Since decision to allow gays, some Boy Scouts lose sponsors or join Christian-based Trail Life

Has your community reacted to the decision by the Boy Scouts of America to allow gay members to be admitted? It seems that some people are responding by joining the recently founded Trail Life USA, an organization similar to the Boy Scouts, with some major exceptions -- no gay members allowed, and only Christians can be leaders, Jeff Kunerth reports for the Orlando Sentinel. "And while Trail Life will ban openly gay boys, if a child shows same-sex attraction or 'gender confusion,' he will be counseled by the church ministry along with his parents." (Photo by Clashdaily.com)

But those leaving the Boy Scouts for Trail Life are in the minority. Boy Scouts national commissioner Tico Perez told Kunerth that fewer than 1 percent of the organization's 2.6 million members have left since the policy was changed. And as of Sept. 22, only three churches have withdrawn sponsorship from the Central Florida Council of Boy Scouts. Bill Gosselin, director of operations, told Kunerth the May decision has actually increased membership, with the seven-county district having added 2,000 new families, and they expect to attract 6,500 by the end of October. (Read more)

The same can't be said in other states. In Kentucky, the Boy Scouts' Blue Grass Council, which consists of 209 chartered organizations in 55 counties in Eastern and Central Kentucky, announced that 20 organizations have dropped, or plan to drop, their Scouting units in response to the policy change, Ryan Quinn reports for The State Journal in Frankfort. "Civic and educational groups can become chartered organizations, but faith-based groups sponsor more than 70 percent of Scouting units nationwide." The State Journal is subscription-only, but can be viewed by clicking here.