Action Alert
June 5, 2003
For Immediate Release and Distribution
For further Information Contact
Scott Cozza, Pres.
Scouting for All
pager 1-800-974-0624
scottcozza33@comcast.net
www.scoutingforall.org

Scouting for All's Protest of the Boy Scouts of America in Philadelphia Our Work Has Just Begun

Scouting for All would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our volunteers and members throughout the country and internationally who assisted us with our protest in Philadelphia at the Boy Scouts of America's National Conference, May 28-31. A special thanks goes out to our co-chairs Margaret Downey, Pres. of the Freethought Society of Greater Philadelphia and to Greg Laterra, Life Scout and Pres. of Furness High School Gay Straight Alliance Club. If it wasn't for their passion,
dedication, and commitment to social justice, this event could not have become the great success it turned out to be. We got great media coverage to get the message out to the public. The daily protests with our educational messages on our signs were witnessed daily by BSA members.

Many just stood in front of our signs and read them. They were told by BSA national not to speak to us, although some did. The candlelight vigil in memory of GLBTQ youth was very moving. About 50 of us walked a mile through the streets of Philadelphia to the Marriott Hotel were we stood for a moment of silence.

Of news to some, the Cradle of Liberty Council of the BSA was quoted in the local newspapers that they would no longer follow the BSA's policy of exclusion of gay (GLBT) youth or adults. Now the Piedmont Council in Piedmont California and the Cradle of Liberty Council in Philadelphia, are the only scout councils who have adopted an anti-discrimination policy. The executive board of these councils made the policy change. The executive board is the policy making body for each council. So these councils are serious about their stand and are not attempting to manipulate anyone to secure funding, as others scout councils have done.

While the Piedmont council included atheists, the Cradle of Liberty Council did not. Scouting for All cannot support the Cradle of Liberty Council until it is all inclusive. Atheist children should not be denied scouting. There are very few scouting associations in the world that have policies of exclusion. In fact out of 152 scouting associations about 98% of them allow gays, atheists and girls in scouting. So the Cradle of Liberty has taken a step towards inclusion but it has a few more steps to go.

Please write to the Cradle of Liberty Council supporting their courageous stand, but let them know they must also include atheist youth and adults.

There is no room in scouting for any form of bigotry.
Cradle of Liberty Council
22nd and Winter Streets
Philadelphia, PA 19103-1085
Phone: 215-988-9811