Boy Scout council 'devastated' by United Way cuts -program for inner-city children lost

philly.com ^

[chance33_98]

Boy Scout council 'devastated' by United Way cuts

The board chairman of the local group said a program for inner-city children would be lost.

By Linda K. Harris Inquirer Staff Writer

The board chairman of a regional Boy Scouts council said yesterday that the group was distraught over the loss of funding from the United Way.

On Thursday, the United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania voted to cancel the second half of a $400,862 grant for the Cradle of Liberty Council because the council reneged on its adoption of a nondiscrimination policy against gays. United Way also cut the second half of a $17,901 grant to the Boy Scouts' Chester County Council, also because of discrimination against gays.

"We're absolutely devastated by this," said David H. Lipson Jr., Cradle of Liberty's board chairman. "We met with United Way. We told them clearly that we're trying to bring about change. It's evolutionary rather than revolutionary."

The United Way had been working with Cradle of Liberty representatives for two years on the issue of discrimination against gays. The United Way has a policy of nondiscrimination based on sexual orientation and does not provide funds to organizations that discriminate.

The Boy Scouts of America won a U.S. Supreme Court decision in 2000 that upheld the group's decision to fire an openly gay scout leader.

Since that time, the United Way has targeted its Boy Scouts grant money exclusively for the scouts' Learning for Life Program, which was organized in the schools. Anyone could participate.

In its public statement released after the announcement of the funding cut, the United Way said it had "determined that there was not sufficient organizational separation between the Learning for Life program and the overall Boy Scouts organization."

Lipson, however, mourned the loss of the program for inner-city children.

"It's character-building training for kids, how to be a better citizen," Lipson said. "I don't know how we're going to do this. The program cost $600,000 a year, and United Way gave us $400,000."

Jennifer Hathaway, spokeswoman for United Way, said yesterday that the response to the agency's move had been low-key, partially because United Way president Christine James-Brown had spoken to many people in the community before the decision was made.

"The corporations locally said this was aligned with our policies of nondiscrimination," Hathaway said.

The Cradle of Liberty Council voted unanimously in May to adopt an antidiscrimination policy regarding sexual orientation. The move was directly related to negotiations with United Way and was an attempt to bring the local council into compliance with United Way's nondiscrimination policies.

But when the national Boy Scouts of America organization learned of the local council's decision, it immediately threatened to revoke the Cradle of Liberty Council's charter and to replace the board.

The local council succumbed to the pressure and ousted a South Philadelphia Life Scout, Gregory Lattera, who announced he was gay.

"The irony is that we are a council that is working to bring about change in the Boy Scouts," Lipson said. "It can't be done in a day. We've learned that."

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[Dark Knight]

>>The Boy Scouts of America won a U.S. Supreme Court decision in 2000 that upheld the group's decision to fire an openly gay scout leader. <<

I am an Eagle Scout from years back and I bristle every time I hear this. He was not fired. He was a volunteer. He was IIRC a 19 or 20 year old Assistant Scout Master, and was in college. He decided to write an article in his college newspaper about being gay. The content was about his positive gay experiences with an older lover. The article was "discovered", and he was kicked out. Cool, considering why.

A life scout openly declares his gayness. So now how do you arrange events like campouts. Two components, keeping him from being sexually interested in other boys on the outing, and keeping him from getting his @ss kicked by other boys on the outing. When you toss in the sexual component on an outing, with juveniles you are playing with fire, in this society.

Scouts are trying to avoid this issue. Liberals are trying to force their beliefs on them, but they won't protect them lawsuits if they change. The Boy Scouts cannot win witht the liberal agenda. Libs don't care. Destruction of the Boy Scouts is a positive thing, doncha know!

DK

[Skybird]

Simple solution--instead of making the check out to "United Way" just avoid the middleman (and their rake of the proceeds) and make the check payable to "Boy Scouts of America."

[Kay Soze]

Right on!

I like your tack on this!

[teldon30]

Let's say you have a son in a scout troop...both older scout leaders are gay...would you let your son do overnights with them?

[scripter]

Support your local Boy Scout organization. Simply insert your zip code at the link and give on-line.

[ScrtAccess]

Just because they are gay does not mean they are pedophiles. Just because I like women doesn't mean the neighbors daughter is in danger if she spends the night with my daughter. I know a lesbian who works in child care, and I'd certainly trust her with my children. I really don't care about their preference as long as they know to keep their hands off the kids. And since we are on that subject, I don't trust people who are straight to keep their hands off the kids.

[teldon30]

So if you had a daughter let's say 14...you would let her do overnight campouts with 20 year old straight males? You don't get it...any guy with common sense should feel a little uncomfortable being with young girls and especially if it is a moment that it is unsupervised...no one speaks the truth...gays like each others equipment...young or old...of course you aren't going to hear the truth come out of their mouths...they always paint a rosy picture...i'm not talking 8 year olds...i'm talking 13 and 14 year old boys here...that age where a little confusion is going on as far as sex is concerned.

[I got the rope]

ScrtAccess Since Mar 20, 2003

Kinda late for trolling...don't you think?

[I got the rope]

Read this troll

[kingu]

What gets me is the outrage expressed in this thread.. What is missing is the relief that an organization that was trying to force the local Boy Scout council into a position that is contrary to the national organization isn't giving money.

I mean, if you don't like United Way's polices, then you shouldn't like United Way's money.

Another thing I don't see is outrage at the local council for giving into this, or thanks to the National board for putting a stop to it.

[diamond6]

ABSOLUTELY!!!

[jocon307]

My $$ are there, won't be more than $40, but I'm good for that. Freepmail me.

[scripter]

Well said, teldon30. What some don't know is that percentagewise gays are more likely to molest children:

• Report: Pedophilia more common among 'gays'
• Gay Foster Parents More Apt to Molest 

Here's some related links:

• Homosexuality and child molestation: the link, the likelihood, the lasting  
• Homosexuality and Child Sexual Abuse  FR 
• Homosexual Rape and Murder of Children  FR 
• Child Molestation and the Homosexual Movement (PDF) 

After reading the above I don't understand why anybody can support gays in the Boy Scouts.

[scripter]

There's some additional and informative links in post 33.

Homosexual Agenda Index

Homosexual Agenda Keyword Search

[I_Love_My_Husband]

Make sure you're on scripter's ping list. You're good. And needed.

[I got the rope]

I mean, if you don't like United Way's polices, then you shouldn't like United Way's money.

Since the United Way has enlightened us with their "policies" will they will give refunds and matching refunds from companies that gave in the past year. Money that was given with the intention of assisting certain groups like the BSA. FAT CHANCE. These enlightened homo apologist are stealing money in my book...especially when they pull fast ones like this. I suspect they'll start feeling it in their pocketbook soon enough.

[rmh47]

I had the opportunity to work with my local United Way a few years ago as a volunteer fundraiser. I learned a great deal about the organization.

While there is an umbrella organization for the United Way, each local UW is independantly run and makes its own decisions in these matters. The contribution that each local United Way makes to the national organization is less than 1% of the funds they raise.

The fact that the Phillidelphia UW chooses not to contribute to the local BSA does not mean that other United Way organizations in other cities do the same.

The last time I checked, the UW in my city still supported our local BSA chapter.

[Graybeard58]

"So is the United Way going to return the donations to those who thought that money was going to the Boy Scouts? Hmmm"



Nope, that's just more of the donors money they can give to Planned Parenthood.

[I got the rope]

Thanks, Ilovemyhusband.

Scripter...please add me to the list.

[rmh47]

"So is the United Way going to return the donations to those who thought that money was going to the Boy Scouts? Hmmm"

Nope, that's just more of the donors money they can give to Planned Parenthood.

Our local United Way doesn't support Planned Parenthood. I don't know aboout other cities. You should ask.