Opponents of gay rights on Thursday
lamented a decision to allow openly gay youth in the Boy Scouts of
America (BSA).
At its annual gathering outside Dallas,
Texas, 61 percent of the roughly 1,400 volunteer leaders from
scouting's 270 councils approved a proposal put forth by the BSA to
end its ban on openly gay scouts. The resolution, which takes effect
January 1, keeps in place a ban on gay adults.
That was little consolation to Bryan
Fischer of the Christian conservative American Family Association
(AFA), who tweeted an epitaph for the BSA.
“Epitaph: On this day, the Boy Scouts
of America died, sacrificing their honor and the sexual integrity of
young men,” Fischer messaged.
Matt Barber of Liberty Counsel called
the decision “so sad.”
“Rich 100-year history of @BoyScouts
as 'honorable' & 'morally straight' ends in disgrace,” he
messaged to his nearly 15,000 followers on Twitter.
The Family Research Council (FRC),
which had lobbied the BSA not to adopt the new policy, also expressed
disappointment.
“Sadly, the @BoyScouts' legacy of
producing great leaders has become yet another casualty of moral
compromise,” the group tweeted.