Boy Scouts lose funding over anti-gay policy - from SE PA United Way

[LynneSin]

http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/6433061.htm

Boy Scouts lose funding over anti-gay policy
By GLORIA CAMPISI
[e-mail]

The United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania has cut off all funding to local Boy Scout organizations because of the Scouts' anti-gay policy, the charitable organization announced yesterday.

The United Way has been funding only one scouting program, Learning for Life, since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled two years ago that the Boy Scouts could apply membership standards that would exclude gays from becoming scout leaders. The Learning for Life program is conducted in public and private school classrooms and scout leaders said it involved no discrimination against homosexuals.

Christine James Brown, president and CEO of United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania, said she hoped the problem was only a "short-term setback and that we will be able to fund scouting services in the future."

United Way's board of directors voted to discontinue funding for the two local Boy Scout councils, Cradle of Liberty Council and the Chester County Council, but to set aside Learning for Life allocations for both until Dec. 31 in hopes the Scouts will rescind their anti-gay policy. Donations can still be made to the Boy Scouts through United Way's donor's choice program.

The Cradle of Liberty Council is the third largest in the country, serving 87,000 young people in Philadelphia, Delaware and Montgomery counties.

Cradle of Liberty defied national Boy Scout leadership in May and said it would accept gay scouts. But the Texas-based national Boy Scout organization then threatened to revoke Cradle of Liberty's charter and dismiss its directors

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[CO Liberal]

1. As a Former Cub Scout, Boy Scout, and Scout Leader........

...I will not support the Boy Scouts in any way as long as they maintain their anti-gay policy.

[LynneSin]

4. It's a shame, it seems one of the Philly troops tried to be diverse

but the Boy Scout HQ in Texas put a stop to that.

[GOPisEvil]

5. I'm with you!

I'm actually an Eagle Scout, and I refuse to support the BSA until they learn some damned tolerance. Plus, in a lot of councils, the United Way money went to pay professionals, not into programs. :grr:

[webDude]

2. Imagine you're in the scouts for years, and finally discover that this

thing they talk about, and call it "gay", is what you are finding out that you are. Talk about years of therapy there. ...Gee, wonder why the suicide rate among gay teenagers is 3 times that of their counterparts? Must be that they are heathans, that's it. Couldn't be because of anything society does, could it?

[qb]

3. Check out Scouting For All

http://www.scoutingforall.org/

[davidinalameda]

6. good

hit them in the wallets--that's all they can understand

[Muddleoftheroad]

7. I don't agree with their choice

But they are a private organization and have every right to make it.

[LynneSin]

8. They are a private organization using public funding

and wanting to hold meetings in public schools.

Therefore it is an issue

[qb]

10. They have a congressional charter to boot

This is a public discrimination issue. Don't forget the Boy Scouts are religious bigots, too. They discriminate against atheists.

[Heddi]

9. And the United Way

has every right to dictate where their money does and doesn't go.

Since the Boy Scouts have decided to discriminate against Homosexuals, the United Way has decided to with hold funding from BSA.

Lovely how that works?

And while the BSA *IS* a private organization, schools, public parks, etc, MUST allow the BSA to meet on their grounds or else they will lose federal funding. The BSA is allowed free access to schools, parks, beaches, etc, that other people or organizations would have to PAY for the usage of.

If the BSA wants to be a 'private organization' and include and exclude anyone they want---fine---but they should, in turn, have to PAY for the facilities they use (which are taxpayer funded facilities) like everyone else and not get special treatment.

The BSA feels it's perfectly okay for them to make decisions of thier choice since they're a private organization, and they feel that since they're a 'private organization' then they can do whatever they want, yet they seem to have a problem when other 'private organizations' do what THEY want and cut back or totally withdraw funding from BSA.

Seems they're a bit hypocritical, no?

[Muddleoftheroad]

11. I concur

Yes, the United Way has every right to screen out the Boy Scouts as well. However, that means many groups will drop United Way funding as a result, as will many individuals.

It's a vicious cycle.

As for funding, I've seen lots of groups hold meetings in public facilities -- not just the Boy Scouts. I don't see where any of them should be treated any differently.

[Heddi]

12. yes, alot of groups *DO* hold meetings

in public facilities.

The thing is, the Boy Scouts get to meet in those facilities for free, while other groups have to pay for those facilities.

Public Schools are REQUIRED To let BSA meet on their campus (if an Elementary/middle/high-school can be considered a 'campus') or else those schools lose funding from the Gov't.

If the BSA *TRULY* wants to be a "private organization" then they need to be *TREATED* like other private organizations and pay for their meeting space, and not have schools forced (financially) to let BSA meet at the schools, for free.

At my elementary school, there was a parents gardening club that met at the school one a month and sat in the cafeteria. They were charged (then) $85 a month to rent the facilities.

Why can't BSA be required to do the same thing?

Or why can't they be required to pay for park access like everyone else (and like every other group)?

You can't be a "private organization" when you want to kick out unlikeables, but then be something else when you want to get free meeting space.

[Muddleoftheroad]

14. Again

I have no problem with charging them. However, Congress protects them just like it protecs a host of other pet projects -- from highways to pork.

[qb]

13. I've seen several reports of the United Way dropping support

for the Boy Scouts, but never any about backlash against the United Way. I don't think the benevolent types get too worked up about denying funds to a bigoted organization.

[LynneSin]

16. Heck United Way contributes to Planned Parenthood

I'm sure those that are offended by this manuever by United Way had already dropped out because of Planned Parenthood contributions

[Bandit]

15. United Way has seen a major decline in revenues due to their right-wing

leanings on most issues. I will not ever donate to them again because of their politics. They are very stupid to broadcast their politics. They must realize less than half of Americans are rabid right-wingers but they threw their hat in with them anyway. They think discontinuing aid to Boy Scouts will save their bacon they are waayy wrong.