DALLAS, Texas (The Adobo Chronicles® ) – The governing body of the Boy Scouts of America voted Monday to end its decades-long ban on gay scout leaders.

The organization’s national executive board, meeting in Texas, concluded that the policy of excluding gay adults “was no longer legally defensible.” 

While the national ban is gone, local scouting units would retain the ability to reject gay applicants for leadership positions if hiring them would violate the unit’s religious beliefs.

The historic decision was approved by 79 percent of the board. The remaining 21 percent chose to stay in the closet.