YWCA Vote Allows Men to Lead Local Affiliates

The YWCA has voted overwhelmingly to eliminate a policy that allowed only women to serve as leaders of its nearly 300 local affiliates.

The new measure, passed at the organization’s annual meeting in Washington, D.C., allows each chapter to decide whether to accept men through a proposal to the national board.

Passed with the blessing of 70% of its voting members at the meeting, the decision marks a big change for the 148-year-old organization, but comes as a compromise just five years after an unofficial vote against allowing men to serve as leaders.