Scouting for All's Letter To Dwyer, Scout Executive, Cradle of Liberty, BSA




August 7, 2006

William T. Dwyer, III
Scout Executive
Cradle of Liberty Council, BSA
22nd & Winter Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103-1085

Dear Mr. Dwyer:

I am writing you this letter on behalf of Scouting for All. Scouting for All is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that undertakes educational activities and outreach programs that oppose intolerance and discrimination in the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). We learned that the city of Philadelphia plans to evict the council from the offices that the city has provided rent-free since 1928 from articles published in the Philadelphia Inquirer on July 22 and July 29. The issue at hand is the fact that the discriminatory policies of the BSA conflict with the requirements of the city Fair Practices Ordinance.

We recommend that you abandon the discriminatory policies recommended by the National Council by issuing a "letter of intent" stating that the Cradle of Liberty Council will no longer discriminate against gays and atheists. The letter should make it clear that discrimination of any form will not be tolerated. The issue should not be "swept under the carpet" with a "don’t ask, don’t tell" policy. The Cradle of Liberty Council is the third largest council in the nation, serving 87,000 youth in the greater Philadelphia area. Scouting for All believes that the National Council will listen to your letter of intent. Although they have the right to dissolve your charter if you fail to enforce national policies, we doubt that they will deny 87,000 youth access to the Scouting program to defend their morally bankrupt discrimination policy.

Regards,
Larry G. Sherman, Ph.D.
Southern Regional Director
Scouting for All
Lsherman@scoutingforall.org