Connecticut Boy Scout Council Will Allow Gays

This story was written by Paul Petrone. It was reposted by Eileen McNamara.

MILFORD, CT - On May 23, The Boy Scouts of America's Connecticut Yankee Council, which runs camps in several towns and has members from dozens more communities, broke with the national Boy Scouts in announcing that it will now allow gay adults and youths. On Thursday, the national BSA announced it would admit gay youths only. It was a major change for the national organization, but it did not go as far as the Connecticut Yankee Council.

Last Friday, Connecticut Yankee Council President Michael Abrahamson posted a letter on the council's website entitled "Scouting is for Everyone." In it, he explains why his council will no longer ban openly gay members.

"Scouting in the Connecticut Yankee Council is open to all youth and adults who subscribe to the values of the Scout Oath and Law regardless of their personal sexual orientation," Abrahamson wrote. "All our Scouts and leaders must display the highest levels of good conduct and any sexual conduct within Scouting is unacceptable. Our charter partners retain the responsibility to select the best possible leadership for their units consistent with their moral values."

The Connecticut council has districts that cover most of the western shoreline of Connecticut, starting in Madison, and runs camps in North Haven and Killingworth.

The group GLAAD, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, which has lobbied for the Boy Scouts to repeal its ban on gays, heralded the Connecticut Council's decision as "courageous."

"The Connecticut Yankee Council has taken a courageous move in favor of equality for Scouts and adult leaders. By allowing any qualified youth and adult to participate, regardless of sexual orientation, the Council is demonstrating that fairness is more important than fear," said Rich Ferraro, a GLAAD spokesman. "We hope that the Boy Scouts of America will follow their lead and listen to a majority of Americans who believe Scouting should be open to all."