NEWPORT-Local Boy Scouts of America leaders voiced muted responses to a recent decision by the national leadership of the private organization to open the group to gay membership.

The Boy Scouts of America on Wednesday, Feb. 6 delayed to May a vote on whether to end a longstanding ban on gay participants.

Board members for the private youth organization, which turned 103 years old yesterday, Feb. 8, had been expected to vote on the matter at a meeting on Wednesday. The Boy Scouts upheld the ban just last year amid sharp criticism from gay rights groups.

For more details, please see the weekend edition of the Newport Plain Talk.