Last edited Fri Feb 27, 2026, 06:32 PM - Edit history (1)
I was one of the founders of my temple's scouting troop and my oldest was the first Eagle Scout for our troop. While I was also on the board of my Temple, an issue came up about the "official" BSA policy on gays in Scouting. This policy was intended to help keep the troops formed by LDS temples happy. I had to deal with board of the Temple and we had assurances from the leadership of our regional governing body that BSA had a "don't ask, don't tell" type policy with respect to sexual orientation of scouts. To make the board happy, I actually had to go meet with the leadership of our Council (the regional governing body). Among other things, I pointed out to the leadership of our council that my Temple and the other Temple with a scout troop had a good number of members on the board of United Way and other groups who help support scouting.
I am hoping that Hegseth is overstating the agreement with Scouting. I saw this in the Washington Post
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/02/27/hegseth-scouting-america
Hegseth’s announcement was less clear about the agreement’s impact on transgender children who wish to join the Scouts or remain in their Scouting troops. In his video statement, Hegseth said that Scouting America will “modify its policy to make clear that membership will be based solely on biological sex at birth and not gender identity,” and he assailed the organization for having “welcomed the destructive myth of gender fluidity and transgenderism to infiltrate their membership.”
“Any application will have only two sex designations, male and female, and the application must match the applicant’s birth certificate,” he said. “Scouting will also make clear that biological boys and girls will not be allowed to occupy or share intimate spaces together — toilets, showers, tents, anywhere like that.”
In a statement to The Washington Post, Scouting America said that children have always joined according to their biological gender and that no modification was necessary on that issue.
“Scouting has accepted transgender youth since 2017 and will continue to work with families to ensure transgender youth feel welcome in Scouting,” it said. “Scouting has extensive safeguarding policies and procedures in place to ensure the safety and comfort of youth members in all situations.”
I am really not happy with Hegseth's attacks on Scouting. I hope that "don't ask, don't tell" is still the policy of scouting
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