Successful suit against Boy Scouts discrimination in the state of Michigan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 3, 2001

Email John Phone: 1-877-690-7050

COURT DECIDES BOY MAY RECOVER LAWFUL DAMAGES FROM MT. PLEASANT PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA FOR CIVIL RIGHTS VIOLATION.

We are heartened by the recent decision of the Isabella Co. Circuit Court which recognizes that our son's constitutional and civil rights were violated, and that he suffered lawful damages, when the Mt. Pleasant Public Schools inappropriately permitted the Boy Scouts of America to recruit children in the classrooms at Fancher School during regular school hours for their religious and discriminatory purposes.

While we agree that the Boy Scouts has always been a fine organization for our nation's youth, we contend that they are no longer entitled to public school district sponsorship because they changed their rules to exclude non-religious boys and others solely because of their personal beliefs. The Scouts are entitled to make their own membership rules, but no young child should be left out and excluded from activities sponsored by his or her own public school.

The Girl Scouts of America do not discriminate that way. Every young girl can become a Scout, regardless of her personal beliefs. There is no problem with school district sponsorship of the Girl Scouts, and each of our three daughters enjoyed Scouting at school.

We hope that the Boy Scouts of America will someday understand that religious discrimination is wrong, and that they will once again live up to their proper stature and image as an exciting, educational, and patriotic activity for all American school-aged boys. Our son is no different than other boys - no better, no worse. We are all Americans.