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Boy Scouts of America:
News items in the media, year 2000
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 | 2000-JUL (approx): Illinois: Cub scout packs expelled from BSA:
According to an article in People Magazine, a group of six
Cub Scout packs were sponsored by Parent Teacher Organizations in
Oak Park, IL, a suburb of Chicago. The latter have a strict
non-discrimination policy. When the packs applied to the BSA for routine
re-certification they included a letter stating that they would not
exclude gays. The BSA expelled the packs. Of the 150 former cub scout
members, half decided to join new groups who have promised to
discriminate against gays. Some of the rest have joined the Camp Fire
Boys and Girls, an agency that accepts members and leaders of all
sexual orientations. A parent, former scout, and leader Ken Brinkman asked
"What are we trying to teach boys in Scouts? how to tie a knot or how
to discriminate." 1 |
| 2000-JUL-7: USA: The Unitarian Universalist Association called
for citizens to:
 | "support the efforts of "Scouting for All" 2 |
| ask local Scout troops to adopt anti-discrimination policies
that include religious belief, sexual orientation, and gender
identity; |
| provide the necessary tools to empower youth to take action
on these issues; and |
| speak out about these issues in our communities." 3 |
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| 2000-JUL-10: USA: American Atheists have called on President
Clinton to resign as honorary head of the BSA. They feel that it would
deliver a powerful message against discrimination on the basis of
religious belief and sexual orientation. |
| 2000-JUL-14: USA: The Episcopal Church approved a
resolution at their 73rd General Convention that encourages the Boy
Scouts of America to allow adult leaders to serve regardless of their
sexual orientation. |
| 2000-JUL-20: Congress: Representative Lynn Woolsey, (D-CA)
suggested that Congress revoke the 84 year old federal charter of the
BSA. She said: "We're not saying they're bad. We're saying
intolerance is bad, and I don't see any reason why the federal
government should be supporting it." Woolsey is a former
member of the Girl Scouts, and her son is a former Boy Scout. Boy Scouts spokesman
Gregg Shields said: "We're honored to have such a charter, but
we also ask other Americans to recognize our rights to freedom of
association as described by the Constitution and upheld by the Supreme
Court." |
| 2000-JUL-13: USA: President Clinton: Lynn Woolsey, (D-CA) and ten
other representatives wrote a letter to the President which said, in
part, "In order to disavow this policy of intolerance, as well
as clarify any misconception of Presidential approval, we urge you,
the leader of our nation, to resign as the honorary head of the BSA." |
| 2000-JUL-20: USA: United Way, etc: According to AANEWS:
| Chapters of the United Way, a national group which
coordinates planned giving and disburses grants, are ending their
contributions to the BSA. |
| The Providence, R.I. United Way chapter has decided to
discontinue funding any of its 65 agencies which discriminates
"for any reason, including sexual orientation."
The cutoff is set to the end of 2000. |
| The Narragansett, N.J. Council of the BSA has reversed
its discriminatory policy, which led to the firing of Eagle Scout
and assistant scoutmaster James Dale in 1990. The Providence
Journal-Bulletin newspaper stated: "The Narragansett
Council has since joined a Minnesota council by passing a
resolution urging the national parent organization to reconsider
the ban. |
| Nationally, United Way channels over $83 million a year to
various BSA troops and councils. Chapters of the UW in San
Francisco, Santa Clara and Santa, Calif.; New Haven, CT.; Somerset
County, N.J.; Santa Fe, N.M.; and Portland, Me. all have
anti-discrimination by laws in their respective charters which
prohibit funding of groups which discriminate on the basis of
sexual orientation. |
| There are reports that Eagle Scouts are returning their badges
to the BSA headquarters in Texas to protest the organization's
discriminatory policies. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported on
Tuesday that "several hundred" Eagle Scouts have
returned badges and other gear, and written letters of protest as
well. The move was denounced by the Washington,
D.C.-based Family Research Council.
Rob Regier, a policy analyst for FRC told reporters, "I
think it's sad that they would do this. They're brought into
the false notion that this is a new civil rights movement."
4 |
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| 2000-AUG-1: USA: Rep. Lynn Woolsey, (D-CA) has introduced a bill
called "Scouting for All Act." According to Family
News in Focus, the bill criticizes the BSA for its lack of support
for diversity and tolerance, and would revoke the federal charter
granted to the BSA in 1916. "The biggest benefit to the Scouts
from the charter is the use of National Guard tents, camping equipment
and military bases for their annual Boy Scout Jamboree." The
bill has been sent to the House Judiciary Committee for review.
5 |
| 2000-NOV-28: USA: A survey released by "Who's Who Among
American High School Students" found that most top high
school students believe that gays and lesbians should be allowed to be
Boy Scout leaders, Girl Guide leaders, teachers and sport coaches.
However, 39% admitted that they still had some prejudice against
homosexuals. |
| 2000-DEC-6: USA: Many large cities in the U.S. have removed
support, or had started the process of removing support, from the Boy
Scouts because of their anti-gay policies. This includes Ft.
Lauderdale, Los Angeles, New York. A ordinance was unanimously
approved by the Los Angeles City Council which will bar the
police from engaging in any Scouting programs and prohibit the Scouts
from free meeting rooms at city parks. 6 By the end of OCT, more than 24
United Way chapters had withdrawn financial support. |
- Bill Hewitt, et al., "Unhappy Trails," People Magazine, 2001-JUL-2,
pages 156 to 159.
- "Scouting for All" has a web site at: http://www.scoutingforall.org/
- CyberNewsletter of the UUA Washington Office, issued 2000-JUL-7
- AANEWS, 2000-JUL-20
- Martha Kleder, "Lawmakers target Scouts' charter," at: http://www.family.org/cforum/fnif/news/A0012414.html
- Lara McGovern, "L.A. city council ousts Boy Scouts," at: http://www.family.org/cforum/fnif/news/A0013962.html
Copyright © 2000 to 2002 incl., and 2004 by Ontario Consultants on
Religious Tolerance.
Latest updated: 2004-JUL-12
Author: B.A. Robinson
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