Close to completing the rigorous requirements to become an Eagle Scout, 16-year-old Pascal Tessier cheered the decision by the Boy Scouts of America on Thursday (23 May) to repeal its ban on gay members.

'Just a few hours ago, I was thinking that today could be my last day as a Boy Scout,' the teen from Kensington, Maryland said in a statement after the vote. 'Obviously, for gay Scouts like me, this vote is life-changing.'

The Boy Scouts of America will begin allowing openly gay members to be a part of the organization beginning next year.

The BSA's approximately 1,400-member National Council on Thursday (23 May) met in Grapevine, Texas and 61.4% voted to pass the new membership standards.

The new standards state that 'no youth may be denied membership in the Boy Scouts of America on the basis of sexual orientation or preference alone.'

But a ban on LGBT adult leaders and volunteers will remain in place without any further review planned.

When James Dale was 19, he came out as a gay man in a newspaper article not knowing it would mean the end of his days as part of the Boy Scouts of America.

'The Boy Scouts saw that and they expelled me, severed my 12 year association with (the organization,' Dale said in interview released Wednesday (23 May) by GLAAD.

Dale is speaking out a day before the BSA's national board is due to vote on a proposed policy change that would no longer ban gay members but would still prevent gay adults from participating in any way.

The Mormon Church has come out in support of the Boy Scouts of America lifting its longtime ban on gay members.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints also endorses the part of the proposal that continues to ban gays and lesbians once they become adults and want to transition to leadership roles in the organization.

The church sponsors more Boy Scout troops than any other religious organization.

The Boy Scouts of America is set to ask members to lift the long-standing ban on gay members.

The organization’s board will still have to vote on the plan in May, however. And it is only lifting the ban on gay youth members, not adult leaders.

The recommendation will be put to the 1,400 members at the National Council meeting in Texas starting in the week of 20 May. It comes after years of protest and three months of research, surveys and discussions.

From all indications Governor Rick Perry is over his epic failure as a presidential candidate. He has taken the unofficial title of Boy Scouts of America defender, and is unhappy with Madonna's recent comments about the organization.

As reported by the Houston Chronicle, the governor went on Glenn Beck's radio show to complain about the pop singer's speech at last week's Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) award program.

The Grammy winning band Train has given the Boy Scouts of America an ultimatum: drop your ban on gays or we won't perform at your annual national event.

The band, which has shown support for the LGBT community in the past. was scheduled to perform at Boy Scouts 2013 National Scout Jamboree as the closing night act.

'When we booked this show for the Boy Scouts of America we were not aware of any policy barring openly gay people from participation within the organization,' the band said in a statement.

As the Boy Scouts of America continues to mull over whether to drop its ban on gays, one of its former members has decided to try and put a financial squeeze on the group.

Former scout Eddie Kurtz launched a petition drive this week urging the California legislature to pass a bill that would strip the BSA of its tax breaks because of its discriminatory policy.

The national board of the Boys Scouts of America on Wednesday (6 February) delayed a decision of whether or not to end its controversial ban on gay members and leaders.

The BSA said in a statement that 'after careful consideration and extensive dialogue' within the organization along with outside comments, the board concluded 'that due to the complexity of this issue, the organization needs time for a more deliberate review of its membership policy.'

With his long history of anti-gay comments, it's not surprise that televangelist Pat Robertson would speak out against the Boy Scouts of America allowing openly gay members and scout leaders.

But on his 700 Club television show Tuesday (5 February), Robertson did more than speak out against gays, he lumped them together with pedophiles.

The Boy Scouts of America has asked the public for feedback as it considers ending its controversial ban on gay members and leaders.

The BSA national leadership is in the final stages of policy change that, if approved by its national board, would allow openly gay people to participate in scouting.

But the end of the national restriction regarding sexual orientation would not put an end to the ban on gays completely. Local chapters would still have the ability to not allow gay scouts or leaders.