Both President Barack Obama and former Governor Mitt Romney support the removal of the Boy Scouts of America’s policy regarding banning LGBT scout and scout leaders. GLAAD welcomed this move noting that White House spokesman Shin Inouye told the Washington Blade that “The President believes the Boy Scouts is a valuable organization that has helped educate and build character in American boys for more than a century. He also opposes discrimination in all forms, and as such opposes this policy that discriminates on basis of sexual orientation.”

Earlier this week, Romney spokeswoman Andrea Saul confirmed that Romney remains in favor of allowing all people to participate in the Boy Scouts without regards to their sexual orientation.

GLAAD explained:

Our nation’s leaders from across religions and political persuasions have joined hundreds of thousands of Americans in speaking out against the blatant discrimination that the Boy Scouts of America teaches young adults today,” said GLAAD President Herndon Graddick. “It’s clear that this outdated policy will be changing in the future. How long will the Boy Scouts continue to bully young gay Americans into hiding who they are and hurt children of gay parents by denying their parents an opportunity to participate in their children’s lives?”

“I couldn’t agree more with President Obama about how important the BSA is to this country’s young men and am proud to have his support,” said Eagle Scout and co-founder of Scouts for Equality Zach Wahls.

The fact that the Presidential candidates of both major American parties have come together to oppose the BSA’s anti-gay policy in the most polarized political climate since Reconstruction speaks volumes about both the moral validity and critical importance of ending the ban. It’s no surprise that the leader of the free world is willing to advocate for a little more freedom within the BSA.