nation

As the proud parent of an Eagle Scout, I must say, it's about time. It's time for BSA to stop capitulating to bullying by the likes of the Family Research Council.

As the proud parent of an Eagle Scout I'm sorry to see they're caving on this. Actually they're just shifting the responsibility to the sponsoring organization to take the heat.

As an Eagle Scout, I will once again be a proud Eagle Scout--not ashamed to share this accomplishment and all that I learned from my years a scout. Proud to encourage friends' kids to take up scouting for the valuable lessons it can teach about leadership, citizenship and teamwork, and no longer ashamed that I had been part of an organization that--on a national level--promoted bigotry and misunderstanding.

Well said, blendedveg. About time BSA stepped boldly into the 20th century.

"Actually they're just shifting the responsibility to the sponsoring organization to take the heat." No, not to take the heat, but to make a decision at the local community level that they can live with. If you don't like the decision your local troop makes regarding this, then form your own group and ask me if I care? You are entitled to your opinion and "ways" and so is everybody else in this world.

Glad to see the change, scouts are suppose to be trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly , courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent...nowhere does it say judgemental...

@comment229 -- It's certainly better that they let the decisions come down to each local group, but I wish they'd have the courage to say ALL BSA troops should be inclusive, as opposed to continuing to support localized discrimination. Sometimes people need leaders, not just "response to community 'values.'"

smkmn13: I can see what you are saying, but I think it is like all other parts of this discussion, in that, it will take time. And I think you and I agree on what has been done; however, I will never impose my values on others. If somebody does not agree with my opinion, I can live with that, just so I don't have to live by their rules and in this case, the ability to form my own troop.

Anybody who really knows Scouting knows that sexuality or sexual expression - of any kind - plays ZERO role in scout activity. This is a needless witch hunt. No one in scouting gives a damn about sexuality, except low-information outside agitators.

It's good to see the Scouts moving into the present. I grew up in Scouting, but I have not been interested in letting my son join. Fortunately, he hasn't shown much interest, so its been a non-issue. In the short-term, I suppose this could cause some folks to shift from one troop to another, based on the policies of the individual troops (in larger areas where there are choices). Some new folks will join, and some will quit altogether. In some smaller areas, there could even be the possibility of alternate troops forming depending on the policy decisions of the existing troop. Eventually, however, I would suspect that most local troops become open to all folks. I would also suspect that, as with most things, certain (unnamed) geographical regions of our nation will lag behind.