SPECIFIC STRATEGIES FOR YOUR PROTEST

1. TONE

The tone of the event can be positive and constructive. We are rallying support against discrimination against gay people, demonstrating support for gay youth, and protesting the Boy Scouts' anti-gay policy. We commend and support organizations open to gay youth. We are demonstrating that there is support against this form of discrimination, and many people are doing
something about it! We are not against the Boy Scouts, only their hateful "policy." Remember, we don't want to alienate fair-minded people in Scouting who choose to stand with us.

2. MESSAGES

Speeches, signs, etc. should include messages in keeping with a constructive tone. These are spelled out in our "Purposes" and "National Strategy" documents. The following are some of the more salient points:

Consistently repeat constructive actions people can take (see ACTION STEPS).

Youth should be taught to not discriminate.

Gay youth exist and deserve equal access to the BSA and all other youth programs.

Gay youth can and DO serve as great Scouts and leaders.

It's EVERYONE's responsibility (parents, fair-minded individuals, public entities, charitable organizations, sponsors, and individual Boy Scouts) to take a stand to separate from and end discrimination.

3. ACTION STEPS/GUIDANCE

Speeches, press statements, etc. should consistently repeat the suggested actions people should take. SEE ACTION STEPS.

4. VISUALS

Make signs positive in tone and message.

Visit the following link to print out James Dale's expulsion letter which has a UNITED WAY logo on it:
(http://www.lambdalegal.org/sections/sections/dalepresskit/bsaletter2.pdf). You can make an enlargement of the letter, highlighting the logo. Use as a prop and explain: "Great organizations like United Way, police departments, and our schools should not be sponsors of this kind of discrimination. Visit, call, write them to tell them they should not support discrimination,
and should support youth organizations that do not discriminate!"

See "More Suggestions for Organizing a Protest from a Scouting For All Supporter" in the "Suggestions for Leading a Protest" on the Scouting For All website. Here are lots of good ideas and suggestions about how to make graphics and visuals clear and effective.

5. COLLECT CONTACT INFO

Be sure to pass out index cards or sign-in sheets to get contact information from people at your rally! The people there are obviously willing to do something, and therefore are the foundation of a local network of supporters who can followed-up and actually contact funders, sponsors, etc.

6. DISTRIBUTE ACTION STEPS

Have available a sheet of concrete action steps that people can take with them, and actually do later! The printed action steps should mirror what is repeated in speeches.

7. END ON POSITIVE/CONSTRUCTIVE NOTE

Tell people they have the power -- and the responsibility -- to end discrimination by going to funders and sponsors. It's up to us to teach our kids not to discriminate -- we have take a stand and make sure others do too!

DO NOT:

Demand that the BSA be kicked out of public school space. The BSA has the right to use public school space, but should not be receiving sponsorship from schools or special privileges.

Attack the funders or sponsors of troops. DO send the message that they have a duty to disassociate from discrimination and, instead, support youth organizations that don't discriminate.

Have "negative sounding" signs or publicity attacking the BSA. This is not constructive.

OTHER HELPFUL INFORMATION

SELECT LIST OF DISSOCIATIONS FROM DISCRIMINATION

Public Entities:

City of Chicago, IL
San Diego, CA police department
Santa Clara, CA Sheriff's Department


Public Schools

Oakland, CA
San Diego, CA
San Francisco, CA
San Jose, CA

Charitable Organizations / Foundations

United Way: San Francisco, CA
Santa Clara, CA
Santa Cruz, CA
New Haven, CT
Portland, ME
Massachusetts Bay, MA
Somerset County, NJ
Santa Fe, NM
Southeastern New England (RI, parts of MA & CT)

CT State Employee Campaign Committee

Corporations: JP Morgan
Levi Strauss
Wells Fargo Bank
American Airlines

SELECT LIST OF YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS THAT DO NOT DISCRIMINATE

Girl Scouts www.gsusa.org
Boys and Girls Clubs www.bgca.org
National 4-H Council www.fourhcouncil.edu
Campfire Boys and Girls www.campfire.org


SOUNDBYTES: These are phrases and sentences that may be used in media interviews in order to get across our message succinctly. The media appreciates quick and simple statements:

A majority of youth believe that gays should be allowed in the Scouts. Scout leadership should listen to the youth it serves, and be open to ALL boys.

The activity around the country demonstrates the recognition of the duty of fair-minded people to dissociate themselves from discrimination.

While the Boy Scouts may have won the right to discriminate, the rest of us do not have to be accomplices to that -- and in fact should educate sponsors and donors about the importance of taking a stand by moving to support youth organizations that do not discriminate.

It is up to the rest of us to stand up for what is right -- to dissociate from discrimination and to support organizations that do not discriminate.

It is in fact our duty as fair-minded Americans to respect and defend the rights of all people, to teach respect, and to dissociate from discrimination.

It's EVERYONE's responsibility (parents, fair-minded individuals, public entities, charitable organizations, sponsors, and individual Boy Scouts) to take a stand to separate from and end discrimination.