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Controversies about who gets to be a member of the Boy Scouts of America

The Boy Scouts of America (BSA), one of the largest private youth organizations in the United States, has policies which prohibit those who are not willing to subscribe to the BSA's Declaration of Religious Principle, which has been interpreted by some as banning atheists, from leadership positions was lifted in July 2015. The BSA had contended that its policies were essential in its mission to instill in young people the values of the Scout Promise, or Oath, and Scout Law. The organization's legal right to have these policies was upheld by the United States Supreme Court. In Boy Scouts of America v. Dale (2000), the Supreme Court of the United States affirmed that as a private organization, the BSA can set its own membership standards. The BSA's policies have been legally challenged but have not been found to constitute discrimination because as a private organization in the United States, the BSA has the right to freedom of association, as determined in the court case.

The Boy Scouts of America makes a division between its Scouting programs and the Learning for Life program. The traditional Scouting programs are Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, and Venturing. Exploring is the worksite based program of Learning for Life. The positions on religious or spiritual belief within Scouting programs do not apply to leadership positions and membership in the Learning for Life programs.

The Boy Scouts of America's official position in the past has been that atheists cannot participate as Scouts or adult Scout Leaders in its traditional Scouting programs. Organized religion has been an integral part of the international Scouting movement since its inception. As early as 1908, Scouting founder Robert Baden Powell wrote in the first Scout handbook that, "No man is much good unless he believes in God and obeys His laws." For much of its existence, the BSA has taken the position that atheists are not appropriate role models of the Scout Oath and Law for boys, and thus have not accepted such persons as members or adult leaders. Beyond these requirements, the BSA does not require adherence to particular Christian religious beliefs. Buddhists, followers of Native American religions, Muslims, Jews, Christians of all denominations, and many others, including those who define their own spirituality, can be and are members of the BSA. The BSA recognizes religious awards for about 35 faith groups including Islam, Judaism, Baháʼí, Zoroastrianism, Hinduism, Sikhism and 28 varieties of Christianity. Boy Scouts of America–approved religious emblems exist for a number of religions, while other emblems remain unrecognized by the BSA. In regard to Unitarian Universalism, the BSA has had a history of disagreements with the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), dating back at least to 1992 when the UUA stated its opposition to the BSA's policies on homosexuals, and atheists. In March 2016, following a change of BSA policy regarding homosexuality, the BSA signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA). The MOU gives any Unitarian Universalist congregation the authority over all phases of the program that affect the spiritual welfare of those who participate. As part of the agreement in the MOU, the religious emblems developed by the Unitarian Universalist Association were reinstated as of May 2016. Under the terms of the MOU, the UUA has said that "when a Unitarian Universalist community charters a Boy Scout unit, religious teachings will remain firmly rooted in Unitarian Universalist theology," while also saying that "The UUA, even while moving with gratitude into this new relationship with the Boy Scouts of America, recognizes that the BSA's requirement for scouts and leaders to affirm a religious belief is at odds with our noncreedal faith tradition. The UUA will continue to work to move the BSA toward greater inclusion." The Secular Coalition for America has urged Congress to revoke the federal charter of the BSA, stating: "Our government must not entangle itself in religious organizations; nor should it establish, with government imprimatur, a private religious club." In 2000, the House of Representatives rejected a bill proposing the revocation of the BSA's federal charter by a 362–12 vote, with 216 Republicans, 144 Democrats, and two independents voting against.

In 1967, the Boy Scouts of America's den mother position was changed to den leader and opened to men and women. In 1969, the Boy Scouts of America opened special interest posts to young women to be "associate members". Two years later, the Boy Scouts of America decided to allow any Explorer post to accept young women and/or young men, based on the desires of the chartered organization, and many Explorer posts became co educational. (In 1998, the Exploring program was completely reorganized and split into two program categories, which both accept women and men. All the career oriented posts were moved to Learning for Life under the name Exploring, while the rest (including outdoor oriented posts) became the new Venturing program.) In 1973, most Cub Scout leadership positions were opened to women, and in 1976 the Cubmaster, assistant Cubmaster, and all commissioner positions could also be filled by women. Catherine Pollard was the first female Scoutmaster in the Boy Scouts of America; she led Boy Scout Troop 13 in Milford, Connecticut from 1973 to 1975, but the Boy Scouts of America refused to recognize her as a Scoutmaster until 1988. On January 30, 2017, the Boy Scouts of America announced that transgender boys would be allowed to enroll in boys only programs, effective immediately. Previously, the sex listed on an applicant's birth certificate determined eligibility for these programs; going forward, the decision would be based on the gender listed on the application. Joe Maldonado became the first openly transgender boy to join the Scouts on February 7, 2017. Until 2017, the Boy Scouts of America's official position was that girls could not participate in its Cub Scouting or Boy Scouting programs, its largest programs and the ones serving younger and mid age youth. However, the Venturing and Learning for Life programs were and continue to be open to young men and women ages 14 through 21. On October 11, 2017, the Boy Scouts announced that girls would be allowed to become Cub Scouts, starting in 2018, and that in 2019, a program for older girls would be available as part of the rebranded Scouts BSA program, enabling girls to earn the rank of Eagle Scout. Girls were officially allowed to become full members of all programs the BSA on February 1, 2019, nationwide. The movement to include girls as full members of the BSA was put into the public spotlight most notably by Sydney Ireland. Ireland, age 16 in 2017, had unofficially been participating in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts with her brother for twelve years, completing merit badges and the Arrow of Light, but none of this was officially recognized because she is a girl. Ireland and her family started a Change. org petition to the BSA leadership calling for equal membership. Ireland's petition gained media attention and utilized an email campaign for supporters to contact BSA leadership. It was supported by Scouts for Equality and endorsed by the National Organization for Women. The BSA leadership was receptive and unanimously approved new programs allowing girls and young women into Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. The BSA, upon announcing this program, reaffirmed its commitment to youth protection. Part of the BSA's aim in adopting this policy was to accommodate families with children of different genders, so that sisters of Cub Scouts could be included in the program as well, citing requests from families of Scouts. Michael Surbaugh, former BSA Chief Scout Executive said "This decision is true to the BSA's mission and core values outlined in the Scout Oath and Law. The values of Scouting – trustworthy, loyal, helpful, kind, brave and reverent, for example – are important for both young men and women." "We believe it is critical to evolve how our programs meet the needs of families interested in positive and lifelong experiences for their children. We strive to bring what our organization does best – developing character and leadership for young people – to as many families and youth as possible as we help shape the next generation of leaders." Starting in 2022, Cub Scout Packs officially had the option of Dens with boys and girls. In 2020, the first female Eagle Scouts were added to the Boy Scouts of America.

The membership controversy and subsequent litigation, some of which was in response to the 2000 ruling in Boy Scouts of America v. Dale, prompted a number of expressions of support for the BSA organization, program, or policies. In 2002, the National Executive Board of Boy Scouts of America reiterated its support for the policies and affirmed that "the Boy Scouts of America shall continue to follow its traditional values and standards of leadership". Individuals, commentators, and conservative groups spoke out in support of the Boy Scouts of America. The (now defunct) BSA legal website provided a list of editorials written in support of the BSA. A conservative civil libertarian group, the American Civil Rights Union (not to be confused with the ACLU), set up the Scouting Legal Defense Fund, and routinely helped with lawsuits. In a legal brief filed in support of the BSA, the American Civil Rights Union argued that "To label [the BSA's membership policies] discriminatory and exclusionary, and a civil rights violation, is an assault on the very freedom of American citizens to advance, promote, and teach traditional moral values." In 2000, a group of current and former members of the BSA created the group "Save Our Scouts", in order "to support and defend the principles of the Scout Oath and Law". This group has subsequently closed as a charity due to failure to file annual reports. In 2005, a 19 year old Eagle Scout, Hans Zeiger, wrote a book entitled Get Off My Honor: The Assault on the Boy Scouts of America. In an interview with The Washington Times, he said that "Scouts' honor is under attack in American culture." Zeiger applauded what he saw as the BSA's courage in resisting political pressure, saying, "Regardless of what leads to homosexuality, it is a thing that has an agenda in our society and is very harmful to the traditional family and is causing a tremendous amount of harm to young men. The Boy Scouts are one of the few organizations that have the moral sense to stand against the homosexual agenda." The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints (LDS Church), a former sponsor of units for the Boy Scouts of America (as of January 1, 2020), teaches that homosexual activity is immoral. The LDS Church was the largest single sponsor of Scouting units with over 30,000 units nationwide, which comprise about 13% of BSA's youth members. In 2000, an attorney representing the LDS Church stated that "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints would withdraw from Scouting if it were compelled to accept openly homosexual Scout leaders". This does not differ from the LDS Church policy of allowing "non practicing" self professed gay members to enjoy all the same rights and privileges as any other church member. An LDS spokesman issued a statement "We caution others not to speculate about our position Neither has the [LDS] Church launched any campaign either to effect or prevent a policy change." Despite the LDS's views regarding homosexuality, lawsuits accused the LDS of covering up numerous incidents of sex abuse in its Boy Scout chapters over the course of decades. In March 2013, an extremist subgroup launched "OnMyHonor. net." The group described itself as people "who are united in their support of Scouting's timeless values and their opposition to open homosexuality in the Scouts." The Boy Scouts of America general counsel described OnMyHonor as an "outside party" and requested the site cease and desist using official BSA logos on the site. On June 12, 2013, the Southern Baptist Convention passed non binding resolutions urging the BSA not to change their policy.

There was opposition to BSA's membership policies from organizations and individuals. Some within the Scouting movement, as well as long time Scouting supporters, parents, chartered organizations, and religious organizations expressed opposition to the policies in ways ranging from protests to forming organizations that advocate greater inclusiveness. Some pushed for a voluntary change within the BSA, others sought involuntary change by filing lawsuits, still others chose to disassociate themselves from the BSA or encouraged others to do so. The American Civil Liberties Union brought or was a participant in 14 lawsuits against the Boy Scouts of America from 1981 to March 2006. A few members of the U. S. Congress also spoke out against the BSA's policies. After the Dale decision, some Eagle Scouts (about 100) returned their Eagle Scout badge to the BSA in protest. Scouting reported that the 2013 National Scout Jamboree would be headlined by the band Train and singer Carly Rae Jepsen. In March 2013, both cited the BSA policy on gays at the time as barrier to their performance. Train released a statement saying the group "strongly opposes any kind of policy that questions the equality of any American citizen We look forward to participating in the Jamboree this summer, as long as they make the right decision before then." Jepsen released a statement stating, "As an artist who believes in equality for all people, I will not be participating in the Boy Scouts of America Jamboree this summer." In March, entertainer Madonna made a public appearance dressed as a Scout and called for the ban to be lifted.

The Unitarian Universalist Association's opposition to the BSA's membership exclusions led to a dispute between the organizations. This was resolved in 2016 when the BSA and UUA signed a new Memorandum of Understanding, reestablishing the relationship between the organizations and the UU religious emblems. In 2001, the Union for Reform Judaism's Commission on Social Action, citing a commitment to ending discrimination in all forms, issued a memorandum recommending that congregations stop hosting BSA troops and that parents withdraw their children from all of the Boy Scouts of America's programs. Additionally, the General Synod of the United Church of Christ issued a statement urging the BSA to change policy and stated that "Discrimination against anyone based on sexual orientation is contrary to our understanding of the teachings of Christ."

Some public entities and private institutions ceased financial or other support of the BSA as a result of conflicts between their nondiscrimination policies and the BSA's membership policies. About 50 of the 1,300 local United Ways, including those in Cleveland, Miami, Orlando, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Seattle, withdrew all funding. The BSA also lost all funding from several large corporations that had been regular donors, such as Chase Manhattan Bank, Levi Strauss, Fleet Bank, CVS Pharmacy, and Pew Charitable Trusts. In November 2012, the UPS Foundation, a philanthropic division of UPS, halted its financial donations, amounting to $85,000 in 2011, to the BSA because of its discrimination based on sexual orientation. In 2012, Merck & Co. stopped its funding due to the policy excluding gays and lesbians. In 2013, restaurant chain Chipotle publicly pulled support over the ban. On June 14, 2003, Caterpillar Inc. cut its funding of the BSA, saying "We have inclusive policies here at Caterpillar Inc. [ ] We would certainly consider a change in the future grants if there was a change that aligned with what our non discrimination policies are." A Pennsylvania chapter of the United Way withheld funding over the decision to exclude openly gay leaders. In December 2013, Lockheed Martin announced it would end donations to the BSA over the organization's ban on openly gay adults serving as leaders. The United Way ended financial support for the Great Trails Council after national Scouting policy at the time made it impossible to sign a non discrimination policy crafted by the charitable organization. United Way officials stated that such an agreement was not unique. In March 2013, Microsoft founder and former Scout Bill Gates called on the BSA to lift the ban. The Democratic and Republican 2012 Presidential candidates Barack Obama and Mitt Romney both disagreed with the BSA's policy. Eventual winner and President Obama did agree to serve as the Honorary President of the Boy Scouts of America, in keeping with American tradition since 1910.

Some troops ignored the ban for years. In a 2012 survey asking open ended questions, 5,800 respondents (9%) mentioned the policy in their answers. Of those who did mention the policy, 95 percent said the "reaffirmation of the membership policy negatively impacted their loyalty" to the BSA. In March 2013, the BSA invited its members to take an online survey about the LGBT ban. The survey asked multiple questions, one of which explored the role of gay youth in Scouting:

Tom started in the program as a Tiger Cub, and finished every requirement for the Eagle Scout Award at 16 years of age. At his board of review Tom reveals that he is gay. Is it acceptable or unacceptable for the review board to deny his Eagle Scout award based on that admission? Accord to results released by the BSA, 78% of parents felt it was unacceptable to deny the Scout his Eagle award simply because of his orientation, while only 18% felt it was acceptable. Teens and Scouting Alumni who completed the survey responded similarly. In May 2013, the Western Los Angeles County Council, which oversees some 30,000 youth, released a statement calling for a "true and authentic inclusion policy" that would allow both gay leaders as well as gay Scouts. Just days before the national vote to include gay Scouts (but not leaders), the Connecticut Yankee Council, which serves about 25,000 Scouts, issued an official statement saying "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." On May 22, the sitting president of the BSA, Wayne M. Perry, published an op ed "Let in gay boys" urging passage of the resolution. At the BSA annual national meeting of local council representatives in Boston in 2001, nine local councils submitted a resolution to give more discretion for membership and leadership standards to local councils and chartered organizations; this resolution and two others also seeking to liberalize the policy towards homosexuals were considered by the BSA National Executive Board but the initiative failed in 2002. The policy was revised to the current policy in 2004 and reaffirmed in 2012. Nine councils from large metropolitan centers requested the right to define their own membership policies. National ruled that local councils may not deviate from national policy.

In 1991, William Boyce Mueller, a former Cub Scout and grandson of original Boy Scouts of America founder William Dickson Boyce, helped start a now defunct advocacy group of gay former Scouts called the "Forgotten Scouts". The Inclusive Scouting Network, founded in August 2000, was a group promoting an end to the membership biases. It promoted an unofficial "Inclusive Scouting Award" for people to better the Scouting experience. Scouting for All sought to promote tolerance and diversity within the BSA. Scouts for Equality persuaded several United Way groups to remove funding, as well as having Intel end its $700,000 annual support of local troops. The organization maintained a list of Eagle Scouts who renounced their Eagle awards.

The United Methodist Church, the second largest sponsor of Scouting units, took no public position on the controversy surrounding allowing openly gay leaders in Scouting, although the Church itself had an ongoing internal debate regarding whether or not to accept LGBT clergy. In 2001, the Boston Minuteman Council in Massachusetts approved a non discrimination bylaw in regard to sexual orientation while also clarifying that discussions of sexual orientation were not permitted in Scouting. A national Scout spokesperson explained that the council's bylaw did not conflict with national policy. Some of the lawsuits dealt with the BSA's standards that require Scouts and Scouters to believe in a God, those in leadership positions to not be openly homosexual, and the exclusion of girls from membership in some programs. There was some opposition to single sex membership programs and organizations in the United States including some programs of the BSA. The Boy Scouts of America previously admitted only boys to its Cub Scouting and Boy Scouting programs (this has since changed). Several lawsuits involving girls seeking admission to these programs resulted in court rulings that the BSA is not required to admit girls (see Yeaw v. Boy Scouts of America), although it would eventually do so. In addition, there were several other lawsuits involving essentially the same issues. Ultimately, the courts ruled in favor of the Boy Scouts of America in each case. The courts repeatedly held that the Boy Scouts of America, and all private organizations, have a right to set membership standards in accordance with the First Amendment protected concept of freedom of association. In particular, in Boy Scouts of America v. Dale, the U. S. Supreme Court ruled in 2000 that the BSA's Constitutional right to freedom of association gave the organization the authority to establish its own membership and leadership standards and to expel a gay assistant Scoutmaster. Since the Supreme Court's ruling, the focus of lawsuits shifted to challenging the BSA's relationship with governments in light of their membership policies. A number of lawsuits were filed by or with the assistance of the American Civil Liberties Union over issues such as government association with the BSA and the conditions under which the BSA may access governmental resources.

California considered and rejected the Youth Equality Act. This act would ban organizations with tax exemptions "from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity." A number of public entities (including the cities of Chicago, San Diego, Tempe, Buffalo Grove, Berkeley, and Santa Barbara, as well as the states of California, Illinois, and Connecticut) canceled charitable donations (of money or preferential land access) that had historically been granted to the Scouts. Since Scouting changed its policies, however, few of these same entities reinstated their support.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) took legal action to stop governmental organizations from serving as the chartered organizations (sponsors) of Scouting units in violation of the establishment clause of the First Amendment. The Department of Defense announced in 2004 that it would end direct sponsorship of Scouting units in response to a lawsuit brought by the ACLU. The ACLU's Illinois branch stated that the Boy Scouts discriminated against prospective members who did not want to be sworn in using a religious oath though no such specific oath existed as Scouting does not require joining a specific religion. The BSA agreed in 2005 to transfer all charters it had issued to governmental entities to private entities in response to a request from the ACLU. Previously, about 400 Scouting units had been sponsored by U. S. military bases and over 10,000 by other governmental entities, primarily public schools. In August 2018, the Sea Scouts announced that they would be the official youth group of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary.

Historically, the BSA (and the Girl Scouts of the USA) has often been granted preferential access to governmental resources such as lands and facilities. In certain municipalities, the conditions under which the Boy Scouts of America can access public and nonpublic governmental resources became controversial, sometimes resulting in litigation. When a private organization such as the BSA receives access on terms more favorable than other private organizations, it is known as "special" or "preferential" access whereas "equal" access is access on the same terms. For example, state and local governments may lease property to nonprofit groups (such as the BSA) on terms that are preferential to or equal to the terms they offer to commercial groups, in other words they may give nonprofit groups either special or equal access. Special access includes access at a reduced fee (including no fee) or access to places off limits to other groups. The categorization of access as "special" or "equal" is not always clear cut. Some cities, counties, and states have ordinances or policies that limit government support for organizations that practice some types of discrimination. When the BSA's membership policies are perceived as contrary to these laws, some government organizations have moved to change the terms under which the BSA is allowed to access its resources. Private individuals have filed lawsuits to prevent governmental entities from granting what they see as preferential access. The BSA on the other hand has sued governmental entities for denying what it sees as equal access. The Support Our Scouts Act of 2005 requires state and local governments that receive HUD funding to provide BSA groups equal access to governmental forums (lands, facilities, etc.). State and local governments still have flexibility regarding the provision of special access to the BSA.

Some smaller youth organizations formed directly in response to disagreement with BSA's membership policies. In September 2013, a new group called Trail Life USA was created with a rule of not admitting openly gay youth. This new program is not affiliated by the Boy Scouts of America nor recognized as an official Scouting program (see WOSM below). In September 2013, some Baptist congregations, as well as churches from other Christian denominations, replaced their Boy Scouts of America Troops with those of the Trail Life USA program.

There have been membership controversies in the past that have been resolved, such as those related to the exclusion of women from some leadership positions, the breakup of Exploring, and racial segregation.

Segregated public schools were declared unconstitutional in 1954 by a unanimous Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of Education, but the Boy Scouts of America included racially segregated units as late as 1974. In 1974, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People sued in response to such racial discrimination in Latter day Saints affiliated troops. Two 12 year old black Scouts sought to fill the role of Senior Patrol Leader. Mormon boys enter the lowest level of the priesthood at 12, and the church's rules required that the Senior Patrol Leader be a deacon with the church. Until 1978, Mormon doctrine prohibited people of African descent from being members of the priesthood, and thus black Scouts were prohibited from holding the office of Senior Patrol Leader in Mormon affiliated troops. The parties ultimately reached settlement.

+ Annual Youth MembershipYearTiger Cubs, Cubs, WebelosBoy Scouts,Varsity ScoutsVenturers (post 1997), Explorers (pre 1998), not incl. LFL (post 1989)TotalTraditionalScouting 1999 2,181,013 1,028,353 202,486 3,411,852 2000 1,745,324 943,426 249,948 2,938,698 2006 1,701,861 922,836 244,256 2,868,963 2007 1,687,986 913,588 254,259 2,855,833 2008 1,665,635 905,879 261,122 2,832,636 2009 1,634,951 898,320 257,361 2,790,632 2010 1,601,994 898,852 238,846 2,739,692 2011 1,583,166 909,576 231,127 2,723,869 2012 1,528,421 910,163 219,453 2,658,794 2013 1,417,034 888,947 192,080 2,498,061 2014 1,295,527 854,692 157,655 2,307,874 2015 1,261,340 840,654 142,892 2,244,886 2016 1,262,311 822,999 136,629 2,221,939 2017 1,245,882 834,124 87,827 2,167,83320181,231,831789,78455,1012,076,71620191,176,119798,51642,5712,017,2062020 649,248 474,403 23,7311,147,3822021526,310439,60317,280983,193 2022 580,194 414,564 15,4001,010,158 Most Recent Peak 1999 1999 2008 1997 Change (2002 to 2022) % % % %

In 2001, South Park satirized the controversy over inclusion of gay men as scoutmasters. In that episode, "Cripple Fight", Big Gay Al, the local scoutmaster, is beloved by the boys. Under pressure from parents, BSA leaders kick Big Gay Al out of the group and he is replaced by a very regimenting and masculine man who goes on to commit abuses.