In his prepared remarks, Gates said, "We must deal with the world as it is, not as we might wish it to be."

He also mentioned the organization needs to act sooner rather than later before "the courts simply" ... order it to change its membership policy. He said waiting for the courts is a "gamble with huge stakes."

Gates, who is serving a two-year term with the organization, is a former U.S. secretary of defense.

Last year, the organization voted to end its ban on gay youth members but not on gay leaders.

Gates said he would not be revoking the charters of Boy Scouts councils that went against the organization's policy excluding gay leaders, specifically calling out the Denver Area Council and the Greater New York Councils.

This video includes images from Getty Images. 

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Julian Conley listens during opening statements in his trial at Fulton County Superior Court in Atlanta on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. The 25-year-old is accused of fatally shooting 8-year-old Secoriea Turner in July 2020. (Abbey Cutrer/AJC)

Credit: abbey.cutrer@ajc.com