of them are valued," he said. "They've chosen to teach division and intolerance."
For over ten years, the Boy Scouts have been protested against and accused of disobeying local nondiscrimination laws because of the membership policy.
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