Boy Scouts approve plan to accept openly gay boys

The Boy Scouts of America threw open its ranks Thursday to gay Scouts but not gay Scout leaders — a fiercely contested compromise that some warned could fracture the organization and lead to mass defections of members and donors.

Boy Scouts approve plan to accept openly gay boys

Terri Hall, left, of San Antonio, Texas, stands with son Nathaniel Hall, 8, as they hold signs near where the Boy Scouts of America was holding its annual meeting Wednesday in Grapevine, Texas.

Boy Scouts approve plan to accept openly gay boys

Former Boys Scout leader Jennifer Tyrrell, center, is greeted as her son and current Boy Scout Cruz Burns, 8, bottom, looks on during the Equal Scouting Summit being held near where the Boy Scouts of America are holding their annual meeting Wednesday, May 22, 2013, in Grapevine, Texas. Deleg…

Boy Scouts approve plan to accept openly gay boys

Matthew Ray, 15, of North Richland Hills, Texas, holds signs near where the Boy Scouts of America are holding their annual meeting Wednesday, May 22, 2013, in Grapevine, Texas. Delegates to the meeting are expected to address a proposal to allow gay scouts into the organization. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Boy Scouts approve plan to accept openly gay boys

John Stemberger, center, leads a press conference backed by people against the proposed change in the Boy Scouts of America gay policy Wednesday, May 22, 2013, in Grapevine, Texas. Delegates to the Boys Scouts of America meeting nearby are expected to address a proposal to allow gay scouts i…

Boy Scouts approve plan to accept openly gay boys

Boys Scout Alex Derr speaks out against anti-gay rules during the Equal Scouting Summit Press Conference being held near where the Boy Scouts of America are holding their annual meeting Wednesday, May 22, 2013, in Grapevine, Texas. The boxes in front of Derr hold petitions calling for the Bo…

Boy Scouts approve plan to accept openly gay boys

Former Boys Scout leader Jennifer Tyrrell, left, rests her head on her son and current Boy Scout Cruz Burns, 8, before an news conference at the Equal Scouting Summit being held near where the Boy Scouts of America are holding their annual meeting Wednesday, May 22, 2013, in Grapevine, Texas…

Boy Scouts approve plan to accept openly gay boys

Terri Hall, left, of San Antonio, Texas, stands with her son Nathaniel Hall, 8, as they hold signs near where the Boy Scouts of America are holding their annual meeting Wednesday, May 22, 2013, in Grapevine, Texas. Delegates to the meeting are expected to address a proposal to allow gay scou…

Boy Scouts approve plan to accept openly gay boys

An unidentified protestor holds a sign near where the Boy Scouts of America is holding their annual meeting Wednesday, May 22, 2013, in Grapevine, Texas. Delegates to the meeting are expected to address a proposal to allow gay scouts into the organization. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Boy Scouts vote on policy toward openly gay boys

GRAPEVINE, Texas | In one of their most dramatic choices in a century, local leaders of the Boy Scouts of America voted Thursday on whether to ease a divisive ban and allow openly gay boys to be accepted into the nation's leading youth organization.

Vote on gay Scouts comes at emotional moment

Terri Hall, left, of San Antonio, Texas, stands with her son Nathaniel Hall, 8, as they hold signs near where the Boy Scouts of America are holding their annual meeting Wednesday, May 22, 2013, in Grapevine, Texas. Delegates to the meeting are expected to address a proposal to allow gay scou…

Vote on gay Scouts comes at emotional moment

John Stemberger, center, leads a press conference backed by people against the proposed change in the Boy Scouts of America gay policy Wednesday, May 22, 2013, in Grapevine, Texas. Delegates to the Boys Scouts of America meeting nearby are expected to address a proposal to allow gay scouts i…

Vote on gay Scouts comes at emotional moment

Former Boys Scout leader Jennifer Tyrrell, center, is greeted as her son and current Boy Scout Cruz Burns, 8, bottom, looks on during the Equal Scouting Summit being held near where the Boy Scouts of America are holding their annual meeting Wednesday, May 22, 2013, in Grapevine, Texas. Deleg…

Vote on gay Scouts comes at emotional moment

Matthew Ray, 15, of North Richland Hills, Texas, holds signs near where the Boy Scouts of America are holding their annual meeting Wednesday, May 22, 2013, in Grapevine, Texas. Delegates to the meeting are expected to address a proposal to allow gay scouts into the organization. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Vote on gay Scouts comes at emotional moment

Former Boys Scout leader Jennifer Tyrrell, left, rests her head on her son and current Boy Scout Cruz Burns, 8, before an news conference at the Equal Scouting Summit being held near where the Boy Scouts of America are holding their annual meeting Wednesday, May 22, 2013, in Grapevine, Texas…

Vote on gay Scouts comes at emotional moment

An unidentified protestor holds a sign near where the Boy Scouts of America is holding their annual meeting Wednesday, May 22, 2013, in Grapevine, Texas. Delegates to the meeting are expected to address a proposal to allow gay scouts into the organization. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Vote on gay Scouts comes at emotional moment

Boys Scout Alex Derr speaks out against anit-gay rules during the Equal Scouting Summit Press Conference being held near where the Boy Scouts of America are holding their annual meeting Wednesday, May 22, 2013, in Grapevine, Texas. The boxes in front of Derr hold petitions calling for the Bo…