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. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Associated Press.
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 said they backed out because Scouting America scrapped the inclusion initiatives it previously celebrated.
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," said 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."
This year, about 15,000 scouts, leaders and volunteers from across the country are attending the 10-day event in the mountains of West Virginia. In addition to activities including mountain biking and kayaking, the gathering hosts leadership programs and educational sessions.
A Scouting America spokesperson said the organization remains "fully committed to welcoming and serving all youth," but did not address questions about the changes to the jamboree.
The Pentagon made a deal with Scouting America in February but the two sides have given conflicting accounts of that agreement. This month, a gay rights activist obtained the memo outlining the agreement from the Defense Department after filing a lawsuit. The six-page document spells out ways the Pentagon will monitor compliance, including that officials from each organization would have "periodic touchpoints and meet" as needed. It was obtained by James Dale, who was expelled from the Boy Scouts in the early 1990s for being gay and later sued over discrimination.