Boy Scouts Reaffirm Policy Excluding Gays

Earlier this week, the Boy Scouts of America reaffirmed their policy of excluding gays from the 102-year-old organization.

According to a Boy Scouts of America (BSA) press release, the organization affirmed its current policy and stated "it remains in the best interest of Scouting and that there will be no further action taken on the resolution."

The decision follows a two-year review by volunteers and professional leaders. Their goal, the BSA stated, was to determine whether the policy was in the best interests of the organization.

“The vast majority of the parents of youth we serve value their right to address issues of same-sex orientation within their family, with spiritual advisers, and at the appropriate time and in the right setting,” said Bob Mazzuca, Chief Scout Executive, Boy Scouts of America, in a released statement. “While a majority of our membership agrees with our policy, we fully understand that no single policy will accommodate the many diverse views among our membership or society.”

The announcement angered critics of the policy, the Huffington Post reported.

"With the country moving toward inclusion, the leaders of the Boy Scouts of America have instead sent a message to young people that only some of them are valued," Chad Griffin, president of the gay rights group Human Rights Campaign, told the Huffington Post. "They've chosen to teach division and intolerance."

Did the Boys Scouts of America make the right decision? Does this policy affect your decision as to whether or not to participate in scouting? Let us know in the comments.