Revised Analysis: Boy Scouts of America's Membership Changes and Bankruptcy

The questionrsquo;s foundation rests on a misconception that the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) filed for bankruptcy right after allowing girls to join their ranks. However, this timeline and rationale are not supported by factual evidence. This analysis will break down the relationship between the BSArsquo;s membership changes and financial stability.

The Timeline of Membership Changes

The BSA has undergone several significant changes in its membership policies over the past five years. The first change came in 2015, when the organization decided to allow openly gay boys to join the scouting ranks. This was followed by a decision to permit openly gay adult leaders in 2017. In 2018, the BSA moved to include transgender boys in its programs. Finally, in January 2019, the BSA extended membership to include girls in Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Explorers, Venturing, and Sea Scouts. These changes reflect broader trends in youth organizations and the evolving societal norms surrounding inclusion and equality.

The Role of the Mormon Church in the BSA

The Mormon Church has a complex relationship with the BSA. In light of the membership changes, the LDS (Latter-day Saints) church separated from the BSA in 2015. This separation was not directly tied to the decision to include girls in the organization but rather to the acceptance of openly gay boys. The LDS church did not have a comprehensive ban on gay Scouts, but its conservative values and policies led to the separation. This move created a significant loss of sponsorship, particularly from a key organization with substantial financial support.

The Bankruptcy Filing Context

The BSA did not file for bankruptcy prior to allowing girls to join. In fact, as of 2019, no bankruptcy filings had been made. The financial troubles that led to the organization's bankruptcy were more directly related to a combination of factors, including:

The loss of the Mormon Church as a major sponsor, which contributed significantly to financial strain. Decisions on some sexual harassment lawsuits that the BSA did not prevail in, further weakening its financial position.

Additionally, there has been a general reduction in the number of chartered organizations (community partners using Scouting in their outreach). This reduction could certainly exacerbate financial difficulties, but no bankruptcy filing has been made as a result.

Conclusion

In summary, the decision to allow girls to join the Boy Scouts of America was not the direct cause of the organizationrsquo;s bankruptcy. The financial struggles of the BSA were primarily due to a combination of the loss of major sponsors, such as the Mormon Church, and unfavorable legal outcomes, rather than the changes in membership policies related to girls or LGBT inclusion.