Scouts urged to reverse 'no gays' policy

The US Scout movement is being urged to rethink its ‘‘no gays’’ policy by leaders of nine of its regional councils.

Scores of institutions throughout the US, including schools, companies and churches, have severed or reduced ties to the Scouts as a gesture against discrimination.

School boards in several cities have dropped sponsorships of Scout units or cut back on other forms of support.

The controversy comes a year after the Supreme Court decided the Scouts were within their rights when they ousted James Dale, an assistant scoutmaster from New Jersey, after learning he was gay, in 1990.