Rules and Regulations of the Boy Scouts of America, September 2020
The Boy Scouts of America is the nation’s foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training. Through our world-class programs, we bring together youth of every race, religion, ethnic background, and economic status in programs to develop character, citizenship, and fitness.
Prejudice, intolerance and unlawful discrimination are unacceptable within the ranks of the Boy Scouts of America.
Who Can Join?
It is the philosophy of Scouting to welcome all eligible youth, regardless of race, ethnic background, or orientation, who are willing to accept Scouting’s values and meet any other requirements of membership.
We work to ensure every youth and adult member has the opportunity to join a local unit that aligns with his or her beliefs and with the experience he or she wants within the Scouting community.
No youth may be removed from any of our programs on the basis of his or her orientation, and we teach youth members to be helpful, friendly, courteous, and kind to all and to respect those whose beliefs differ from their own.
Who Can Volunteer?
To be eligible for registration, an adult leader must agree to: subscribe to the Scout Oath; fulfill the obligations of his or her position; and perform his or her duties in accordance with the Bylaws, Rules and Regulations, policies, and guidelines of the Boy Scouts of America.
The Boy Scouts of America allows chartered organizations to select adult leaders without regard to sexual orientation, continuing Scouting’s long-standing policy of chartered organizations selecting their leaders. This allows Scouting’s members and parents to select local units, chartered to organizations with similar beliefs, that best meet the needs of their families. This change also respects the right of religious chartered organizations to continue to choose adult leaders whose beliefs are consistent with their own.
Scouting will continue to focus on reaching and serving youth to help them grow into good, strong citizens.
By focusing on the goals that unite us, we are able to accomplish incredible things for young people and the communities we serve.