A decision by the Boy Scouts of America is drawing a lot of reaction here in Texas.
Gov. Rick Perry is an Eagle Scout and for years he has pressured the Boy Scouts of America not to allow openly gay members. He issued saying the decision 鈥渃ontradicts generations of tradition in the name of political correctness.鈥� He said he will always cherish his time as a scout, but says he is 鈥済reatly disappointed鈥� with the decision.
The said in that the organization has a right to determine its own membership standards, and says the decision to eliminate the youth membership policy concerning sexual orientation does not change the Scouts鈥� mission.
Conservative groups were not pleased with the decision. Texas Values says it . Before the vote, Texas Values with the signatures of dozens of Republican state politicians urging the Boy Scouts not to allow openly gay members. Signatories included State Representative (R-Austin) and State Senator (R-New Braunfels).
The Chair of the Democratic Caucus in the Texas House, , is an Eagle Scout himself. He was among the Texas politicians saying he was pleased by the decision. Turner , 鈥淒iscrimination was not one of the values I learned in scouting.鈥�
