On Monday, the governing board of the Boy Scouts of America voted to end its ban on gay scout leaders.
The national executive board came to the conclusion that the policy "was no longer legally defensible," and the decision was approved by 79 percent of the board, NBC News reports. Local scouting units can still bar gay applicants from leadership positions if hiring them would violate religious beliefs. "This change allows Scouting's members and parents to select local units chartered by organizations with similar beliefs, that best meet the needs of their families," the Boy Scouts said in a statement. About 70 percent of local scouting units are sponsored by religious organizations, with many speaking out about the ban in the past.
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