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WASHINGTON — <\/span>A gay rights activist is suing the Department of Defense to answer a simple question: Did Scouting America actually agree to ban transgender members<\/a> in a deal with the Pentagon? <\/p>\n James Dale, who filed a complaint in a New York City federal court Thursday, alleges that both sides have provided conflicting answers, while the Pentagon is refusing to release a copy of its agreement with the organization. <\/p>\n The Pentagon made a deal<\/a> with Scouting America in February that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said would refocus the organization away from diversity initiatives<\/a> and other \u201cwoke\u201d policies. Hegseth threatened to cease the military’s longtime support of the organization if it failed to comply in six months, which would be in late August. <\/p>\n Hegseth put heavy emphasis on Scouting America\u2019s acceptance of transgender youth, saying the organization will require members to use their \u201cbiological sex at birth and not gender identity.\u201d <\/p>\n But Scouting America, formerly known as the Boy Scouts of America, said then that the agreement did not change existing policies regarding transgender youth and that they are welcome. <\/p>\n \u201cWe have transgender people in our program and we\u2019ll have transgender people in our program going forward,\u201d Scouting America President and CEO Roger Krone told The Associated Press in February<\/a>. <\/p>\n In his complaint seeking the agreement, Dale states that both accounts \u201ccannot be true, and the stakes are of profound public importance.”<\/p>\n Hegseth had pledged in February to \u201cvigorously review\u201d the changes Scouting America has made, threatening to withdraw support. <\/p>\n \u201cWe hope that doesn\u2019t happen, but it could,\u201d Hegseth said at the time. \u201cIdeally, I believe the Boy Scouts should go back to being the Boy Scouts as originally founded, a group that develops boys into men. Maybe someday.\u201d<\/p>\n The scouts and the military have had longtime ties, including the military providing logistical support for the National Boy Scout Jamboree and scouts meeting on or near bases. The military also has maintained a strong relationship with the Eagle Scouts, whose members often enlist. <\/p>\n Dale had filed a Freedom of Information Act request in late March to get the memorandum of understanding between Scouting America and the Pentagon regarding the changes. <\/p>\n \u201cThe Department has invoked no exemption, produced no record, and missed every deadline,\u201d his complaint stated. “Mr. Dale brings this action to enforce the public\u2019s right to know, before the Department\u2019s August deadline expires.<\/p>\n When asked for comment on Dale’s lawsuit, the Pentagon said in a statement that it wouldn’t comment on ongoing litigation and referred to the video Hegseth released in February that outlined the changes he said the organization was making. Scouting America did not immediately respond to emails from The Associated Press seeking comment. <\/p>\n Dale raised another question in his complaint about the government’s ability to require the organization to accept or deny certain members. <\/p>\n