The Boy Scouts of America is proposing to end its ban for gay youth members, but will continue to forbid gays as adult leaders. The proposal still needs to be voted on by its nearly 1,400 members of its National Council at a meeting in Texas in May. Gay rights groups want to see a wholesale lift, but some conservative groups want the ban to remain in place in its entirety.
In January, the Boy Scouts of America announced that it wanted to let local Scout chapters decide whether they want to include or exclude gay members. "While perspectives and opinions vary significantly, parents, adults in the Scouting community and teens alike tend to agree that youth should not be denied the benefits of Scouting," the statement released by the Boy Scouts of America said.
Guest:
Kate Sheppard, a staff reporter at Mother Jones