After 114 years, Boy Scouts of America (BSA) will change its name to Scouting America in an effort to rebrand and become more inclusive, the organization announced on Tuesday.
On X (formerly Twitter), the organization stated that the new name is “reflecting the organization’s ongoing commitment to welcome every youth and family in America to experience the benefits of Scouting.”
The Boy Scouts of America today announced that it will rebrand to Scouting America, reflecting the organization’s ongoing commitment to welcome every youth and family in America to experience the benefits of Scouting. Learn more:https://t.co/EiE1iasb2x pic.twitter.com/D11RkvCr45
— Boy Scouts - BSA (@boyscouts) May 7, 2024
Roger Krone, the organization’s president, said in an interview ahead of the announcement that memberships are at a record low and that the new name will be more inclusive.
“Part of my job is to reduce all the barriers I possibly can for people to accept us as an organization and to join,” Krone said, adding that the name sends the message that children “can come to this program, they can bring their authentic self, they can be who they are, and they will be welcomed here.”
“In the next 100 years we want any youth in America to feel very, very welcome to come into our programs,” he added.
BREAKING: The Boys Scouts of America is changing its name to "Scouting America", marking the first change in its 114 years.
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) May 7, 2024
The change is to make it more inclusive. pic.twitter.com/1OyKJCjfuR
According to the Associated Press, the announcement came after the organization filed for bankruptcy and “a flood of sexual abuse claims.”
Predictably, many conservative voices called out the organization for rebranding.
“Do you plan on letting your boys join the Trans Scouts?” Michael Knowles wrote on X.
Do you plan on letting your boys join the Trans Scouts? https://t.co/afVrUbQe3h
— Michael Knowles (@michaeljknowles) May 7, 2024
Never forget this classic @benshapiro moment:
— YAF (@yaf) May 7, 2024
"You have to be a boy to be a Boy Scout."
Woke student: "Where is that written?"
Ben Shapiro: "In the name: 'Boy Scouts'" pic.twitter.com/MlzQcOXX5G https://t.co/H9oxouRbaA
We’re very disappointed to see Boy Scouts of America succumb to pressures of woke gender ideology by rebranding as 'Scouting America.’ This isn’t inclusivity, this is the destabilization of children’s identities. It is blatant denial of the natural difference between boys and… pic.twitter.com/2T20pWtE9w
— Gays Against Groomers (@againstgrmrs) May 7, 2024
“They've taken something created to be entirely and utterly exclusive and deemed it not inclusive enough,” women’s sports advocate Riley Gaines wrote.
They've taken something created to be entirely and utterly exclusive and deemed it not inclusive enough
— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) May 7, 2024
I want off this ride lol pic.twitter.com/RAk53BPtOn
The official rebrand will go into effect on Feb. 8, 2025, which is the organization’s 115th anniversary.
Last year, Boys Scouts of America (BSA) agreed to pay over $2.4 billion to settle claims of sexual abuse by tens of thousands of former scouts who said they’d been sexually abused by BSA officials and volunteers.
Not to mention, in 2017, BSA opened its doors to children who believe they are “transgender.”