Executive Board Resolution of the Communication Workers of America on Discrimination by the Boy Scouts of America

For decades, the Boy Scouts of America has provided a positive experience for thousands of boys, helping them acquire important skills and maturity. Many CWA members have benefited from scouting over the years both as youngsters and later as adult volunteers, where they have had an opportunity to make a difference in young lives. Our union has been proud to show our support by frequently designating Boy Scout honor guards to display the colors at the opening of annual CWA conventions.

Therefore, it is with sadness that we now take action to sever ties between CWA and the Boy Scouts of America until such time as its leaders reverse their policy of excluding gays from membership or volunteer activities in scouting.

This policy by the Boy Scouts organization is an appalling step backward at a time when other American institutions - churches, corporations, school systems, even the military - are moving in a more enlightened direction to banish discrimination against people because of their sexual orientation.

Teaching intolerance is a very poor lesson for our youth - one that we must challenge. We urge Boy Scouts of America leaders to reconsider and drop this policy. In the meantime, CWA calls upon its local unions and members to refrain from supporting or participating in activities of the Boy Scouts.

4/01

T Santora
National Co-President
Pride At Work, afl-cio
202-434-1285

6/01

From PlanetOut:

One of the largest labor unions in the country is severing its ties with the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) because of that organization's exclusion of gay people, and is urging its members to follow suit. The Executive Board of the Communication Workers of America (CWA) voted this month to end the union's long-standing supportive relationship with the BSA "until such time as its leaders reverse their policy of excluding gays from membership or volunteer activities in scouting."

In the past, the union has frequently featured a Scout honor guard in he opening of their national conventions and has supported its members' volunteerism with the Scouts.

The resolution notes the positive experience the BSA has provided to youth over the years, but calls the BSA policy "an appalling step backward at a time when other American institutions -- churches, corporations, school ystems, even the military -- are moving in a more enlightened direction to banish discrimination against people because of their sexual orientation."

The leadership of the union of more the 780,000 members called on the BSA to change its policy on gays. "In the meantime, CWA calls upon its local unions and members to refrain from supporting or participating in activities of the Boy Scouts," the resolution said.

The CWA is the largest communications and media union in the country, representing workers in more than 10,000 communities at employers ranging from AT&T and Lucent Technologies to NBC and the New York Times.