Scoutla gay

The Boy Scouts' national spokesman, Deron Smith, said there was no change in that policy, which has been highly divisive. As for any further response to the New York announcement, Smith said, "We are looking into the matter. Tessier has been a vocal advocate of opening the year-old organization to gay scouts and leaders.

Mason said by phone. The New York group, like scoutla gay other local scouting councils, has said before that it is open to gay employees. The national organization changed its policy in to allow openly gay youth as scouts, but not adults as leaders, after a bitter debate over its membership policy.

The change took effect in January Ahead of Thursday's announcement, Tessier has been getting legal advice from prominent lawyer David Boies, whose recent causes include arguing for recognition of same-sex marriage. Boise said it was possible that Tessier's hiring could lead to litigation between the New York chapter and the BSA's national headquarters, but he expressed hope this could be avoided.

About Scouts For Equality

However, national BSA leaders, after wrestling with the membership policy in andhave conveyed no interest in reopening the discussions. Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who became the BSA's president in Maysaid at the time that he personally would have favored ending the ban on gay adults, but he opposed any further debate after the Scouts' policymaking body upheld the ban.

Reopening the issue, Gates said, "would irreparably fracture and perhaps even provoke a formal, permanent split in this movement - with the high likelihood neither side would subsequently survive on its own. When the national Boy Scouts began allowing gay boys as scouts, liberal Scout leaders and gay rights groups celebrated the shift but called for allowing gay adults to participate, too.

Conservatives involved with the Scouts, including some churches that sponsor troops, decried letting any gays - including boys - participate. Some scoutla gay when the scoutla gay on gay youth was lifted. The Boy Scouts of America has said it doesn't "proactively inquire" about members' sexual orientation - in effect, a form of "don't ask, don't tell.

While some other local Boy Scout councils also have let it be known they are accepting of openly gay employees, the year-old New York councils' move presents an unusually acute departure from the national policy. Wahls said it was the first case he was aware of that a council publicly acknowledged that one of its adult staffers was gay.

The New York councils serve more than 46, young people, in both boys' scout troops and other programs, such as pre-professional "explorer" initiatives; some include girls. About 9, boys and girls are expected in its summer camps this year. Tessier achieved scouting's highest rank last year.

The Kensington, Maryland, teen said then he was relieved finally to have his Eagle badge approved by the Scouts' national headquarters in Irving, Texas. Featured Local Savings. More from CBS News. Here's what's on the agenda for the Texas special session. Police chief candidate for Fort Worth withdraws application.

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