Bill Moser, Boy Scout Member For Over 50 Years, Leaves Organization Over Gay Ban

After years of controversy, an upcoming vote among the Boy Scouts of America will decide whether or not the organization allows gay scout members to join its ranks (though, either way, gay scout leaders will still be banned).

In recent months a slew of celebs like Madonna, Carly Rae Jepsen and other notable names have criticized the group for its anti-gay stance and now a new voice is speaking up.

Bill Moser, a scout leader and former scout himself, has been involved with the Boy Scouts of America for over 50 years, but he has now decided to hang up his badge over the group’s gay ban. According to The Leaf Chronicle, he recently sent his letter of resignation as Camping Committee chairman to leaders of the Middle Tennessee Council.

“My belief is when a boy joins at 6 years old, he doesn’t have a clue what sex is,” says Moser. “So then he turns 14, he’s going through one of the toughest times in his life and some adult comes in and says, 'You’re gay you can't be a scout anymore.' It doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me.”

And it looks like the majority of Americans agree with Moser. A new poll from ABC News finds that 63% of those surveyed say they oppose the Boy Scouts' gay ban.

(h/t Towleroad)