Posted on 04/25/2002 8:19:37 PM PDT by TommyDale
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- United Way officials voted Tuesday to cut funding for a Boy Scout council because it refused to guarantee it won't discriminate against gay Scouts.
The Triangle United Way, which serves the Raleigh-Durham area, said it cut funding for the Occoneechee Council of Boy Scouts of America, which serves 21,000 boys in 12 counties.
The council, which has an annual budget of $2.4 million, received about $448,000 from the United Way last year, 62 percent of it from the general fund.
The decision would bar the Scouts from receiving money after July 2003 from Triangle United Way's general fund -- the primary source of money for most member agencies. The Scouts could still get United Way money from designated pledges.
"We have enjoyed a long, productive relationship with the Boy Scouts of America," said Craig Chancellor, president of Triangle United Way.
"Yet under the current Boy Scout policy, some children may be denied an opportunity to participate in their valuable programs."
United Way officials had negotiated with the Boy Scout council in hopes of avoiding a cut-off. The United Way chapter said the Boy Scout council didn't complete a policy statement affirming non-discrimination.
United Way officials said the Scouts are unlikely to take a financial hit because more contributors will earmark their money. That could mean less money for 85 other agencies up for the local United Way certification, which rely on the undesignated general fund.
The decision comes after nearly two years of debate after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Scouts may exclude gay men as troop leaders. Some area groups started pressuring the United Way to cut off funding to Scouts.
Last May, after more than eight months of negotiations, Triangle United Way announced that it would require member agencies to offer services and programs to people regardless of their sexual orientation, but still allow them to exclude gays as employees and volunteers and get money.
The Scout council was the only member agency that did not submit the new policy last month. Denied certification as a member agency March 14, it appealed the decision. The council made another appeal to the United Way Monday, but did not agree to submit to the required policy.
"We presented to them that we've been a member agency since anyone can remember, and we'd like to think of ourselves as a member agency," said Tom J. Dugger, CEO of the Occoneechee Council. "Nothing has changed about the Boy Scouts, and we have been certified in the past. We hope to be certified this time."
He has said the policy could conflict with the national charter of the Boy Scouts of America, which reserves the right to exclude boys who are atheist or agnostic as well as gay.
About 50 United Ways across the country have stopped or restricted funding to Scout councils in response to discrimination concerns, according to United Way of America.
Since the United Way has chosen to declare an economic war on the Scouts, I must do the same against the United Way. Starting today, I will begin boycotting any business that donates to the United Way, and I will start by cancelling my Central Carolina Bank accounts. The reason for choosing CCB is because they forcefully "encourage" their employees to donate to the United Way.
I will now begin to ask businesses whether they support the United Way. If they do, I will refuse to do business with them. The only way to stop the homosexual agenda is with dollars. I hope other local citizens will take a similar stand.
If you do decide to participate in the boycott of businesses that actively support the United Way, let those businesses know WHY you choose to do so! That will make it much more effective.
Excluding a kid because he doesn't
know whether there is a god or not.
That is outrageous.
The next step I like it !
What's outrageous is religion-haters such as yourself who would deny the BSA its constitional right to determine its own standards for membership.
As long as a boy will raise his right hand and accept the Scout Oath he's in. If he can't, then he's made his decision as to "whether there is a god or not."
America's Fifth Column ... watch PBS documentary JIHAD! In America
Download 8 Mb zip file here (60 minute video)
Just like the country club with no Jews or
no blacks allowed. Are you proud of yourself?
Jews and blacks are welcome in the BSA.
America's Fifth Column ... watch PBS documentary JIHAD! In America
Download 8 Mb zip file here (60 minute video)
Same as for country club,
with no Jews and no blacks.
That's right the children who do not follow or believe in the code of ethics that has made scouting what it is today... cry me a river jacka$$. United Way is a liberal activist group, I don't care what their propoganda says. Never have and never will give them a dime of my money.
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