Gates was an Eagle Scout.
Reuters News
Oct 30, 2013
...The ban on gay scouts (click here) will officially end on January 1, 2014. A prohibition on openly gay adult leaders remains in place.
More than 60 percent of the group's National Council, comprising some 1,400 delegates, voted in favor of ending the youth ban, according to the Boy Scouts.
Zach Wahls, an Eagle Scout and founder of Scouts for Equality, said the appointment of Gates was a clear step the organization was on a path to unity.
"It's a significant and positive development," Wahls said. "Gates is respected by both sides of the debate on gay youth and parents in the Boy Scouts."...
Tough to say what is going to happen here, because, originally Secretary Gates wanted to leave DADT in place. He believed if that changed it would lose the war on terror.
First Posted: 06/05/11 01:36 PM ET
Updated: 08/05/11 06:12 AM ET
By Reuters
"No," Gates responded. (click here) "You'll have to complete your ... enlistment just like everybody else."
"The reality is that you don't all agree with each other on your politics, you don't agree with each other on your religion, you don't agree with each other on a lot of things," he added. "But you still serve together. And you work together. And you look out for each other. And that's all that matters."
Gates said training was underway to prepare the services for the new policy.
"If we do this right, nothing will change," he said. "You will still have to abide by the same rules of behavior, the same discipline, the same respect for each other that has been the case through all the history of the Marine Corps."
Reuters News
Oct 30, 2013
...The ban on gay scouts (click here) will officially end on January 1, 2014. A prohibition on openly gay adult leaders remains in place.
More than 60 percent of the group's National Council, comprising some 1,400 delegates, voted in favor of ending the youth ban, according to the Boy Scouts.
Zach Wahls, an Eagle Scout and founder of Scouts for Equality, said the appointment of Gates was a clear step the organization was on a path to unity.
"It's a significant and positive development," Wahls said. "Gates is respected by both sides of the debate on gay youth and parents in the Boy Scouts."...
Tough to say what is going to happen here, because, originally Secretary Gates wanted to leave DADT in place. He believed if that changed it would lose the war on terror.
First Posted: 06/05/11 01:36 PM ET
Updated: 08/05/11 06:12 AM ET
By Reuters
"No," Gates responded. (click here) "You'll have to complete your ... enlistment just like everybody else."
"The reality is that you don't all agree with each other on your politics, you don't agree with each other on your religion, you don't agree with each other on a lot of things," he added. "But you still serve together. And you work together. And you look out for each other. And that's all that matters."
Gates said training was underway to prepare the services for the new policy.
"If we do this right, nothing will change," he said. "You will still have to abide by the same rules of behavior, the same discipline, the same respect for each other that has been the case through all the history of the Marine Corps."
