[fr0man]

You can be a youth member and be gay as long as you're willing to live as a second class citizen, i.e. not avow that you're homosexual or hold a youth leadership position. They don't specifically bar homosexuals:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boy_Scouts_of_America_membershi...

Because, you know, nothing is better for our youth than making them deny who they are and teaching them they aren't worthy of being in a leadership position because of their sexual orientation or religious beliefs.

[whyenot]

It is effectively a ban. You can not advance through the ranks as a boy scout if you can not hold leadership positions.

As an example, here are the requirements for eagle scout. Check requirement #4. http://www.usscouts.org/advance/boyscout/bsrank7.asp

Compare to the girl scouts who have held this position on sexual orientation since 1991:

As a private organization, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. respects the values and beliefs of each of its members and does not intrude into personal matters. Therefore, there are no membership policies on sexual preference.

[enjo]

That statement always sells them a couple of boxes of thin mints every year:)

[JoeAltmaier]

More accurately: lack of religeous beliefs?