Within moments of the announcement that, by a 61% margin, the Boy Scouts of America would be dropping its ban on gay scouts, denominations and faith groups offered their reactions.
To give an accurate representation of where people of faith stand on marriage equality, let's look at some of the major denominations that support scouts for a quick recap. GLAAD has created a handy graphic that shows which denominations support inclusive scouting for all.
In the weeks leading up to the Boy Scouts of America's vote on dropping the anti-gay ban, communities of faith are speaking out. The problem for the media covering this is that faith communities are not saying the same thing. Who gets to represent the voice of faith when talking about the Boy Scouts proposed policy change?
Yesterday, the Boy Scouts of America proposed maintaining its ban on adult gay leaders, while dropping the ban on gay scouts. Several faith leaders quickly expressed their disappointment in the proposed policy change. All faith leaders continued to call for a fully inclusive scouting program that included qualified gay leaders, even while some expressed joy that gay scouts would no longer be removed.
National Boy Scouts of America (BSA) leadership have communicated to local and regional that some of the biggest religious organizations with the most Boy Scout charters have come out in support of policy change.
Clergy from the Presbyterian Church (USA) are joining the United Church of Christ and United Methodist Church in calling on the Boy Scouts of America to end their ban on gay scouts and leaders.
The anti-gay Family Research Council is finding a way to push their radical anti-gay agenda on "Scout Sunday". But the United Church of Christ has plans for the celebration as well!
Media coverage of the Boy Scouts policy change has fallen into a familiar trap, leading to the conclusion that there is no religious support for changing the ban on gay scouts. But religious groups have been advocating for a Boy Scout policy change, some for years.
This week is Transgender Awareness Week and to mark the occasion, GLAAD’s Religion, Faith, and Values Program wants to highlight the achievements of a few trans faith leaders who have helped make their traditions more open and welcoming spaces for all people.
GLAAD’s Religion, Faith & Values program works to elevate LGBT-affirming voices of faith in mainstream, regional, and community media. Jennifer Knapp is still singing, the Torah still supports marriage equality, and LGBT Muslims make the case for relationships. And the number of LGBT Christians in New York City might surprise you.
More than 1,500 New Yorkers gathered today in Manhattan to mourn the death of a 32 year-old gay man, who was shot down on Friday just blocks away from the historic Stonewall Inn in an apparent act of anti-gay bias.
