Posted on 07/27/2006 12:01:15 PM PDT by Nachum
City Solicitor Romulo L. Diaz Jr. said a recent push to force the Cradle of Liberty Boy Scouts Council to denounce the national organization's antigay policy had nothing to do with his own homosexuality.
"My own sexuality, my own sexual orientation, has never been hidden and never played into my decision," Diaz said in an interview yesterday with The Inquirer. "It has, perhaps, made me more sensitive to the issues."
Diaz said he sent another letter yesterday morning seeking a meeting with William T. Dwyer III, council chief executive officer and president. Diaz, the city's first openly gay solicitor and a former Cub Scout, said he hoped to have a "direct dialogue" with the council.
"I'm trying to figure out what their policy means. Do they intend to discriminate against openly gay Boy Scouts?" he said.
Last week, the Street administration threatened the scouts with eviction from the stately structure at 22d and Winter Streets they have occupied rent-free since 1928 unless they agreed to disavow discrimination against gays - or pay a fair-market rent.
The national organization, Boy Scouts of America, has a strict policy forbidding homosexuals from being scouts or leaders. The policy was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2000 and affirmed by the national council in 2002.
The debate over the national policy in Philadelphia began in 2003 when the local council voted to adopt a nondiscrimination policy regarding homosexuals - but then, weeks later, ousted an 18-year-old South Philadelphia scout who publicly acknowledged he was gay.
Then-City Solicitor Nelson Diaz determined that the scouts' policy of banning gays violated the city's fair-practices ordinance. That law forbids discrimination based on sexual orientation, religion, race, color or other classifications.
In 2005, the council, which serves 87,000 members in Philadelphia, Montgomery and Delaware Counties, agreed to adopt an anti-discrimination policy in compliance with the City Charter, according to a letter Romulo Diaz wrote to the council at the time. But that policy was "ambiguous," Diaz said, and did not address homosexuality directly.
Diaz said his office reached out repeatedly for clarification on whether the scouts intended to stop discriminating against gays. He said the council refused to meet.
"This is an issue that's been in play now for the tenure of three city solicitors," he said.
Larry Ceisler, a spokesman for the council, said the scouts had declined to go to a meeting at a private law firm where gay and lesbian activists would have been present.
Responding to Diaz's letter of yesterday, Ceisler said the council would meet with the city solicitor, but only in an official capacity and in a city office.
Diaz said the Street administration had made its decision to move toward eviction after a "very deliberative process."
"Frankly, from my perspective, I'm certainly supportive of it," Diaz said. "I believe it's the right thing to do from a legal and policy perspective.
"I think I looked at this from a very balanced perspective," he added.
BULL!
The Colon Cowboys would love to gain access to a bunch of young teenage boys.
Memo to Romulo: shut the heck up.
Yes...Come into my office, said the spider to the ant.
"private dialogue?"
Probably somewhere dark and deep in the woods where no one could hear the screams of protest.
I think he should print that on his business cards.
"Do they intend to discriminate against openly gay Boy Scouts?" he said.
I certainly hope so, since to do otherwise would violate their established standard of forbidding homosexuality in the Scouts.
"I think I looked at this from a very balanced perspective," he added.
Of course he does. For a liberal, "Give me what I want or I'll use my government power to destroy you" is a very balanced perspective.
Liar Liar Pants on Fire!
Was gonna call him a maricon too. Is that permitted on FR?
Diaz: just another bullying faggie wielding total state power!
):^(
Where are the black inner-city activists?
Why aren't they out there supporting the scounts?
Bottom line answer: Homosexuality is a naturally-repulsive, inherently distasteful (literally!), life-threatening, and is as instinctively "wrong" as bears hibernating in the summer, or geese flying north in September.
Before homosexuals began their recruiting campaign with Kinsey's lies (er, reports) in the fifties, it WAS morally wrong.
But, to get more homosexuals, to prove to themselves ! that homosexuality is "ok" and "morally straight" - homosexuals MUST seduce and recruit the innocent.
"City Solicitor Romulo L. Diaz Jr. said a recent push to force the Cradle of Liberty Boy Scouts Council to denounce the national organization's antigay policy had nothing to do with his own homosexuality."
NOT AT ALL.
He just likes little boys and is trying to "help" them.
Can I ask everyone why the issues of gays and Boy Scouts keeps coming up?
The reason I ask is because the Supreme Court in 2000 in the Dale case said that the Scouts were within their constitutional rights to ban homosexuals from their organization. So if the highest court in the land has said that they are acting legally when they "discriminate" against homosexuals, how can local officials from San Diego to Berkeley to Philadelphia be saying that the Scouts "disciminate" and thus can be denied public accomodations in their cities?
Anybody know? If the Scouts legally can do what they do, how can anyone, legally speaking, take such action against the Boy Scouts?
Bravo Sierra!!!
For anyone who buys that one, I have this nifty bridge for sale...
Is the entire city government of Philedelphia gay?
Gays want to be treated like anybody else and yet at the same time deny the possibility of same-sex activity in the Scouts. Go figure.
Scouts are all boys because having girls on a camping trip would be asking for trouble.
They don't allow women leaders for the same reason.
Two reasons:
1. Homosexuals think "Boy Scouts" are sexually appealing:
2. It's part of that transition from "The love that dare not speak its name," to "The love that can't STFU."
The city gave the Scouts the property but, the Scouts built the building themselves. The 18 yr. old scout went on national television trashing the Boy Scouts, then wore his uniform to several "gay pride" type events. That is when he was dismissed; for misuse of his uniform. He was doing all he could to force the BSA into some action. The BSA came to an agreement with the city in 2004 over letting gays in, now the city comes out of no where and wants to evict them. The building is the FIRST Boy Scout headquarters in the country. It also happens to be a prime real estate location. The city just wants it for it's location.
Philadelphia's homicide rate and gang related violence is reaching epidemic proportions. The mayor has asked for the State Police to reinforce the city's police dept. The Boy Scouts have some 40,000 boys and teenagers here in Philly. Typical liberalism here. Place is going to hell in a hand basket so they go after one of the organizations that is doing some positive work for society!!
You will be assimilated.
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