Scouting for All: Committed to Scouting, Open to Diversity. Working to end discrimination against gays, atheists, agnostics, other non-theists, and all other groups in the Boy Scouts of America.

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Activist Groups Urge Obama to Reject Boy Scout Honor

From Fox News:

Activist groups, including Scouting for All, urge President Obama not to accept the honorary Presidency of the Boy Scouts of America until they stop discriminating.

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Minsi Trails Council, Lehigh, PA Changes the BSA Policy Excluding Gays to a Poliy Protecting Youth from Inappropriate Sexual Behavior: Gets United Way Funding

5/7/01
Scott Cozza, Pres. Scouting For All called the Minsi Trails Council and spoke to Mr. Craig Polland, Assistant Scout Executive. Scott Cozza asked Mr. Polland if it was true that the Minsi Trails Council adopted a new policy not to discriminate against persons who are gay. Mr. Polland's reply was, "Our policy is in line with our National organization."

It appears that the Minsi Trails Council may have mislead their local United Way funder by giving them the impression through recent public statements and the adoption of their "new" policy that they were not going to discriminate against gays. I wonder if their local United Way who has agreed to continue to fund them is aware that the Minsi Trails Council continues to be "in line with the National organization's policy" of discrimination?

You can contact the Minsi trails Council by calling 610-264-8551. The Council is located at 9901 Postal Rd, Allentown, PA 18102

Scott Cozza, Pres., Scouting For All

United Way Won't Stop Funding For Local Scouts

DATE: 4-27-01
PUBLICATION:unknown
WEBLINK/EMAIL: jeff.gelman@mcall.com
WRITER:Jeff Gelman

Summarized Article

SUMMARY: The board of the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley has voted unanimously to keep funding for the local Boy Scout troop. Earlier this year, the board approved a policy that allows troops to exclude a scoutmaster or other member whose "sexuality or behavior becomes becomes publicly inappropriate." The Boy Scouts' policy states "an avowed homosexual in not a role model." The local policy puts more emphasis on behavior instead of sexual orientation. The Minsi Trails council claims they will not seek out the sexual orientation of employees, but if a scoutmaster were "found to be introducing any kind of material or discussion of a sexual nature into his Scout activities, [it] would be viewed very dimly." This is the same sort of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy that has been spreading around the nation, prompting some United Way councils (about 25 in 1,400) to pull their funding for their local troops. Because the Minsi Trails Council serves Lehigh, Northampton, Monroe, Carbon, Luzerne, and part of Warren County, it has been difficult for them to come to a decision about funding. Many people do support the scouts, but find that the National BSA policy is "misunderstood, unclear, or unfair."

You can write to the Minsi Trails Council at:
P.O. Box 20624, Lehigh Valley, PA 18002

Ask the Council to strengthen its policy by saying specifically that the Council will not discriminate against persons who are gay and that they will NOT adhere to the BSA National policy of discrimination.

Scouting For All

Scouting For All is not an alternative scouting program.
We are an education and advocacy organization reaching out to gay and nontheist youth and adults in our effort to get the Boy Scouts of America to rescind its exlusionary policy.

Any communications sent to Scouting for All or any Scouting for All representative may be published on the Scouting for All web site or in Scouting for All materials unless the communication specifically requests that it not be published.