Reply #24

The Scout Association has an equal opportunities policy and as it says, has no objection to the sexual orientation of any of its members. Therefore you do not have to leave Scouting if you are gay.
The Scout Association says:
No young person should receive less favourable treatment on the basis of, nor suffer disadvantage by reason of:
class; ethnic origin, nationality (or statelessness) or race; gender; marital or sexual status; mental or physical ability; political or religious belief.
All Members of the Movement should seek to practice that equality, especially in promoting
access to Scouting for young people in all parts of society.
You are not alone, many people throughout the Scout Association are gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender. It is an individual’s choice how public they wish to be about their sexual
orientation.

http://www.scoutbase.org.uk/library/hqdocs/facts/pdfs/fs185082.pdf

The Scout Association has, for many years, had an Equal Opportunities Policy. This policy sets out the Scout Association’s view on such matters
including the acceptance and support of being gay and having an adult role in Scouting.

“There is no basis on which any volunteer offering his or her services in any capacity
can be refused an appointment in, or Membership of, the Movement on the grounds of heterosexual or homosexual orientation. Homosexuality has been perceived as incompatible with Scouting by some people (both within and outside The Scout Association) on the basis of a presumed link between homosexuality and paedophilia. This perception has been used to deny homosexual people the chance to work with young people as Scout Leaders. There is no link between homosexuality and paedophilia, and
therefore there is no justification for restricting Membership on this basis.”

The Scout Association guidelines are clear, nonnegotiable and support individual members
regardless of their sexual orientation.

http://www.scoutbase.org.uk/library/hqdocs/facts/pdfs/fs185081.pdf