Barack Obama and Mitt Romney call for gays to be allowed to join Boy Scouts

President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney have both called for homosexuals to be allowed to join the Boy Scouts of America as members and leaders.

The Boy Scouts of America was founded in 1910 Photo: ALAMY

By Jon Swaine, Washington
3:22PM BST 09 Aug 2012

The organisation last month affirmed its ban on openly homosexual scouts and leaders, following a two-year review of the long-standing policy.

Its decision prompted equality activists to urge Mr Obama to "reconsider" his position as honorary president of the organisation – a post held by every US president since 1910.

Taking his first public stand on the issue since taking office, Mr Obama "opposes this policy that discriminates on basis of sexual orientation", a White House spokesman said.

While hailing the scouts as a "valuable organisation that has helped educate and build character in American boys for more than a century", the President "also opposes discrimination in all forms," the spokesman added.

The statement put him in rare agreement with Mr Romney, his Republican opponent in November's election, who gave his support to homosexual scouts and leaders 18 years ago.

"All people should be allowed to participate in the Boy Scouts, regardless of their sexual orientation," he said while running for the US Senate in Massachusetts in 1994.

A spokesman said that his position – which included respecting the right of the Scouts to decide its own policy – remained the same today.

Jay Carney, the White House press secretary, later reiterated Mr Obama's statement but confirmed he would not be reconsidering or renouncing his position as honorary president of the Boy Scouts.

Barack Obama and Mitt Romney call for gays to be allowed to join Boy Scouts - Telegraph