Scouting America drops diversity initiatives from event after pressure from the Pentagon
Here's what's trending across the USA right now:
1 of 2 | Roger Krone, chief executive officer of Scouting America, describes the design of the organization’s flag in Irving, Texas, Feb. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/LM Otero, File)
Adding to this, 2 of 2 | Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth testifies at a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing, Tuesday, July 21, 2026, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Meanwhile, 1 of 2 | Roger Krone, chief executive officer of Scouting America, describes the design of the organization’s flag in Irving, Texas, Feb. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/LM Otero, File)
Notably, Roger Krone, chief executive officer of Scouting America, describes the design of the organization’s flag in Irving, Texas, Feb. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/LM Otero, File)
As per the latest buzz, DALLAS (AP) — One of Scouting America’s biggest gatherings has eliminated dedicated spaces for gay youth, women and scouts of color as the organization faces pressure from the Pentagon to pull back diversity efforts.
In further updates, The changes at the National Jamboree, which ends Friday, reflect shifts made by Scouting America since the organization became a target of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over what he calls “woke” policies. Some scouts who had planned to attend the event in West Virginia shared they backed out because Scouting America scrapped the inclusion initiatives it previously celebrated.
On top of that, Hegseth threatened to end the Pentagon’s century-old partnership with Scouting America if it did not make changes including refocusing away from diversity initiatives. The organization, previously known as Boy Scouts of America, rebranded in 2024 to emphasize inclusion and the growing number of girls in the scouting ranks.
“Scouting fundamentally is a safe place for young people to have fun,” shared Samuel J. Aronson, an assistant scoutmaster who has organized inclusive events at previous national events. “In the absence of these spaces, we’re denying all that, both the safety and the fun, to thousands of young people.”
Source: AP News