"It was like the Dark Ages": The story of Tim Curran, who was kicked out of the Boy Scouts of America for homosexuality

In 1981, 18-year-old Tim Carran became a central figure in one of the most high-profile trials in U.S. history related to LGBTQ+ rights. He was expelled from the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) after he openly declared his sexual orientation. Nearly half a century later, Carran has put on his uniform again and is teaching children how to tie knots in one of Manhattan’s troops. His return comes amid a new round of political turmoil: the Donald Trump administration and the Pentagon are demanding that the Scouts abandon their “progressive agenda.”

This exclusive article appeared on March 29, 2026, in the magazine People. This is an adapted version of the text. You can read the original here: Expelled from the Boy Scouts for Being Gay, a Teen Sued—and Lost. 45 Years Later, He’s Back as a Scoutmaster (Exclusive)

How Tim Curran Became the “First Exile”

Tim Carran joined the Boy Scouts at age 14 in Berkeley, California. In his own words, he was a “shy teenager” who lacked self-confidence, and Scouting helped him gain it. By the age of 18, he had achieved the highest rank—Eagle Scout—after creating a special troop for children with hearing impairments.

The problems began in 1980, when Carran agreed to an interview with a local newspaper Oakland Tribune. The article featured a photo of Tim with his date at the prom. Although the leaders of his local troop initially had no objections, the organization’s national leadership took a hard line. When Carran applied to work at the 1981 National Jamboree, he received a letter rejecting his application and expelling him from the organization.

Carran filed a lawsuit with the support of the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union). His case went through all levels of the California court system, and a similar lawsuit filed by another Boy Scout later reached the U.S. Supreme Court. In both cases, the courts ruled in favor of the Boy Scouts, upholding their right as a private organization to select their members and exclude those deemed “undesirable.”

Why did the scouts change their minds?

For decades, the Boy Scouts of America’s policy remained unchanged, but in the 2010s, the organization faced a serious crisis:

• Decline in population: The number of participants steadily declined.
• Bankruptcy: The organization filed for bankruptcy following thousands of lawsuits alleging sexual abuse by its leaders over the past decades.
• A Shift in Values: In 2013, the organization began accepting openly gay teenagers as members, and in 2015, it began accepting adult leaders.

In 2024, the organization even changed its name to Scouting America, to emphasize its inclusiveness (it has been accepting girls since 2018).

Returning to School and the Children's Reactions

Tim Carran is now 64 years old. He spent most of his life working as a journalist and documentary filmmaker, but after retiring, he decided to return to his old passion. Last fall, he was invited to volunteer with Squad No. 662 in Manhattan.

In January 2026, during the traditional campfire, Tim shared his story with the current Scouts for the first time. The children's reaction took even him by surprise. Marco Chimika, an 11-year-old Boy Scout, compared the bans of the past to the “Dark Ages” and called Tim’s actions “very brave.” The boy’s father noted that his son was genuinely outraged by the injustice Carran had faced.

Carran himself admits that while telling the story, he “caught his breath”: he hadn’t realized just how traumatic the experience of exile had been 45 years ago. Now he is relearning the names of the knots and practicing archery, trying to keep up with the skill level of today’s children.

A New Showdown: Scouts vs. the Pentagon

Carran's return coincided with a period of intense political pressure on the Boy Scouts of America. The Trump administration and the Pentagon expressed dissatisfaction with the organization's commitment to "diversity, equity, and inclusion" (DEI).

What happened in early 2026:

• The Pentagon has threatened to end its long-standing partnership with the Boy Scouts, including the hosting of national conventions and support for troops at military bases.
• Representatives of the Ministry of Defense called the “ideology of gender fluidity” incompatible with the ministry’s values.
• In response Scouting America reached a compromise: the “Citizenship in Society” badge (dedicated to DEI) was removed from the mandatory requirements for earning the Eagle rank and replaced with a new “Military Service” badge, developed in collaboration with the Pentagon.

However, the organization's leadership refused to comply with the demand to exclude transgender people. The president Scouting America Roger Crown stated outright: “We have transgender people on the show, and they will continue to be part of it in the future.”

For Tim Carran, his return is not a political move, but rather “a personal joy and blessing.” He refers to himself as a “footnote in history” or an “asterisk,” something of which he is very proud.

"Justice delayed is not always justice denied.", — he says, emphasizing that he is glad to see an organization where children no longer have to hide their identity. Despite the new political turmoil, Carran believes that the Scouting movement will be able to remain open to all children and leaders.