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Boy Scouts of America Lifts Ban on Gay Leaders

CBN

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The Boy Scouts of America now allows gay scout leaders.

BSA President Bob Gates announced the change Monday, approved by the organization's national executive board by a 45-12 vote.

Until now, the BSA had allowed homosexuals to be scouts but were not allowed to hold leadership positions. Gates said that policy was not sustainable and would lead to lawsuits.

"For far too long this issue has divided and distracted us," the former defense secretary, who became BSA president in May 2014, said. "Now it's time to unite behind our shared belief in the extraordinary power of scouting to be a force for good."

Church-sponsored chapters that object to gay leaders on religious grounds are exempt from the policy.

Still, several denominations that host BSA chapters are threatening to leave the organization.

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