GRAPEVINE, Texas (AP) -- The Boy Scouts of America will convene a two-day meeting of 1,400 local leaders to consider changing its long-standing ban on allowing openly gay boys to don the Boy Scouts uniform.

Officials of the Irving, Texas-based organization are scheduled to open the first of the ballots cast on whether to allow openly gay Scouts. Scouting officials propose allowing openly gay Scouts but retaining the ban on gay adult Scout leaders.

The final vote is scheduled for Thursday in the Dallas-Fort Worth suburb of Grapevine.

Some conservatives have denounced the proposal, saying the Scouts' traditions would be undermined by the presence of openly gay youth. Gay-rights supporters have welcomed the proposed change as a positive first step but want the BSA to the ban on gay adults as well.