Why Do the Boy Scouts Exclude Gays? Many doors have opened for gays and lesbians in the 12 years since the Supreme Court affirmed the right of the Boy Scouts of America to expel openly gay leaders and members; in many states, same-sex couples can marry, and the military now recruits gays and lesbians instead of kicking them out. So why did the Boy Scouts of America decide to uphold its ban on Tuesday? What are the benefits for the organization, and what will be the costs?