Key facts
- Scouting America removed dedicated spaces for LGBTQ+ youth, women, and scouts of color from its National Jamboree.
- The Pentagon, led by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, pressured the organization to scale back diversity efforts.
- Hegseth threatened to end the military's century-old partnership with Scouting America if changes were not made.
- The organization, formerly Boy Scouts of America, rebranded in 2024 to emphasize inclusion.
- Some scouts who planned to attend withdrew due to the removal of inclusive initiatives.
Scouting America has eliminated dedicated spaces for gay youth, women, and scouts of color at its National Jamboree, following pressure from the Pentagon. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had threatened to end the military's century-old partnership with the organization if it did not scale back diversity initiatives, which he characterized as "woke" policies.
The organization, formerly known as Boy Scouts of America, rebranded in 2024 to emphasize inclusion and the growing number of girls in its ranks. However, the removal of these specific inclusive spaces has led to disappointment among some scouts. Samuel J. Aronson, an assistant scoutmaster who previously organized inclusive events, stated that the absence of these spaces denies safety and fun to thousands of young people. John Andrew Segebarth, a 21-year-old Eagle Scout and national officer, expressed his dismay, feeling the organization was reversing its stated values. Both Aronson and Segebarth decided not to attend this year's jamboree.
Layla Grace, a transgender assistant scoutmaster, also planned to staff the LGBTQ+ and Allied Scouts space. Despite the cancellation, she decided to attend the jamboree to support those in need, volunteering in an area focused on mental health, food security, and education, while actively trying to fill the void left by the removed inclusive spaces.
The Pentagon and Scouting America have presented conflicting accounts of an agreement reached in February. A memo detailing the Pentagon's monitoring of compliance was obtained by activist James Dale, who was previously expelled from the Boy Scouts for being gay. Dale described the Pentagon's actions as bullying, stating they have "their thumb on the organization, threatening them under constant pressure."
The military has long-standing ties with Scouting America, providing logistical support for events like the National Jamboree, which draws about 15,000 participants. A Pentagon spokesperson referred to previous comments by Hegseth, who stated in February that the department would "vigorously review" changes and cease support if Scouting America failed to comply by late August.