Md. Teen Aims To Be Among First Gay Eagle Scouts

KENSINGTON, Md. (AP) -- A Maryland boy aims to be one of the first openly gay Eagle Scouts when the Boy Scouts of America open their ranks to gay scouts this week.

Pascal Tessier of Kensington tells a local station the change is welcome, but he would also like to see openly gay scouts be allowed to serve as leaders. Tessier is 17, but when he turns 18, the Eagle Scout will not be allowed to serve as a scout leader.

Tessier and his brother, who is also a scout, helped lead protests against Boy Scouts' ban on gay members. Tessier and his Bethesda-Chevy Chase Boy Scout Troop held a demonstration this year at the National Capital Area Council of the Boy Scouts to demand that gay youth be admitted to the organization.

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