Governor Perry says Boy Scouts should keep ban on gays - Dallas News | myFOXdfw.com

Governor Perry says Boy Scouts should keep ban on gays

Governor Perry says he wants the Boy Scouts to keep it's policy that bans gays.

The Irving-based organization is expected to vote on whether to end the ban on gay members, and leaders, this week.

Groups that sponsor the scouts, or individual troops, could decide whether to continue the exclusion or open up the membership.

Perry, an Eagle scout, wants the organization to maintain it's traditions and not bend to what he calls the whims of "popular culture".

"Scouting is about teaching a substantial amount of life lessons, sexuality is not one of them, it never has been, it doesn't need to be. And I suggest that's the real issue that's going on here," said Governor Perry.

Mr. Perry spoke to the Texas scouts at their annual report to the state -- which details their accomplishments.

On Monday, a group of former scouts and leaders are expected to present a petition -- that has more than a million signatures -- to the organization's headquarters that calls for the end of the ban.

One woman who's planning to present the petition says she was removed as her son's den leader because she was gay.