National Gay and Lesbian Task Force slams Boy Scouts of America’s reaffirmation of anti-gay policy

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force today responded to the continuing refusal by the Boy Scouts of America to change its policy of excluding gay people. A special committee of Scouts leaders made its recommendation to reaffirm this anti-gay policy and, as a consequence, the Scouts’ national executive board reportedly will not reconsider changing its membership policy to allow gay people to serve in that organization.

This is the statement from Darlene Nipper, Deputy Executive Director, of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force:

“Clinging to a policy of exclusion and intolerance is hardly a good lesson for our young people. Once again, officials of the Boy Scouts of America have turned their backs on a chance to demonstrate fairness, exercise sound judgment, and serve as a role model for valuing others, free of bias and prejudice. This is deeply disappointing. Discrimination is never the right policy, period.”