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By Rachel Dobkin
Weekend Reporter
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The group formerly known as Boy Scouts of America officially changed its name on Saturday to Scouting America after the youth outdoor activities organization received backlash for announcing the switch-up last year.
Why It Matters
Scouting America helps youth prepare for life through camping, outdoor adventures and other activities. However, there is a dark side to the organization's past as over 80,000 men have said they were sexually abused as children while participating.
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Scouting America has expanded in recent years, announcing the decision to allow girls aged 7 to 10 into the organization in 2017 and girls aged 11 to 17 to come into the fold in 2018. Additionally, it began allowing gay youth to become Scouts in 2013 and got rid of a total ban on gay adult Scout leaders in 2015.
What To Know
Scouting America wasn't the first name change that the organization has gone through. When the group announced that they were allowing teen girls into the organization in 2018, they also said they'd change their name to Scouts BSA.
In May 2024, the group said they would change its name to Scouting America in a push for inclusivity, which sparked fierce backlash on social media, with an online petition floating around that urged the organization to "reconsider this decision and respect the heritage that has made us who we are today."
Nevertheless, the organization moved ahead with its planned name change, becoming Scouting America on Saturday, which was also the organization's 115th birthday.
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What People Are Saying
Roger Krone, president and CEO of Scouting America, said in a press release from the organization on Thursday: "Scouting America has helped instill timeless values for multiple generations of Americans."
He added: "As we celebrate 115 years of service to our nation, we are reaffirming our commitment to providing a safe and supportive environment where young people can develop these essential qualities, empowering them to reach their full potential and preparing them to become responsible and engaged citizens."
Krone told the Associated Press ahead of the announcement of the name change in May 2024: "In the next 100 years we want any youth in America to feel very, very welcome to come into our programs."
Representative Andrew Clyde, a Georgia Republican, wrote on X, formerly Twitter, in May 2024, "The Left has now taken 'Boy' out of 'Boy Scouts.' Wokeness destroys everything it touches."
Conservative radio host Mark Davis wrote on X last year: "God help us. We can't have 'boy scouts' any more."
The nonprofit Gays Against Groomers wrote on X in May 2024: "We're very disappointed to see Boy Scouts of America succumb to pressures of woke gender ideology by rebranding as 'Scouting America.'"
"This isn't inclusivity, this is the destabilization of children's identities. It is blatant denial of the natural difference between boys and girls. Boys deserve their own spaces just as much as girls do, not blurred lines. Sad and disheartening to witness," the organization added.
Gays Against Groomers is a group of gay and lesbian people and others against "the sexualization, indoctrination and medicalization of children under the guise of 'LGBTQIA+' activism," according to its website.
What Happens Next?
There are currently over 1 million scouts between the ages of 5 and 21 in the organization. The organization has lost about 1 million of its members since 2018, partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In May 2024, AP reported that there were over 176,000 girls and young women in the organization.
Scouting America said in its Thursday press release that it "continues to adapt to meet the evolving needs of young people, ensuring that future generations will have the opportunity to benefit from this transformative program."
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