<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>
Gay equality activists heading to Boy Scouts headquarters
By ANGELA K. BROWN, Associated Press
DALLAS (August 21, 2000 1:02 p.m. EDT http://www.nandotimes.com) - Only about two dozen people demonstrated Monday as they headed toward the national Boy Scouts of America headquarters as part of a nationwide protest against the organization's policy banning gay Scout leaders.
"Stop the hate, stop the lies," read one sign at the demonstration outside a local scouting council office.
The demonstrators, some of whom wore Boy Scout uniforms, were headed to the national headquarters in suburban Irving to present a petition with 55,000 signatures asking the organization to accept gays as scoutmasters and scouts. They said they held the demonstration at the council office because it was more visible and they feared getting kicked off the headquarters property.
Rallies against the Boy Scouts were planned in at least 36 cities and 21 states.
The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in June that Boy Scouts can bar homosexuals from serving as troop leaders. The ruling may also permit the 6.2 million-member organization to reject gays as members.
The Boy Scouts consider homosexuality contrary to their oath requiring scouts to be "morally straight."
"We recognize the rights of all people to hold opinions different than ours," said Gregg Shields, spokesman for the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America. "We stress that we are a private organization and that no one is forced to be a Boy Scout. People who share our values and beliefs are welcome to join."
One of the Dallas demonstrators, Eagle Scout Steven Cozza, 15, of Petaluma, Calif., said he participated because he knows several people who were not allowed to become scoutmasters because they are gay.
"Scoutmasters are people to look up to. What's wrong with being influenced by a gay man? Someone's sexuality has nothing to do with his character or personality," he said.
Cozza left the Boy Scouts about six months ago after his father was kicked out for protesting the organization's position on gays. Cozza, who said neither he nor his father is gay, formed an organization called Scouting for All to support the idea that gays should be allowed to be in scouting.
Another demonstrator, Scott Pusillo, 20, from New Jersey, held a sign reading: "I love Scouting and I love my boyfriend."
Pusillo was an assistant scoutmaster before being kicked out last year because he is gay.
"I completely believe that sex discussions should take place between a parent and child so my sexuality was never brought up when I was a Scout leader," Pusillo said.
Pusillo said he wants the Boy Scouts to let individual councils make their own decisions about who could be leaders.
"We would like discrimination wiped out completely, but we think this is starting that process in baby steps," he said.
[/quote]
As a former Boy Scout.. what part of "The Boy Scouts consider homosexuality contrary to their oath requiring scouts to be "morally straight."" and "We stress that we are a private organization and that no one is forced to be a Boy Scout. People who share our values and beliefs are welcome to join." do people not understand?
I'm waiting on all the little girls of America to jump on this bandwaggon too.
The story can be found HERE.
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God, Guns and Guts made this country a great country!
Gay equality activists heading to Boy Scouts headquarters
By ANGELA K. BROWN, Associated Press
DALLAS (August 21, 2000 1:02 p.m. EDT http://www.nandotimes.com) - Only about two dozen people demonstrated Monday as they headed toward the national Boy Scouts of America headquarters as part of a nationwide protest against the organization's policy banning gay Scout leaders.
"Stop the hate, stop the lies," read one sign at the demonstration outside a local scouting council office.
The demonstrators, some of whom wore Boy Scout uniforms, were headed to the national headquarters in suburban Irving to present a petition with 55,000 signatures asking the organization to accept gays as scoutmasters and scouts. They said they held the demonstration at the council office because it was more visible and they feared getting kicked off the headquarters property.
Rallies against the Boy Scouts were planned in at least 36 cities and 21 states.
The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in June that Boy Scouts can bar homosexuals from serving as troop leaders. The ruling may also permit the 6.2 million-member organization to reject gays as members.
The Boy Scouts consider homosexuality contrary to their oath requiring scouts to be "morally straight."
"We recognize the rights of all people to hold opinions different than ours," said Gregg Shields, spokesman for the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America. "We stress that we are a private organization and that no one is forced to be a Boy Scout. People who share our values and beliefs are welcome to join."
One of the Dallas demonstrators, Eagle Scout Steven Cozza, 15, of Petaluma, Calif., said he participated because he knows several people who were not allowed to become scoutmasters because they are gay.
"Scoutmasters are people to look up to. What's wrong with being influenced by a gay man? Someone's sexuality has nothing to do with his character or personality," he said.
Cozza left the Boy Scouts about six months ago after his father was kicked out for protesting the organization's position on gays. Cozza, who said neither he nor his father is gay, formed an organization called Scouting for All to support the idea that gays should be allowed to be in scouting.
Another demonstrator, Scott Pusillo, 20, from New Jersey, held a sign reading: "I love Scouting and I love my boyfriend."
Pusillo was an assistant scoutmaster before being kicked out last year because he is gay.
"I completely believe that sex discussions should take place between a parent and child so my sexuality was never brought up when I was a Scout leader," Pusillo said.
Pusillo said he wants the Boy Scouts to let individual councils make their own decisions about who could be leaders.
"We would like discrimination wiped out completely, but we think this is starting that process in baby steps," he said.
[/quote]
As a former Boy Scout.. what part of "The Boy Scouts consider homosexuality contrary to their oath requiring scouts to be "morally straight."" and "We stress that we are a private organization and that no one is forced to be a Boy Scout. People who share our values and beliefs are welcome to join." do people not understand?
I'm waiting on all the little girls of America to jump on this bandwaggon too.
The story can be found HERE.
------------------
God, Guns and Guts made this country a great country!
.