In what can only be called a major blow to anti-gay activists, the United States Supreme Court has refused to hear a case brought forth by the Boy Scouts who claimed discrimination:The justices on Monday let stand a unanimous California Supreme Court ruling that the city of Berkeley may treat the Berkeley Sea Scouts differently from other nonprofits because the Scouts bar atheists and gays.You see, the Berkeley Sea Scouts used to get a free public boat slip to use at their leisure. However, the City of Berkeley said that because they discriminate against gays and atheists they had to start paying for the slip. The Boy Scouts claimed this was violating the group's free speech and freedom of association rights and didn't want to pay so they sued.
The California Supreme Court said "local governments are under no obligation to extend benefits to organizations that discriminate." and the US Supreme Court agreed.
The Sea Scouts blame Berkeley elected officials who disapprove of the Boy Scouts' membership policies. Yeah, the policy that allows them to discriminate!
Berkeley would have given the Sea Scouts a free slip if they broke ties with the Boy Scouts or disavowed the policy against gays and atheists. You can guess what was more important to them.
In full disclosure, I must confess that I am an Eagle Scout, however, when I was in the Boy Scouts there was no honor in discrimination.
2 comments:
Too bad the BSA is still fighting to discriminate against gays and atheists. I was a Scout long ago and remember the camping trips fondly. Swapping dirty jokes and bawdy songs around the campfire. Trying to protect my younger brother from a couple bullies in our troop. Really "Morally Straight!"
Seriously, it was not all bad, but keeping gays out won't help anyone.
A few years ago, I protested to the BSA national office by sending back my merit badges, my patch collection and my Order of the Arrow sash with a letter of criticism. I never heard back from the BSA.
I was a Boy Scout too...Troop 2 in Revere...the Cobras.
We all knew our troop leader was gay, too.
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