Decision on Gay Scouts Delayed Until May Jennifer Tyrell - WTRF 7 News Sports Weather - Wheeling Steubenville

The Boy Scouts of America national executive board has delayed a decision on whether to lift its longstanding ban on gay scouts and leaders.

The organization announced this morning that they will take action on the resolution during its national meeting in May.

The group said last week they were considering a shift on the controversial policy, which has led officials to remove gay leaders and scouts.

Gay Scouts and Scout leaders, as well as GLAAD and Scouts for Equality, have been working for more than nine months to end the BSA's ban. More than 1.4 million people have signed onto their petitions on Change.org calling for the BSA to end its national ban.

Jennifer Tyrrell, a gay mom from Bridgeport, Ohio, helped spark a national movement calling on the Boy Scouts to change its policy. Tyrrell said the fight will continue.

"Our fight will continue," saidTyrrell, "and we will continue to educate donors and supporters of the Boy Scouts about the effects of their anti-gay policy."

Zach Wahls, an Eagle Scout and founder of the organization Scouts for Equality, said that today's news was simply not a strong enough gesture from the Boy Scouts of America to ensure that they take discrimination seriously. 

"This is an abdication of responsibility. By postponing this decision, the BSA has caved to those who argue that their ideas about being gay trump basic Scouting values of kindness, courtesy and bravery. Scouting was built on a foundation of respect and dignity. Today, the BSA cracked that foundation," said Wahls.

The organization's board of directors decided in a closed door meeting to form a task force to study the issue, and will in the interim keep the discriminatory policy on the books, according to a news release.