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.

Scouting for All is a 100% Volunteer 501-(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization. Every dollar donated goes toward our education and advocacy programs, and is tax deductible.

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A Parent Makes an Ethical Decision by Withdrawing His Son from the BSA

Teddy Copley
Burnsville, MN 55337

October 10, 2000

John Andrews
Scout Executive
Indianhead Council
393 Marshall Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55102

Dear Mr. Andrews:

Please be advised that I have withdrawn my son, Dashel Martinez, from the Cub Scouts program and, therefore, his name should be removed from your membership list.

My son and I will have nothing further to do with the Boy Scouts of America until such time as it changes its backwards and dangerous policy of discriminating against homosexuals and atheists. This policy does nothing but promote intolerance and hatred. Scouting should be about scouting, period not about discrimination. If our children are to thrive in a world that is increasingly becoming one global "melting pot," they MUST learn to tolerate, and even respect, other lifestyles and belief systems.

My son made up his own mind about his affiliation with the BSA, and explained it very well. After he read an article and watched a couple of news stories surrounding the recent Supreme Court decision, he told me he didn't want to "learn how to hate people." He also felt sorry for those who were banned from membership in the BSA and asked me, "What if it was their dream all their life to be a scout leader? That's not fair."

While I respect the BSA's constitutional right to express its own beliefs and to associate with whom it chooses, at the same time I must express my disapproval and disappointment with the organization's discriminatory policies.Therefore, I have decided to no longer contribute my money or my child.

Sincerely,
Teddy Copley

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.