The executive committee of the Boy Scouts of America has unanimously approved a resolution that would end the organization's blanket ban on gay adult leaders and let individual scout units set their own policy on the long-divisive issue.

In a statement Monday, the BSA said the resolution was approved by the executive committee on Friday, and would become official policy if ratified by the organization's larger National Executive Board at a meeting on July 27.

The committee action follows an emphatic speech in May by the BSA's president, former Defense Secretary Robert Gates, declaring that the longstanding ban on participation by openly gay adults was no longer sustainable.

In 2013, after bitter internal debate, the BSA decided to allow openly gay youth as scouts, but not gay adults as leaders. 

That decision sparked debate locally in Gulfport. 

Because the city has a Human Rights Ordinance on the books, members of the public questioned whether or not city officials could permit a Boy Scout troop to continue using Gulfport Scout Hall free of charge.

“That was the core of the debate when we had this,” said Henderson.  “Because we want to uphold the Human Rights Ordinance and not see anyone discriminated against but at the same time, we didn’t want to punish scouts who were not being prejudicial.”

Henderson said The Boy Scout troop that had been using the building disbanded due to low enrollment, before the city had to make a decision.  Now, if another troop wants to use the facility, Henderson said there won’t be an issue. 

That is, if the resolution is passed by the Boy Scouts of America’s executive committee.

“As a former Boy Scout, I would be very proud to see these changes get done,” Henderson said. “Because when I went, that wasn’t the scouts’ concern. We were all in it for each other.”

If the resolution passes, local troops will have to abide.

“By charter, we are required to follow the directives of the National Executive Board and that’s what we intend to do. We hope the community will continue to support the important work we are doing in helping boys grow to become community leaders,” George McGovern, Scout Executive of Gulf Ridge Council, located in Tampa.

The resolution includes exemptions for faith-based groups.