Scouting America, a national youth organization, has eliminated dedicated spaces for gay youth, women, and scouts of color from its National Jamboree event in West Virginia. The changes come after the organization faced pressure from the Pentagon to pull back diversity efforts.

Background

The Pentagon, led by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, threatened to end its century-old partnership with Scouting America if it did not make changes, including refocusing away from diversity initiatives. Scouting America had previously emphasized inclusion and diversity, rebranding in 2024 to welcome girls and scouts of all backgrounds.

Some scouts who had planned to attend the event were disappointed by the changes, including John Andrew Segebarth, a 21-year-old Eagle Scout who had been looking forward to staffing the space for LGBTQ+ and Allied Scouts. Segebarth decided not to attend the jamboree this year, citing the removal of inclusive spaces as a sharp reversal for Scouting America.

Reaction

Layla Grace, a 21-year-old assistant scoutmaster, had also planned to staff the space for LGBTQ+ and Allied Scouts. Although the spaces were canceled, Grace decided to attend the jamboree and volunteer at an area dedicated to addressing issues such as mental health, food security, and education. She expressed her support for the LGBTQ+ community by wearing rainbow-colored nails and being openly visible.

James Dale, a gay rights activist, obtained a memo outlining the agreement between the Pentagon and Scouting America after filing a lawsuit. Dale criticized the Pentagon’s tactics, equating them to the actions of a bully.

Original reporting: KOAT Albuquerque — read the source article.