Beverly Eagle Scout Protests Organization's Anti-Gay Policy

Beverly Eagle Scout A.J. Chalifour is urging the Boy Scouts National Council to reconsider their policy barring gay membership, Boston.com is reporting. 

Chalifour, an Troop 6 Eagle Scout since 2002, is one of dozens both locally and nationally who are protesting the longstanding policy. Many have returned their badges. 

"Until this policy is erased, myself and many of my fellow Eagle Scouts, scouters, and peers will work to get the National Council to wake up and support a policy of inclusion rather than a policy of active discrimination which fails to live up to the tenants of the Scout oath and law,” Chalifour wrote, according to Boston.com. 

Boy Scouts national spokesman Deron Smith confirmed that some Eagle Scouts have returned their awards, but said the number of scouts publicly protesting is relatively small compared with the total membership, Boston.com reported. 

“Each year more than 50,000 young men earn the rank of Eagle Scout, totaling to over 2 million,” Smith said in a statement. “We don’t have an exact count of medals returned recently, but we have received a few. Although we are disappointed to learn of anyone who feels compelled to return his Eagle medal, we respect their right to express an opinion.”