Scouting America's Dark Turn: A Setback for Diversity and Inclusion The recent decision by Scouting America to eliminate dedicated spaces for LGBTQ+ scouts, girls, and scouts of color at its National Jamboree has sent shockwaves through the scouting community.
This move, prompted by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's pressure on the organization to scale back diversity initiatives, marks a disturbing turn for an organization that had seemed to be moving in the right direction.
Scouting America rebranded from the Boy Scouts of America last year and emphasized its commitment to inclusion after expanding membership to girls. However, behind closed doors, it appears that old habits die hard.