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"Why is it that here in this Conservative forum, people are complaining about a private group not receiving government assistance?"

You miss the point. If absolutely no other private group is getting any kind of assistance from Berkley, then this is completely kosher. OTOH, if the scouts were singled out from other "private" groups, then this is an outrage. If the Organization of Left-handed gay monkey humpers or any other "right-thinking" club gets any form of subsidy or assistance from tax dollars, then the scouts deserve the same.

LOCAL NEWSLINES

Scouts Battle Berkeley Over Gay Policy
by Mark Worrall - 365Gay.com Newscenter
November 23, 2002

(Berkley) A branch of the Boy Scouts of America is in court trying to regain free city facilities in Berkeley California.

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The Berkeley Sea Scouts paid nothing to dock its boats at the Berkeley Marina for more than 50 years. But, in 1998, when it failed to disown the Boy Scouts’ anti-gay policies the city began charging the scouts for using the facility.

The Sea Scouts leaders sued the city in 1999, alleging a violation of the group’s free speech rights. But the Alameda County Superior Court rejected the claim in June 2001 and turned down a similar, amended complaint five months later.

Friday, the Sea Scouts took their fight to the California Court of Appeal in San Francisco.

Harold Johnson, a lawyer with the conservative Pacific Legal Foundation arguing on behalf of the Sea Scouts, said the group submitted a letter to the city in 1998 stating that it would abide by Berkeley’s non-discrimination policy.

But, Deputy City Attorney Laura McKinney called the argument “extremely disingenuous.” She said the Sea Scouts’ April 8, 1998 letter stated that the group would not discriminate on the basis of factors like race and gender, but excluded sexual orientation – a category included in the Berkeley anti-discrimination ordinance.

The letter also stated that the Sea Scouts never inquire about members’ sexual orientation.

But McKinney said a “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy is in violation of the city ordinance.

You miss the point. If absolutely no other private group is getting any kind of assistance from Berkley, then this is completely kosher.

What other private groups are getting free dock fees? None that I've heard of. Have you heard differently?

The criterion that the City of Berkeley is apparently using was stated in the article:

In the ruling, the state 1st District Court of Appeal in San Francisco said there's a difference between ordering groups to admit gay members, which would be unconstitutional, and extending fee waivers or other subsidies only to organizations that serve all people equally.

Do you disagree with this? Seems reasonable to me... as long as they use consistent standards to determine which groups get the waivers. Unless some other private group that discriminates in it's membership is getting waivers, the city is being consistent.

You miss the point. If absolutely no other private group is getting any kind of assistance from Berkley, then this is completely kosher. OTOH, if the scouts were singled out from other "private" groups, then this is an outrage.

Why? Berkeley -- or any other city or institution or group -- should be free to decide whom they extend freebies to or not, based on whatever criteria they see fit.

Just as the Scouts are free to deny membership to whom they choose, Berkeley is free to deny benefits to whom they choose.

If the Organization of Left-handed gay monkey humpers or any other "right-thinking" club gets any form of subsidy or assistance from tax dollars, then the scouts deserve the same.

No, it's Berkeley's money, they get to decide who "deserves" it or not, even if they do choose to base it on leftist politically correct criteria.

You miss the point. If absolutely no other private group is getting any kind of assistance from Berkley, then this is completely kosher. OTOH, if the scouts were singled out from other "private" groups, then this is an outrage

This is a state and local issue just like the Ten Commandments case in Alabama should be.