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Boy Scouts usher in an inclusive era

A Boy Scout wore his kerchief embroidered with a rainbow knot during Salt Lake City’s annual gay pride parade in 2014.AP/file

Racing to catch up with modern America, the Boy Scouts on Monday ended their ban on openly gay leaders. This is a welcome outcome, and an outgrowth of the progressive tone struck by Boy Scouts of America president Robert Gates in May when he urged the group to accept society’s verdict that discrimination based on sexual orientation is morally and legally wrong. A 17-member executive committee approved a resolution earlier this month to drop the longstanding ban, sending it to the 80-member executive board for a final vote.

But after fighting a losing battle for so long, can the BSA find a winning strategy to reclaim the trust of American families? Under the new policy, troops chartered in religious institutions can still choose leaders based on the beliefs of that organization. But the freedom for other troops to be inclusive has been far too long in the coming. A century-old program that should be hallowed for its ability to inspire leadership, public service, outdoor skills, fitness, and leave-no-trace conservation in youth of all abilities has instead alienated some public school systems and more liberal denominations. Many parents understandably feared that enrollment in scouts was an endorsement of bigotry.

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In this new era, Americans should hope for a resurgent BSA. Despite the negative national policies, thousands of scout volunteers have advocated for change at the local level, often cheered on by gay leaders who had been expelled. Much of that leadership came from New England, where the Boston Minuteman Council and others were the first in the nation to establish nondiscrimination policies to serve a diverse public and retain the support of major funders.

For all of its self-inflicted wounds, the Boy Scouts still offer young people the highest of achievements no matter how humble their circumstances. One need not be a star athlete, musician, or genius mathematician to become an Eagle Scout or earn the Venturing Summit Award. In keeping with its mission to produce courteous and kind scouts, the BSA itself should embark on a fresh public relations campaign to reassure families that gay scouts and gay leaders are not merely allowed, but are welcome.

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