NEWS FLASH

Eagle Scout Renounces Award Over LGBT Ban | Twelve years ago, a group called Scouting for All — dedicated to pushing Boy Scouts of America (BSA) to end its discriminatory policies — invited former Eagle Scouts to turn in their badges in protest. More than 60 did so. Now, with the recent controversy over the removal Ohio mom from her position as a Cub Scout leader because she is a lesbian and the BSA’s announcement it will consider eliminating its ban on openly gay Scouts and leaders, another former Eagle Scout has joined in the effort. This weekend, Naka Nathaniel announced on in a Daily Beast editorial and an MSNBC interview that he has renounced his Eagle Scout award. Nathaniel explained “I hope that the national organization does the right thing and strikes down its discriminatory positions. Until that happens, I can’t soar with the Eagles. Instead, I skulk in shame with my fellow Eagles who haven’t stood up for what’s right.”

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[Full disclosure: the author of this post was one of the more than 60 Eagle Scouts who returned his Eagle Scout award, in 2000.]