Robert Gates became the president of the Boy Scouts of America when it was facing division due to the organization battling with the concept of accepting openly gay scout leaders and associates within its ranks, and the Christian base that opposed them. Concluding his two-year term, Gates mentioned that the organization has taken great leaps forward for LGBT equality. However, there are certain clauses that are left behind in his wake that are giving people some pause.
Gates defended a compromise between gay people interested in serving for Boys Scouts of America, and Christian churches using one’s sexual orientation has a factor when selecting scout leaders. During his term as president, Gates had to carefully satisfy the organization’s Christian foundation, as well as the sponsors and public identities that wanted to see the scout’s membership become more inclusive.
Gates realizes that this sort of compromise is difficult to manage, citing that the organization has maintained unity even in the wake of these unique challenges. Gates has supported the end of the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, and supported the idea of allowing gay youth into its ranks.
The Unique Controversies of Boy Scouts of America
The Boys Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in America. Unfortunately, it has had a problematic history when it comes to its membership policies. Under the Scout Oath and Law, the organization has actively segregated and even dispatched those who were agnostic and atheists, with it, revoking memberships of LGBT individuals until the requirements were changed in 2015. Boys Scouts of America is a private organization and it has the right to enact membership policies in any which way. However, state laws that protect LGBT people has positioned the organization for a slew of lawsuits in recent years.
Robert Gates’ Replacement – Randall Stephenson
On May 26, 2016, the Boys Scouts of America elected AT&T’s chairman, Randall Stephenson as Gates’ replacement. Many are wondering if he will be the final push to encourage the Boys Scouts of America to enter the 21st century. Stephenson’s track record show that he can be the man for the job.
The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, or GLAAD, has noted Stephenson’s support of the LGBT community, specifically those who are persecuted in Russia. Stephenson and AT&T have shown support for LGBT folks, citing that diversity and inclusion are an integral part of company “culture and operations.” Will he inspire the Boys Scouts of America the same way that he inspired AT&T?
Featured image by The U.S. Army on Flickr, available under an Attribution 2.0 Generic license.
