Unlike other recent victories for gay rights, there was no celebratory language or discussion of expanding the freedoms of gay Americans. Rather, in a video statement, Gates explained that continuing to exclude gay adults "was inevitably going to result in simultaneous legal battles in multiple jurisdictions, and at staggering costs." He added that the issue has "divided and distracted us" for too long, and "now it's time to unite behind our shared belief in the extraordinary power of Scouting to be a force for good."