In the summer of 2000, the OutFront Minnesota Board of
Directors passed the following resolution in response to a U.S. Supreme
Court decision affirming the Boy Scouts of America's policy to expel
scout leaders who are gay.
Resolution of the Board of Directors
of
OutFront Minnesota
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 just because they are gay.
Human rights laws forbidding such discrimination are unconstitutional
in such circumstances, ruled the Court by a one-vote margin, in that
they intrude into a group's internal affairs by forcing it to accept a
member it does not desire. The Boy Scouts, therefore, were allowed to
reject gay scoutmaster applicant James Dale despite his unchallenged,
exemplary record of performance and leadership within the Boy Scouts of
America.
In the wake of the Dale ruling, well-meaning people and organizations
are struggling 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."
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