Posted on 09/20/2004 8:37:44 AM PDT by RonF
NORWALK -- Mayor Alex Knopp has asked the law department to determine whether there is legal precedent for the Common Council to deny a Boy Scouts troop use of Shady Beach for a recruitment drive based on the parent organization's policy of barring homosexual members. Knopp's request came after members of the council's Parks Committee last week told Scoutmaster Greta DeAngelis they would vote against issuing her a permit for a three-hour campfire and recruitment program Oct. 24. The committee voted unanimously to pass the matter on to the full council for its Sept. 28 meeting
(Excerpt) Read more at stamfordadvocate.com ...
New city motto: None of them Boy Scouts to detour your young sons from going right into a gang.
You can help the Boy Scouts in many ways. We can use all the help we can get. This is recruiting season for us, so please pitch in. To find out how, go to: http://www.scouting.org
The low level comrades are always the most hateful and petty. It's amazing - fifty years ago, if you would have suggested to anyone that the Boy Scouts would be under attack, no-one would believe it.
I always either give them money or buy what they are selling when I see them in town raising money. I have a big package of popcorn from yesterday.
I woud hope that individuals with land to donate will give it to the BSA so they don' have to rely on "public" property.
BSA battle
United Way campaigns are kicking into gear as well. Time to remind them that you will be donating directly to BSA.
I donate both my time and my money directly to the BSA (I've been a Scouter for 12 years now), but it's worth noting that 98% of UW chapters donate money to the BSA. Some of the more highly urban chapters have dropped funding, but if you do a Google search on "United Way Boy Scouts", you'll see a huge number of stories about UW chapters that support their local Councils.
Folks, the BSA needs money. But it also desperately needs your time! Leaders are needed. Unit Committee members are needed. Troops, Packs, Crews, and Ships need someone to teach skills that the Troop leaders don't have (think Merit Badge Counselor), or someone to run the annual popcorn sale or pancake breakfast. You don't have to go camping with the kids to support a unit.
Ping
Why should citizens have to give up private property to the Scouts? The goal of the Scout-haters is to marginalize them to the point of nonviability.
Actually, the BSA bars neither homosexual leaders nor homosexual youth. I'm sure there are plenty of both in the BSA. What they do bar is "avowed homosexuals", which is generally interpreted as homosexuals who discuss or act on their orientation in a Scouting setting.
Because Scouts can do things on their own property that they can't do on public land, like chop down trees, build dining halls, etc.
They also can control the scheduling and bar people from the premises who might be disruptive.
"What they do bar is "avowed homosexuals","
Yes, but... when an adult fills out their application, it specifically asks if there is "any reason why you might be considered not eligible" I'd have to check the current application wording, but something to that effect.
BTW, I'v been a member of the PA Dutch Council for 12+ years, and this issue has never come up.
Emanuel Margolis of Stamford, legal adviser to the Connecticut Civil Liberties Union, said he believes Norwalk would be denying the Boy Scouts their constitutional rights. "I think it's a fairly simple question of First Amendment rights and principles," Margolis said.
I went to the CCLU's web site. They bill themselves as an affiliate of the ACLU. Seems that at least this part of the ACLU actually understands the Constitution.
... is there any fact or circumstance involving you or your background that would call into question your being entrusted with the supervision, guidance, and care of young people?
So the question becomes, first, does a homosexual signing this believe that their homosexuality calls such a question? For the vast majority of them that are not child molesters or adolescent molesters, they'd answer "No." And if they stick to teaching the Scouts the BSA program and don't get into talking about or demonstrating their own sexual orientation, the BSA seems to agree. Only those people who have gone very public with their orientation (such as giving newspaper interviews) have, to my knowledge, every gotten refused membership or have gotten their registration revoked.
Do you think that there are no gays or lesbians in your Council?
"Do you think that there are no gays or lesbians in your Council?"
I can't say for sure. I do know of one adult member who voluntarily left after his sexual preference was revealed (by him).
His reason for leaving without a fight - he did not want to dishonor the Scouting program.
So then the question becomes, why did he reveal his sexual orientation?
If he was asked by a fellow Scouter, that Scouter violated "Don't ask, don't tell".
If he brought it up on his own, he became "avowed". Perhaps he saw a conflict in that he felt he needed to be more open about who he sleeps with.
If it was discovered in the context of some Scouting activity (say, he had a friend over in his tent one night), then he was way out of line.
The point I'm trying to make is that there's no reason for a homosexual to quit the BSA based purely on their sexual orientation. Being a homosexual in and of itself does not dishonor Scouting.
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