The Boy Scouts of America will no longer ban gay troop leaders. Their vote was in response to increasing lawsuits, shrinking membership and 21st century mores. But rather than being hailed as a watershed, it’s being viewed more as a half-measure because it allows local troops — many of whom are faith-based — the right to discriminate against people based on sexual orientation. Five of the six scouting districts in New Jersey are in favor of lifting the ban. The Northern New Jersey Boy Scouts of America Lenape Trail District Director Eric Chamberlin told NJTV News Anchor Mary Alice Williams that the Boys Scouts’ decision is a positive one.
“I think our response is very positive with Dr. [Robert] Gates and his wisdom with moving our organization towards this means,” said Chamberlain. “I think it will be well accepted.”
The decision by the Boy Scouts is being criticized for failing to fully lift the ban gay troop leaders since it transfers the right to keep gay troop leaders out to local districts. Chamberlin said that he thinks the Boy Scouts view the decision as one that creates opportunities for additional charter partners to start scouting groups.
“It certainly could create opportunities for those charter partners in the past such as some educational groups, some religious organizations that are more on the liberal side that now could jump on board and be part of the scouting program,” said Chamberlin.
Chamberlin said that in the past other groups and organizations might have not wanted to join because of the ban on gay troop leaders.
When asked if he expects the Mormon church to leave the Boy Scouts, Chamberlin said, “That I do not know.”
Chamberlin said that he hopes the ruling will help increase enrollment for the Boy Scouts, which has been declining.
A few years ago, a New Jersey Eagle Scout, James Dale, had been kicked out of scouting because he decided to come out. The lawsuit went all the way to the Supreme Court, where it was decided that the Boy Scouts would lift the ban against gay scouts but not leaders. Whether a case similar to the one with Dale could make its way to court due to the ban on gay leaders, Chamberlin said that he doesn’t believe so.
“I think this was just the normal progression of how the scouts have to deal with the current social, political and legal atmospheres in our country today and so to make sure that we have sustainability, we have opted to adjust our leadership standards and allow these opportunities to exist,” he said.
Chamberlin said recruitment for Boy Scouts will not change.
“We have always been out and active in our communities to serve scouting where there currently isn’t a scouting program. So we will continue to do that,” he said.