Western Md. Scouts await gay membership decision

A Scouting official in western Maryland says he'll follow the lead of the national organization as it decides whether to ease its ban on gays as Scouts or adult leaders. 

 

   Mark Barbernitz is Scout executive of the Mason-Dixon Council of the Boy Scouts of America. The chapter has about 2,300 members in Washington County and in Franklin and Fulton counties in Pennsylvania.

 

   The Herald-Mail of Hagerstown  reports that Barbernitz says his organization will follow membership guidelines set by national policy.

 

   The Boy Scouts of America had been scheduled to vote this month on whether to change its restrictions on gay members. But that vote was put off until May.

 

   Barbernitz says he believes national officials delayed the vote to give themselves more time to study the issue.

 

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   Information from: The Herald-Mail of Hagerstown, Md., http://www.herald-mail.com