From The Trussville Tribune staff reports
IRVING, Texas – A 110-year-old American institution, the Boy Scouts of America, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Tuesday following years of turmoil and controversy, much of it self-inflicted.
The move comes after BSA had been hit with thousands of lawsuits alleging sexual abuse by scout leaders.
“The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) today announced that the national organization has filed for bankruptcy under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code to achieve two key objectives: equitably compensate victims who were harmed during their time in Scouting and continue carrying out its mission for years to come,” the organization said in a press release. “The BSA intends to use the Chapter 11 process to create a Victims Compensation Trust that would provide equitable compensation to victims.”
Turmoil also followed when the group lifted the longtime ban on gay scouts and gay scout leaders in 2013. That decision led to declining membership and the loss of many sponsoring churches. Ultimately, several Christian based organizations were created to fill the void.
In January of 2017, BSA began accepting transgender members into their ranks and later that year, in December, they opened their doors to girls. That decision raised the ire of the Girl Scouts of America.