Recently the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) national council announced that they will consider dropping the ban on openly gay leaders and members in their troops in May.

I was a Boy Scout through much of my grade and high school. In fact, my first leadership position in life was leader of the Flaming Arrows patrol and then senior patrol leader of the entire troop. It became an important part of learning how to work in a small team with all types of different people.

This opportunity should not be denied a gay youth or adult. When I was a child, it would not have been significant to me. I don’t question having gay members of my karate club, school, temple or my company today. I trust leaders of all types to teach my children and me.

News sources report that while BSA may remove its ban on openly gay Scouts in May, it would instead  let local chartering organizations (churches and civic organizations) implement their own ban. Laws in our workplace don’t allow small businesses to discriminate. What type of example does BSA set allowing its organizations to do this?

The strongest teams are filled with many different types of members that have a variety of backgrounds. Successful small businesses know this. It’s time that the Boy Scout’s learn truly how to lead.

What do you think?