WH: Obama opposes Boy Scouts' policy barring gays, won't step down as honorary president

President Barack Obama shakes hands with Cub Scout Raphael Cash from Bowie, Md., prior to a meeting with a group of Boy Scouts of America youth members and executive leaders in the Oval Office, July 12, 2010.

/ ficial White House Photo by Pete Souza

(CBS News) WASHINGTON - The White House affirmed on Wednesday that President Obama opposes the Boy Scouts' policy barring gay scouts and scoutmasters. But he has no intention of stepping down as the organization's honorary president, a White House spokesman tells CBS News.

After a confidential two-year review, the Boy Scouts of America last month reaffirmed its policy of excluding gays from participation as members or leaders.

Mr. Obama has yet to personally offer any public comment on the action, but White House Press Secretary Jay Carney told CBS News that the president "opposes discrimination in all forms," including the Boy Scouts policy that "discriminates on the basis of sexual orientation."

Carney made it clear, however, that Mr. Obama will not resign from the organization as its honorary president, though a gay rights group has urged him to do so.

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force has called on Pres Obama to "reconsider" his role as honorary president of the Scouts, citing the group's policy of discrimination.

The Boy Scouts of America says every U.S. President since 1910 has served as its honorary president during his term in office.

Carney told CBS News that despite the group's policy of discrimination, Mr. Obama believes the Boy Scouts "is a valuable organization that has helped educate and build character in American boys for more than a century."

Because the president is declining to abdicate his honorary role with the organization, Darlene Nipper, deputy executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, urges him to use his leadership to help the Scouts "evolve" on the issue of gay participation.

"He is in a unique position to do so, as someone who has had his own evolution on issues related to marriage equality," said Nipper.

Mitt Romney is on record supporting "the right of the Boy Scouts of America" to decide its own policy on barring gays from participation.

At the same time, Romney has said he feels "all people should be allowed to participate in the Boy Scouts regardless of their sexual orientation."

[AOCGUY]

by Homeless-Person August 8, 2012 10:59 PM EDT
Why would a grown man without kids want to lead a group of little boys? Have to wonder about that folks


Why would a responsible adult want to aid in giving young people a sense of purpose, teach responsibility and life skills, help them become responsible citizens, etc. Yup you got me!

[PubliusCitizen]

Note that oBAMa has refused to step down as honorary president of BSA? This in spite of the fact that he doesn't represent the honorable and moral values of the group? ... His blatant elitism is consistent with oBAMa's views that he is better than everyone else - and that we ignorant plebs must do as he says! ... and this "new vision" - only came into being in the last 90 days! did oBAMa get hit with a lightning bolt - or more probably he got a big donation from the gay groups! ... corruption and payoffs in oBAMa's camp

[PubliusCitizen]

What would oBAMa know about the BSA? ...It isn't headquartered in Malaysia where he spent his childhood! oBAMa should shut his pie-hole and actually BRING JOBS TO THIS COUNTRY FOR AMERICAN CITIZENS! ... Note the UNemployment rate has been over 8% FOR HIS ENTIRE term..... Pay attention CITIZENS! .. You are losing focus on the real issue! .. JOBS JOBS JOBS

[nancy_naive]

What about atheists?

Are we not little boys too?

Bad enough we have no priests and ministers, but that we cannot have a troop leader too.

[novotesobozo]

Penn.state

[Ulgnud]

There are consequences to the gay lifestyle choice. If you don't like the consequences then don't choose that lifestyle.

[Ulgnud]

No reason for the BS A to lower their standards. Anyone can be involved so there is no discrimination either. Just some have to decide if their lifestyle choice is more important than the known benefits of the training in the boy scouts.

[marcie10000]

Oh good God. I support Obama's stance but at the same time it is all that he can do - given the political climate. As the Mother of an Eagle scout, I can state in all twelve years of boy scouting, my son grew into a thoughtful, smart, intuitive, hard-working, outdoorsy, kind, reverent (in our own way), worldly young man. Sexuality was never a part of it. This is a ridiculous "controversy." Boy Scouting, in reality, is asexual.

[FerdFerkle]

Obama needs to keep his nose out of BS of A's business. He can't dictate what groups moral, values and rules are.

[MIchael-Rosellini]

They were probably obnoxious ones with big dirty smart mouths who asked for it like the ones we see posting on here.

[do_japan]

I was in the boyscouts when I was a teenager. There were two boys in our troop who always insisted on being tent buddies. It was obvious to all of us that they were fooling around in their tent at night. Once someone even walked in on them naked. But it didn't stop us from doing our scout stuff. I wonder where they are now...

[AOCGUY]

Their republican congressmen.