The Boy Scouts gay ban has ended Thursday after more than 60 percent of the group’s 1400-member National Council voted in favor of ending the century-old policy.

The decision to end the gay ban for the Scouts is seen as a major victory for gay rights activists, but a tidal wave of change for an organization that depends heavily on faith-based groups.

Reactions from conservatives have been frustrating and numerous influencers are predicting a massive negative repercussion of this decision.

John Stemberger, an Orlando lawyer, Eagle Scout, former scoutmaster and founder of an organization that opposes lifting the ban said that the National Council’s decision marked a “sad day for America.”

He said that he would never again don the Boy Scouts uniform and would work to create a new scouting organization “based on timeless values.”

Another advocate opposed on lifting the ban, Chris Collier, 41, a former troop leader in Alabama and Florida said he would send his Eagle Scout award back to the organization’s national office. He also said, “I just resigned from my troop.”

"My grandfather earned his eagle award in 1938. I earned mine in 1990. I was hoping my son could earn his when he grew up. I'm sad, but this is their cross to bear. I'm no longer part of the organization. I'll move in a different direction," Collier added.

Former GOP presidential candidate and Texas Governor Rick Perry expressed his dismay at the decision.

"While I will always cherish my time as a Scout and the life lessons I learned, I am greatly disappointed with this decision," Gov. Perry said.

The president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s executive committee, Frank Page, said, “We are deeply saddened. Homosexual behavior is incompatible with the principles enshrined in the Scout oath and Scout law."

The Assemblies of God said the policy change “will lead to mass exodus from the Boy Scout program” and warned that the change would make the Boy Scouts of America vulnerable to lawsuits that would seek to end the ban on gay adults.

Last February, the Boy Scouts sent out a survey to members of the Scouting community. Of the more than 200,000 leaders, parents and youth members who responded, 61 percent supported the current policy of excluding gays.

The ban that was lifted Thursday for gay youth does not apply to gay adult scout leaders. Gay adults are still banned from serving in the scouts. The approved measure was seen as a compromise, and the Scouts stressed that they would not condone sexual conduct by any Scout – gay or straight.