Background:
The United States Supreme Court in June 2000 decided (in Boy Scouts of America, et. al., vs. Dale) that the First Amendment's guarantee of freedom of association allows the Boy Scouts of America to reject and expel scouting participants because they are gay.
The cour truled that human rights laws forbidding such discrimination are unconstitutional because they intrude into a group's internal affairs by forcing it to accept a member it does not desire. The court determined that the Boy Scouts were allowed to reject gay scoutmaster applicant James Dale despite his exemplary record of performance and leadership within the Boy Scouts of America.
In the wake of the Dale ruling, well-meaning people and organizations struggle to reconcile their support for scouting with their belief that the Boy Scouts' anti-gay policy is ignorant and intolerant.
We believe:
- The Boy Scouts of America's policy forbidding participation by gay people is repugnant to the values of a pluralistic society.
- An individual's sexual orientation is irrelevant to her or his ability to serve with distinction as a role model and mentor to youth. This truth is recognized by other youth groups including such thriving, multi-million-member organizations as the Girl Scouts of the USA and Scouts Canada (Footnote 1).
- Youth who are questioning their sexuality are often frightened and self-destructive. The Boy Scouts of America's anti-gay message is dangerous and potentially destructive to these young people.
- Some young people are especially cruel to their peers if they sense that those peers are questioning their sexuality. Such abusive youth hear in the Boy Scout's anti-gay message a validation of their cruelty. In this way, the Boy Scouts of America's anti-gay message is dangerous and potentially destructive.
- Organizations whose values forbid unfair discrimination must remain true to those values. Decisions to disassociate, disaffiliate and defund the BSA should be made with the same certainty and confidence as would occur when responding to an organization that advocates bigotry against people based on their race, sex, or their religious affiliation.
We resolve:
- We oppose taxpayer-subsidized benefits that accrue to the Boy Scouts of America, such as use of public meeting facilities and tax-exempt status; taxpayers should not be compelled to subsidize an organization that advocates unfair discrimination. We will work to educate elected leaders and candidates about this issue.
- Organizations whose purpose includes a pledge to respect diversity and end discrimination must remain true to this stated purpose especially when it becomes inconvenient or unpopular. We will work to educate such organizations about the destructive and dangerous effects of the BSA's discriminatory policy.
- We will work to support healthy alternatives for youth interested in scouting-type activities such as YWCA/YMCA, Scouting for All, and Scouts Canada.
Passed on August 31, 2000 by unanimous vote of the Board. Marjorie Cowmeadow, Board Chair
Footnotes:
1. Consider the following sampling of organizations that embrace participation by gay and lesbian people:
- Scouts Canada requires only that its members fall within certain age limits and take the Scout promise. The promise does not contain phrases such as in the BSA's oath to be "morally straight" which could be interpreted as prohibiting gay people. Potential Scout leaders are not asked to reveal their sexual orientation. Leaders who are determined to be gay or bisexual are not expelled. Individual Scouts who are bisexual or gay are also not expelled.
- Girl Scouts of the USA National Executive Director Marsha Johnson Evans makes the following simple statement about the Girl Scouts' openness to everyone regardless of sexual orientation: "Girl Scout Membership is open to all girls between the ages of 5 and 17, and to men and women over 18 who accept the Girl Scout law and make the Girl Scout promise."
- Scouting for All "… believes that Federal, state, and local laws should require non-discrimination on the part of public facilities, including Scouting and youth organizations, based on sexual orientation, gender, and religion."
|
