President Obama Slams Boy Scouts Gay Ban

The Boy Scouts of America has reaffirmed its opposition to the inclusion of gays in their organization drawing fierce opposition from gay and lesbian groups in addition to the President of the United States. President Obama slammed the Boy Scouts for their exclusionary policy on Wednesday.

The policy, which was reaffirmed after an exhaustive two year review by the Scouts, was referred to as “discrimination by the President in a statement to the Washington Blade.

White House spokesperson Shin Inouye said,

“The President believes the Boy Scouts is a valuable organization that has helped educate and build character in American boys for more than a century. He also opposes discrimination in all forms, and as such opposes this policy that discriminates on basis of sexual orientation.”

In a surprise statement Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney also criticized the ban saying that he believed “all people should be able to participate in the Boy Scouts regardless of their sexual orientation.”

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) slammed the Boy Scouts in a statement which said,

“Our nation’s leaders from across religions and political persuasions have joined hundreds of thousands of Americans in speaking out against the blatant discrimination that the Boy Scouts of America teaches young adults today,” said GLAAD President Herndon Graddick. “It’s clear that this outdated policy will be changing in the future. How long will the Boy Scouts continue to bully young gay Americans into hiding who they are and hurt children of gay parents by denying their parents an opportunity to participate in their children’s lives?”

The Boy Scouts Chief Executive, Bob Mazzuca, said that even though some people don’t like it most Scouts and their families support the policy.

In May, President Obama became the first sitting President to support Gay Marriage.