Boy Scouts New Policy To Accept Gays Starts Jan. 1
IRVING (CBSDFW.COM) -- Come Wednesday a new policy allowing gay Boy Scouts goes into effect.
The Irving-based Boy Scouts of America voted this year to allow gay scouts, but not gay leaders.
The controversial decision led some members to form a new organization called Life Trail USA.
Life Trail USA is nearly identical to Boy Scouts, except for its stance on gay members.
Ron Orr, the vice chair for leadership for the organization, said Trail Life's values better align his Christian beliefs, which is the reason his family decided to join the new organization.
Orr, who is a proud Eagle Scout along with his grandpa and oldest son, said it was difficult to leave the Boy Scouts.
"Seeing the organizational change was difficult for me and many others," he said. "We've spent a lot of time and hours of where we go next."
Orr said more than 750 boys in the Dallas-Fort Worth have already signed-up for Trail Life USA.
Much like Orr, Todd Camp of Fort Worth is also a proud Eagle Scout, but he applauds the Scout's policy change.
Camp, who is gay, said he believes for all those who leave Scouts even more will now join because of the policy change.
"The biggest thing about this decision for me was this was one less institution that was telling kids there is something wrong with them for being who they are," he said. "For every parent or church that turns its back on the organization because of this decision, there are going to be twice as many welcoming it with open arms."
In a statement, the Boy Scouts of America said it expected "no major changes to the delivery of the Scouting program" as a result of the policy change.
(©2013 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
Top Trending:
- Dez Bryant Apologizes For Walking Off Field
- Cowboys Fan Attacked After Thanksgiving Day Game
- Texas Gov. Perry Signs "Merry Christmas" Bill
- Blind Woman Injured After Falling Into Manhole
- Baby Found Covered In Cockroaches, Crossing Street
- PHOTOS: Your Pet Pictures
