---------------------------------- CUT HERE ---------------------------------- Newsgroups: rec.scouting,soc.motss,rec.answers,soc.answers,news.answers From: kmeyer@aero.org (Kraig Meyer) Subject: rec.scouting FAQ #8: BSA/GSUSA official policies (gays in scouting) Followup-To: poster Keywords: rec.scouting scout gay lesbian bsa faq Organization: Distribution: world Approved: news-answers-request@MIT.Edu Archive-name:scouting/8_USA-official-policies Last-Modified: 14 July 1995 This file contains a number of questions and answers regarding gays and lesbians in the scouting movement in the U.S.A. The answers are primarily based on articles in the press and official statements or press releases from the Boy Scouts of America. An attempt has been made to keep the presentation factual and balanced. If you have questions about specific statements made here, feel free to contact the author of this FAQ, Kraig Meyer, email: kmeyer@aero.org. There are nine FAQ files in the rec.scouting FAQ series. The FAQ files are posted in regular intervals (one file every three or four days) on rec.scouting, rec.answers and news.answers. They can also be retrieved through anonymous FTP from ftp.ethz.ch (path: rec.scouting/). As the FAQ files are updated regularly, make sure that you have the latest copy in your hands. The release date of this FAQ is indicated in the line starting with "Last-Modified:" at the top of this file. Files older than three months should be considered as outdated. This file or parts of it may be freely used, printed and re-distributed as long as you enclose this paragraph and keep the references to the respective contributors and to the maintainer (listed below) intact. -- Kraig Meyer -------------------------------- From: Subject: What is the policy of the BSA regarding gays as leaders and members? "The National Executive Board of Directors of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) at its February (1992) meeting voted unanimously to reaffirm its position that the BSA does not permit avowed homosexuals to be registered as leaders or members." BSA Spokesman Blake Lewis, at BSA's national headquarters in Irving, TX, further clarifies: "The Boy Scouts is an organization that's based on traditional family values. It's our feeling and our position that persons who are living a homosexual lifestyle do not present a role model that's consistent with the values of scouting. It's based on the Scout Oath['s phrase of] Morally Straight." (ref: Scouting magazine, May-June 1992 issue; Advocate Magazine, 31 Dec 1992 issue) -------------------------------- From: Subject: Do the Girl Scouts of the USA have a similar policy? No. In June 1992, the organization issued a national policy statement which reads "Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., a private organization, respects the values and beliefs of each of its members and does not investigate or intrude into personal matters. Therefore, we do not have policies that focus on individual sexual preference." The Girl Scouts instead have policies that focus on "appropriate conduct" of employees and members. They do not condone or permit "sexual displays of any sort" by members, according to national policies. (ref: Advocate Magazine, 31 Dec 1992 issue; Seattle Times, 10 July 1992) -------------------------------- From: Subject: Is this policy enforced? What do local organizations have to say? The enforcement varies locally. Some cases where the policy has been enforced include the following: In Berkeley, CA, Timothy Curran, an eagle scout, was removed from an adult leadership position in 1981 after his gayness became known. In El Cajon, CA, Police Officer Chuck Merino was asked by the BSA to sever ties with the Police Explorer post in San Diego because his sexual orientation became known when working on a citizens patrol to combat assaults against gays. At age 16, Patrick Renner was dismissed from his position as dining hall steward at Cricket Holler Cub Scout Camp in Dayton, OH, and given one hour to leave the camp after his gayness became known during a "court-martial" session arranged by the camp's chaplain. Chris Strobel of Stockton, CA, was dismissed at age 16 after 8 years in the BSA's programs; Strobel had read in the Boy Scout Handbook that if he had questions about sex and relationships, he should discuss it with his Scoutmaster. Eagle Scout Rob Schwitz of St. Louis, MO, became involved in a public battle with the Air Force over whether he could remain in ROTC as a gay man, and was expelled from Scouting and fired from his position at Camp Joy, in Carlyle, IL. School districts in San Francisco and other locales have prohibited the BSA from using school facilities for in-school programs. In Dec. 1991, A scout troop that meets in a San Jose church said that they will not honor the BSA's position barring gay scouts or gay adult leaders. The dozen members of the adult committee that runs the troop unanimously passed a resolution outlining its position. However, a memo to all BSA councils from Chief Scout Executive Ben Love, dated 21 Feb 1992, states that the issue with San Jose Troop 260 "has been resolved." Harold Klein of Queens, NY, says he was an openly gay scoutmaster from the mid 1970's to 1981 without any problems; his gay lover was the assistant scoutmaster and he states "it was never an issue." Jeff McElroy worked on the staff of the Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, NM, during the late 70's and early 80's; he recalls that many of the men who worked at the summer camp were gay, although most were closeted and had not come to terms with their sexuality. (ref: San Diego Union Tribune, 9 Sep 92; Advocate Magazine, 31 Dec 1992 issue; San Jose Mercury News, 4 Feb 92; Memo from BSA National Office to local Councils, 21 Feb 1992) -------------------------------- From: Subject: Haven't the Boy Scouts been sued over their policy concerning gays? Yes. Timothy Curran sued the Boy Scouts claiming that the BSA policy violated the California Unruh Civil Rights Act. Chuck Merino also sued under the same act. James Dale, an Eagle Scout and 12 year veteran of the scouting program, filed suit in New Jersey claiming that the BSA policy violates a New Jersey statute that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Keith Richardson, another Eagle Scout, sued the BSA in Chicago after being rejected for a position as a professional scouter because he was gay. In an early phase of Curran's hearing, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Sally Disco ruled that the Boy Scout's Bay Area-based Mount Diablo Council was a business, not a private organization, and therefore governed by the state's Unruh Civil Rights Act, which forbids arbitrary discrimination. In the second phase of the trial, Judge Disco ruled that BSA is entitled to prevent Curran from becoming an adult member. The ruling explained that the U.S. Constitution prevents California from satisfying the state's "compelling interest in eradicating discrimination in all forms" because to do so would interfere with BSA's "ability to achieve its expressive goals." The California Supreme court later granted review in Curran's case and vacated and depublished the lower court ruling by Judge Disco. The case was put on hold pending a ruling in a related Unruh discrimination case, Warfield v. Peninsula Golf and Country Club, which is a challenge to a policy of male-only membership at a country club. This case involves the wife of a member who sued to continue as a member after her husband died. The country club lost this case in the summer of 1995. In the Merino v. BSA case, San Diego Superior Court Judge Anthony Joseph issued a ruling that conflicts with the lower court ruling in the Curran case. Judge Joseph awarded $5,000 in damages to Merino, saying that California's civil rights law prohibits the scouts from discriminating against homosexuals, and ordered the BSA to hold administrative hearings to determine whether Merino can be reinstated to the program. The BSA is appealing its loss against Merino. In Dale's case, the trial court heard summary judgement arguments in December of 1994, and the trial is pending awaiting decisions on summary judgement arguments. A ruling in Richardson's case is expected in the Fall of 1995. (ref: Scouting Magazine, May-June 1992 issue; Los Angeles Times, 8 May 1992; New York Times, 5 Aug 1992; Clarinet/AP News Service, 8 July 1994; Chicago Tribune, 6 Apr 1995; Lambda Update, Summer 1995). -------------------------------- From: Subject: Is it true that the United Way (UW) severed its ties with BSA? Each local United Way chapter has its own policies. The United Way of the (San Francisco) Bay Area cut off general funds to the BSA because the group's ban on gay Scouts on troop leaders conflicts with the UW's nondiscrimination policy. However, individual contributors to the UW in San Francisco may still earmark funds to go directly to the BSA. In the first two months following the United Way's announcement, the BSA stated that they received over 2000 letters of support for the BSA's policy, including donations ranging up to $10,000. The United Way of Greater New Haven, CT, withheld $60,000 in funds from the Quinnipiac Council after they fired David Knapp, a 67 year old gay man who had a 25-year affiliation with the orgnization. There were no complaints of misconduct against Knapp, a decorated Eagle Scout who realized he was gay at age 50. Apparently United Way chapters in Santa Clara (CA), San Jose (CA), Seattle, Chicago, and New York are examining their policies, but I'm not aware of any of them issuing official statements regarding funding. (ref: Boston Globe, 12 Nov 1991; San Jose Mercury News, 4 Feb 1992; Seattle Times, 10 Jul 1992; San Francisco Chronicle, 19 Feb 1992; CNN Headline News 19-20 April 1992; Boston Globe, 2 July 1994) -------------------------------- From: Subject: Have some corporations discontinued funding of the BSA? In 1991 and 1992, Bank of America, Levi Strauss, Wells Fargo Bank, Seafirst Bank Seattle, and First Interstate Bank of California all discontinued funding the BSA. With the exception of First Interstate, all of these corporations pointed to the fact that the BSA's policy conflicted with corporate non-discrimination policies. All of these organizations were targeted with boycotts by religious fundamentalists. As a result, First Interstate later stated that the funding cuts were part of a general decrease in charitable donations and were not specifically related to the BSA's policy on gays. Then, in Aug 1992, Bank of America reversed itself and decided to resume contributions to the BSA after receiving a clarification on the BSA's policy. Peter Magnani, a spokesman for Bank of America, stated "Our understanding is that scouting is open to all boys--including gay boys." Levi Strauss has maintained its position. Levi Strauss spokesman Mary Gross said they received a written statement from the BSA that states "[the BSA] excludes gays and atheists as leaders and members and has no plans to change those policies." (ref: San Francisco Chronicle, 19 Aug 1992; Seattle Times, 10 Jul 1992) -------------------------------- From: Subject: Is it true that Scouting's founder, Baden-Powell, was gay? A number of biographers have suggested Baden-Powell's homosexuality. Tim Jeal, author of The Life of Lord Baden-Powell, argues, "The available evidence points inexorably to the conclusion that Baden-Powell was a repressed homosexual." Information gleaned from Baden-Powell's diary and correspondence indicates that he often expressed enjoyment at watching young men swim naked; enjoyed pictures of nude men; expressed disdain for female nudity. Also cited is Baden-Powell's extremely close, decades-long friendship with Kenneth McLaren, with whom he served in the British Military and always made sure he bunked. (ref: The Life of Lord Baden-Powell by Tim Jeal (1990); Eminent Edwardians by Piers Brendon (1979); The Character Factory: Baden-Powell and the Origins of the Boy Scout Movement by Michael Rosenthal (1986); Advocate Magazine, 31 Dec 1992 issue). -------------------------------- From: Subject: What about organizations comprised of gay former scouts? The most publicized is "Forgotten Scouts," which was founded in October 1991. Forgotten Scouts is an organization of adults, primarily gay men, who were either in Boy Scouts during their youth or are (or were) adult Scouters. They are dedicated to helping the Boy Scouts of America understand that it does not need to discriminate in order to fulfill its mission. They seek to accomplish this though educational projects which affirm that gay men and boys are now and have always been successful members of the Scouting program. Forgotten Scouts is currently planning its first "good turn," the coordination of a Washington, DC city park beautification project that will be held on Friday, April 23, 1993. The project will coincide with the initial weekend activities of the 1993 March on Washington For Lesbian, Gay and Bi Equal Rights and Liberation. Forgotten Scouts can be contacted at 415-626-8299. There is also an organization called "Queer Scouts" which has similar goals. I have no further information about this organization other than a contact: Terry Kenedy, 206-328-0790. There is also an electronic mail list on the Internet that provides a forum for Scouts, Scouters, and former Scouts to discuss how pressure can be applied to the BSA to change their anti-gay policies. It is comprised primarily of gay eagle scouts. For more information, send electronic mail to eagles-request@flash.usc.edu. --------------------------------