100th anniversary in 2010, has long excluded both gays and atheists. Smith said a change in the policy toward atheists was not being considered, and that the BSA continued to view “Duty to God” as one of its basic principles.

Protests over the no-gays policy gained momentum in 2000, when the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the BSA’s right to exclude gays. Scout units lost sponsorships by public schools and other entities that adhered to nondiscrimination policies, and several local Scout councils made public their displeasure with the policy.

More recently, amid petition campaigns, shipping giant UPS Inc. and drug-manufacturer Merck announced that they were halting donations from their charitable foundations to the Boy Scouts as long as the no-gays policy was in force.

Also, local Scout officials drew widespread criticism inAs he walks the murky, tree-lined corridorsof the dark forest, he realizes it's not asbad as it appears from the outside.

Many days have passed since he acceptedthe mysterious invitation to enter the gates tothe unknown.

He has nourished the fruits from thetrees when the dark forest has them to offer.He has quenched his thirst from the riversand streams and crisp ponds and lakesas they pass through the dark forest.

And punishment does not follow any good deed.Just as it shouldn't.

He has made a choice to leave his past behind him.It is still a part of him, yes. But it has little influenceon him now.

He has left all his friends behind.They wait for him at the entrance to the dark forest.With the mystical powers among the branches ofthe trees of the