Former secretary of defense Robert Gates, currently serving as the newly appointed president of the Boy Scouts of America, has responded to the heated argument regarding gay adults in the organization.

Gates told The Associated Press on Friday that the organization will continue to allow gay youth in the BSA, but that he will directly oppose any continued attempts to address the participation of openly gay adults.

Gates, well known for his leadership with the U.S. military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy repeal, believes this continued debate will only cause harm to the organization and its mission.

“I was prepared to go further than the decision that was made,” said Gates. “I would have supported having gay Scoutmasters, but at the same time, I fully accept the decision that was democratically arrived at by 1,500 volunteers from across the entire country.”

In 2013, the National Council BSA voted to allow openly gay youth to participate in the organization, but not openly gay adults.

Gates, a former Eagle Scout, is determined to refocus the media’s attention on the positives that come from the scouting experience. He did state that his role at the BSA is much different than previous positions with the CIA or U.S. military.

“I could give an order and people would follow it, at least most of the time. In an organization driven almost entirely by volunteers, officials have to respect differences in opinion,” Gates said, according to The AP.