Former U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has taken a giant step backwards in his new position as president of the Boy Scouts of America by confirming he will not end the ban on gay scout leaders. Gates who was instrumental in ending the homophobic & discriminatory "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy that kept gays & lesbians from serving openly in the U.S. military & last year strongly supported to lift the BSA ban on gay youth members said he will continue the BSA ban on LGBT scout leaders. Zach Wahls, Executive Director of Scouts For Equality & an Eagle Scout himself stated, "This is a cop out & it tarnishes the legacy Mr. Gates has built as a leader who bridged cultural & political divides & led the military & now the Boy Scouts into the 21st century.” Jennifer Tyrrell the gay Ohio mom ousted by the Boy Scouts of America in 2012 stated,"This isn't just about Boy Scouts this is about equality in all aspects of life. Boy Scouts of America needs to realize that they're sending a dangerous message to children by telling them that they're not good enough. I am making sure no parent ever has to look their child in the eye & say we're not good enough. You have no idea how much that hurts because Alicia & I are good enough & these kids, that we're raising, are amazing. Ask anyone." I spoke to Jennifer Tyrrell about this at the GLAAD Awards in NYC in this exclusive audio byte:
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