Rochester, N.Y.—The Boy Scouts of America could be making dramatic changes to anti-gay policies, according to ABC News.
“I think it’s great, it seems like it’s long overdue,” said Joel Helfrich, a former Eagle Scout who cut ties with the scouts and returned his medals because of the anti-gay policies.
The Boy Scouts of America is considering an end to its bay on openly gay scout leaders. It’s a change that comes in part because of a drop in support from some of the group’s corporate sponsors.
“I think money is absolutely at the core of it,” said Scott Fearing of the Gay Alliance. “Yes, it’s about them wanting to do the right thing, hopefully, but I know that they’ve been forced to do the right thing.”
“We’re hoping it’s going to be really good and exciting,” said Stephen Hoitt, Executive Director of the Seneca Waterways Council, the local governing group of the Boy Scouts of America.
Hoitt said he has not been told of the Boy Scouts of America’s plans, but expects to get a clear signal from the parent organization next week.
Seneca Waterways changed its policy related to gay staff members 12 years ago, according to Hoitt. He considers it a more open policy than some groups, but stopped short of calling it a form of “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, as Fearing characterized it.
