Summarized 6/13/01 by Rob Olason

Eagle Scout denial stuns gay activist. Lauderdale man ousted from group

Newspaper: Herald.com
Date: 1/27/01
Author: William Yardley (wyardley@herald.com)
Link: None

Summary:

43 year old Mark LaFontaine of Fort Lauderdale, who attained Eagle Scout 20 years ago, was denied membership to National Eagle Scout Association (NESA) because he is gay.

Accepted into NESA in December 2000, his membership was revoked in January 2001, after he had been turned down as a volunteer adult leader in the South Florida Scouts Council. LaFontaine had been involved in the debate on the BSA ban of gays in scouting. Previously, in September, LaFontaine had written a letter to NESA protesting the BSA policy. He was surprised to be initially accepted into NESA, because of his public stance on the policy. LaFontaine sent a copy of his NESA acceptance letter to the BSA's South Florida Council Director, and received notice from NESA the following day, that his membership was revoked.

LaFontaine is appealing the decision to the BSA's regional office in part to demonstrate how far the BSA will go in order to avoid removing the policy.