Here we go again...

[eisely]

This sort of discrimination against the Boy Scouts is becoming a very old story.

____________________

 

Conn. city may deny permit to Boy Scouts

By Associated Press | September 21, 2004

 

NORWALK, Conn. -- City officials are considering denying a permit for the Boy Scouts to use a beach for a recruitment drive based on the parent organization's policy of barring homosexual members.

 

Mayor Alex Knopp has asked the law department to determine whether there is legal precedent to deny a Boy Scouts troop use of Shady Beach. He made his request after members of the Common Council's parks committee told scoutmaster Greta DeAngelis last week that they would vote against issuing her a permit for a three-hour campfire and recruitment program on Oct. 24. The mayor declined to comment until he has more information.

 

The controversy about Boy Scouts of America membership arose a few years ago after the organization expelled James Dale, an Eagle Scout and assistant scoutmaster in New Jersey for 10 years, because he is gay. Dale sued and won reinstatement but the Scouts took their case to the US Supreme Court and, in 2000, prevailed.

 

Although DeAngelis said her Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts troops do not discriminate, Norwalk Parks Committee members Kenneth Baker and Peter Wien argued that the local Scouts are required to follow the national policy.

 

Lena Fergason, legislative and regulations specialist for the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities, said she is unaware of any other Connecticut municipalities that have denied the Scouts use of public land.

 

Lou Salute, a Boy Scouts executive with the Connecticut Yankee Council, said DeAngelis only wants the same access to public facilities given to other organizations. "To deny the Boy Scouts access would constitute discrimination against us," Salute said.

 

In 2000, the Connecticut State Employee Campaign Committee removed the Boy Scouts from its list of charities that workers contribute to through a payroll deduction plan. The move came after the state's human rights commission found that including the Boy Scouts on the list violated the state's antidiscrimination laws because of the Scouts' policy that bars homosexuals from their organization.

 

Copyright 2004 Globe Newspaper Company.

 

[johndaigler]

eisely -

 

Thanks for the story. But help me understand. I've got the background, but not the details. Has Norwalk issued permits to groups similar to the BSA? This is discrimination against the Scouts because . . .

 

jd(This message has been edited by johndaigler)

[eisely]

I don't know the details. I found four articles and posted the most recent. I don't think any final decision has been made. Perhaps some forum participant from that part of the country can provide some more information.

[cjmiam]

Yeah the heck with equal access. Its not like they pay taxes or anything. Its not like they are members of the public. Its not like theyve probably had work days to clean up that beach. To put is simply, if this happened in my neck of the woods Id do everything humanly possible (lawfully of course) to get those individuals out of office.

 

The good news? I think our country is fed up with this kind of garbage from people that shout for tolerance from the mountaintops yet dont tolerate any opinions differing from their own. That are so concerned with a freedom of choice as long as it coincides with how theyd chose. I feel a growing momentum in our country that is revealing these individuals for the frauds that they are.

 

Have faith and fight the good fight.

[Hunt]

Sometimes I think BSA would be better off if it more forcefully defined itself as a religious organization. Can you imagine the City of Norwalk making such statements if the local Catholic Church wanted to use the park for a sunrise service? I predict this story will disappear when the lawyers tell the city leaders that they would have to deny permits to just about everybody.

[Merlyn_LeRoy]

Actually, this is a fairly rare case of genuine discrimination against the Boy Scouts; most of the other cases (Balboa park, Cradle of Liberty council HQ, etc) are cases where the BSA is losing some sort of special treatment.

[mk9750]

Merlyn,

 

I disagree vehemently with your basic message. And that hasn't changed. But you should be congratulated for being fair and recognizing a wrong in this case. Although you will never convince me that your are right, you just earned some respect. I'd love to see you do more to keep it.

 

My question in cases like this is why an anti - (anything - that - is - PC) attitude precludes groups like the BSA from utilizing property that the public owns, when one could just as easily put together a group that all seperately have the same attitude but would be allowed to use the same property. And to take it a step further, why is anti - homosexuals AS MEMBERS worse than the Ku Klux Klan, who seem to be able to use public property almost at will?

 

Mark

[Merlyn_LeRoy]

Would you earn MY respect and agree that government agencies like public school can't sponsor Boy Scout troops because the government can't discriminate against gays and atheists?

[EagleInKY]

STOP THE PRESSES! Meryln actually acknowledged the Boy Scouts were being discriminated against (in this case, at least). Where is old FOG when you want him? Thanks for at least being open-minded on this one.

[Merlyn_LeRoy]

Why are you people surprised? I've always advocated that the BSA be treated FAIRLY by the government for what it is - a private, discriminatory organization. Private, discriminatory organizations can use public property, but the government can't give them special deals or sponsor Scout troops. But how many of you complained about the Balboa Park decision?

[acco40]

Merlyn,

 

No fair, quit using logic on us! While almost everyone acknowledges thatthe BSA is a private organization, in my book it still is a quasi-public organization but I admit that is a minority viewpoint.

 

By the way, did you happen to see the PBS television show The Question of God: Why Freud & Lewis? I found it interesting.

[packsaddle]

So....why don't we hold off until there's a decision? In the meantime I would like clarification: Does BSA pay taxes there? Do we really want FOG back? Just curious.

[cjmiam]

Packsaddle, were you asking me for that tax clarification? I have no clue what taxes are being paid by the corporation. I was referring to the Scouts, parents, volunteers, and potential new members of the program. All tax-paying Americans, even the little Cub Scout that bought a candy bar at the local gas station and paid an extra 6% on his purchase -- entitling him the right to set his little fanny on that beach and build the biggest sand castle imaginable and then ask the parks committee if theyd like to swim in his moat. But I agree, let's wait for a decision.

[packsaddle]

cjmiam, OK now I understand your message, thanks. Regardless of the ultimate ruling, individuals will still be able to enjoy the park, even in uniform. BTW, your guys sound...ahem...a wee bit slimmer than ours.

[evmori]

Did you ever notice Merlyn only pipes in when the word "discrimination" shows up? I'm not surprised he thinks the BSA is being discriminated against! What does surprise me is he actually admitted it!

 

Ed Mori

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