The Boy Scouts of America lifted a blanket ban on gay scout leaders Monday but will allow religious-backed scout groups to deny leadership positions based on sexual orientation.
Seventy-nine percent of the youth organization’s national executive board voted to lift the ban in a conference call Monday after the measure had been tentatively approved July 10.
“Due to the social, political and legal changes taking place in our country and in our movement, I did not believe the [ban on gay leaders] could be sustained,” Boy Scouts President Robert M. Gates said in a statement after Monday's vote.