Hollywood Popular Artists

Jan 29th 2013, 15:45

Earlier this year, after she was removed from a scout leader post because the Boy Scouts of America do not allow LGBT members, Jennifer Tyrrell started a petition asking the BSA to allow everyone in, no matter their sexual orientation. Jen and her many petition signers may get their wish, and Neil Patrick Harris is definitely hoping for a policy change.

The "How I Met Your Mother" actor Tweeted:

Come on, Boy Scouts, do the right thing. Diversity should be honored and valued. There should be a merit badge for it.

— Neil Patrick Harris (@ActuallyNPH) January 28, 2013

Yesterday, the Boy Scouts announced it was reconsidering its policy that bars LGBT people from taking part. This doesn't necessarily mean that the Boy Scouts will begin to allow LGBT members. But this is def a step forward from when the Boy Scouts' Chief Scout Executive Wayne Brock said in March that there were "no plans to revisit the Scouts' policy of not allowing gays."

A statement from the BSA said, "The policy change under discussion would allow the religious, civic, or educational organizations that oversee and deliver Scouting to determine how to address this issue." In other words, it would be up to local groups to say whether they wanted to allow or bar LGBT people from their own group.

There's no word on when the BSA will officially say whether or not they're going to change their policy. However, it's possible it could be decided during the Scouts' biannual meeting next month. Neil, who is openly gay and a big supporter of LGBT rights, is sure to be keeping his eye on the Scouts to see what happens.

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