Date: Fri, 03 Jun 1994 15:24:47 EDT
From: scottb@ouvaxa.cats.ohiou.edu


                                   PRESS RELEASE


    NATIONAL FAMILY ORGANIZATION APPLAUDS GIRLS SCOUTS;
                           CONTINUES TO LOBBY BOY SCOUTS


Washington, DC - June 3, 1994 - When Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders called
for the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts of America [BSA] to open their ranks to
gays and lesbians, the Girl Scouts promptly responded with their long time
policy against discrimination based on sexual orientation.  

Sandra Gillis, Executive Director of PFLAG [Parents, Families & Friends of
Lesbians & Gays], the country's largest family organization providing
support, education and advocacy, applauded the Girl Scouts policy while
continuing her organizations' appeal to the BSA to open their ranks to gays.


Citing a 1992 policy statement by PFLAG's Board of Directors, Gillis called
the BSA's policy "injurious and in violation of the traditional Boy Scout
values of honesty, friendliness, kindness, and fair play.  PFLAG encourages
all of its members who are or have been members of BSA to write to the local,
regional, and national offices of the Boy Scouts of America, requesting that
BSA eliminate its discriminatory policy.  We further encourage PFLAG members
to withhold contributions to BSA until such time as it changes its position."


PFLAG will continue to monitor the BSA's policy and work to amend its
inclusion of gays.


                                      - 30 -





PFLAG: PARENTS, FAMILIES AND FRIENDS OF LESBIANS AND GAYS
      1012  14th St, NW  Ste 700  Washington, DC 20005
(202)-638-4200    Fax: (202)-638-0243   E-mail: PFLAGNTL@AOL.COM