In a vote of 61% to 38%, Boy Scouts of America’s National Council voted on Thursday to allow openly gay Scouts, though they leave their doors closed to gay leaders.
Most gay rights advocates were not surprised by the progressive outcome of the vote, made by over 1,400 national members, according to ABC News.
The organization commented that they had completed its "most comprehensive listening exercise in Scouting's history" on the gay membership issue. The policy will officially change on Jan. 1, 2014.
The BSA further said, “While people have different opinions about this policy, we can all agree that kids are better off when they are in Scouting, according to NY Daily News. “The Boy Scouts of America will not sacrifice its mission, or the youth served by the movement, by allowing the organization to be consumed by a single, divisive and unresolved societal issue.”
BSA President Wayne Perry said in a press conference, “We’re moving forward together…our vision is to serve every kid.”
Though this is a big step for the LGBT community and the BSA, many will not rest until the ban on gay leaders is lifted.
“It's still a damning and destructive message that they're going to send to young people,” said former Eagle Scout James Dale, who was fired as assistant Scoutmaster of a New Jersey troop after coming out as gay. “They will go from celebrated Eagle Scout when they're 17 years old to basically not being welcome anymore once the clock strikes 12 and they're 18 years old."
On the other side of the issue, many conservative groups and churches have threatened to withdraw their sponsorship from Boy Scout troops if openly-gay members were permitted.