Boy Scouts of America membership controversies 2662425 223834113 2008-07-06T01:37:30Z MBK004 4916882 Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/72.95.7.90|72.95.7.90]] ([[User talk:72.95.7.90|talk]]) to last version by Rjwilmsi [[Image:BSA universal emblem.svg|right|upright|thumb|BSA universal emblem]] The [[Boy Scouts of America]] (BSA), the largest [[youth organization]] in the [[United States]], has [[policies]] which prohibit [[Atheism|atheist]]s, [[Agnosticism|agnostics]], and "known or avowed" [[homosexuality|homosexuals]] from membership in its [[Scouting]] program; both youths and adults have had their memberships revoked as a result. The BSA contends that these policies are essential in its mission to instill in young people the [[values]] of the Scout Oath and Law.<ref name="core">{{cite web|url=http://www.bsalegal.org/core-values-286.asp|work=BSALegal.org|title=Core Values|accessdate=2006-10-02}}</ref><ref name="duty">{{cite web|url=http://www.bsalegal.org/duty-to-god-cases-224.asp|work=BSALegal.org|title=Duty to God|accessdate=2008-05-25}}</ref> The BSA also prohibits girls from participating in [[Cub Scouting (Boy Scouts of America)|Cub Scouting]] and [[Boy Scouting (Boy Scouts of America)|Boy Scouting]]. These policies are controversial and are considered by some to be unfair.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://atheism.about.com/b/a/258300.htm|title=Boy Scouts & Public Funding: Defending Bigotry as a Public Good|accessdate=2008-05-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bsa-discrimination.org/|work=BSA Discrimination|title=Discrimination in the BSA|accessdate=2006-09-04}}</ref> The organization's legal right to have these policies has been upheld repeatedly by both [[state court|state]] and [[United States federal courts|federal courts]]. The [[Supreme Court of the United States]] has affirmed that as a private organization, the BSA can set its own membership standards. In recent years, the policy disputes have led to litigation over the terms under which the BSA can access governmental resources including public lands.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2006/10/16/state/n075532D70.DTL|title=Supreme Court Won't Review Berkeley Sea Scouts' Case|accessdate=2008-05-25}}</ref><!-- If the previous link goes dead over time, consider using http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1720255/posts --> ==Boy Scouts of America's values affect membership criteria== According to its mission statement, the Boy Scouts of America seeks "to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law".<ref name="core"/> All members are required, as a condition of membership, to promise to uphold and obey both of these pledges.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1374/is_6_59/ai_57800242|title=Challenging the discriminatory practices of the Boy Scouts of America|work=Humanist|date=November 1999|author=Margaret Downey|accessdate=2008-05-25}}</ref> The texts of BSA's [[Scout Promise|Scout Oath]] and [[Scout Law]] for Boy Scouting have remained unchanged since they were approved in 1911.<ref name="dale">{{cite web|url=http://lawlibrary.rutgers.edu/courts/appellate/a2427-95.opn.html|title=Decision of Superior Court of New Jersey Appellate Division, A-2427-95T3, Dale v. Boy Scouts (1998)|accessdate=2007-09-02|publisher=Rutgers School of Law-Camden}}</ref> [[Image:BSA 2002-2005 Strategic Plan.png|right|140px|thumb||BSA Strategic Plan logo used from 2002 through 2005]] <blockquote> '''''Scout Oath'''''<br/> ''On my honor I will do my best<br/>'' ''To do my duty to God and my country<br/>'' ''and to obey the Scout Law;<br/>'' ''To help other people at all times;<br/>'' ''To keep myself physically strong,<br/>'' ''mentally awake, and morally straight.'' </blockquote> <blockquote> '''''Scout Law'''''<br/> ''A Scout is: trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.'' </blockquote> [[Spirituality]] has been an integral part of the international [[Scouting]] movement since its inception. As early as 1908, Scouting founder [[Robert Baden-Powell]] wrote in the first Scout handbook that, "No man is much good unless he believes in [[God]] and obeys His laws."<ref>Robert Baden-Powell (1908) ''Scouting for Boys'', quoted [http://www.faqs.org/faqs/scouting/rec.scouting.issues/section-11.html here] and elsewhere{{Citation broken|date=December 2007}}</ref> Religious organizations host/sponsor over 60% of the approximately 123,000 Scouting units in the United States and use the Scouting program as part of their youth ministration.<ref name="amici">{{cite web|date=2000|url=http://www.lambdalegal.org/sections/sections/dalepresskit/nccs.pdf|title=Brief of Amici Curiae, Boy Scouts of America v. James Dale|accessdate=2008-05-25|archiveurl =http://web.archive.org/web/20060927030531/http://www.lambdalegal.org/sections/sections/dalepresskit/nccs.pdf|archivedate=2006-09-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=2006|url=http://www.scouting.org/Media/FactSheets/02-501.aspx|title=BSA at a Glance: 2004|publisher=Boy Scouts of America|accessdate=2008-05-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Patrick Boyle|date=2000|url=http://www.bostonphoenix.com/archive/features/00/09/14/SCOUTS2.html|title=Holy War|publisher=The Phoenix|accessdate=2006-12-08|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20050413173255/http://www.bostonphoenix.com/archive/features/00/09/14/SCOUTS2.html|archivedate=2005-04-13}}</ref> Officials from various religious organizations—including the [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints|Latter-day Saints (Mormon)]], [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholic]], [[Methodism|Methodist]], [[Lutheranism|Lutheran]], and [[Presbyterianism|Presbyterian]] churches—are included on the BSA National Executive Board, its Advisory Council, and the BSA Religious Relationships Committee. In reciting the Scout Oath, a Scout promises to be morally straight and to do their duty to God; the Scout Law holds that a Scout is clean and [[Sacred|reverent]]. As early as 1978, the Boy Scouts of America circulated a memorandum among national executive staff stating that they held it was not appropriate for homosexuals to hold leadership positions in BSA.<ref name=BSAvDale>Boy Scouts of America et al. v. Dale (2000) [http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=US&vol=000&invol=99-699 Decision of the US Supreme Court]{{Citation broken|date=December 2007}}</ref> Similarly, since at least 1985, the BSA has interpreted the Scout Oath and Law as being incompatible with agnosticism and atheism.<ref>{{cite book|author=Mechling, Jay|title=On My Honor: Boy Scouts and the Making of American Youth|date=2001|publisher=University of Chicago Press|url=http://www.press.uchicago.edu/Misc/Chicago/517047.html|isbn=0226517047}}</ref> In both instances, the organization asserted that it was not a new policy to expel atheists, agnostics and gays — rather, the BSA argued it was just enforcing long-held policies which had never been published or publicly challenged.<ref> {{cite web|url=http://www.uua.org/news/scouts/pool_fact.html|title=UUs Petition Boy Scouts to End Discrimination Against Gays, Agnostics|publisher=Unitarian Universalist Association|accessdate=2007-10-09|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20060930141724/http://www.uua.org/news/scouts/pool_fact.html|archivedate=2006-09-30}}</ref><ref name=BSAvDale /> ===Position on atheists and agnostics=== {{see also|Atheism and religion|Discrimination against atheists}} The Boy Scouts of America's position is that [[atheist]]s and [[Agnosticism|agnostics]] cannot participate as Scouts (youth members) or [[Scout Leader|Scouters]] (adult leaders). According to the Bylaws of the BSA, Declaration of Religious Principle: <blockquote>"The Boy Scouts of America maintains that no member can grow into the best kind of citizen without recognizing an obligation to God. In the first part of the Scout Oath or Promise the member declares, ‘On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law.’ The recognition of God as the ruling and leading power in the universe and the grateful acknowledgment of His favors and blessings are necessary to the best type of citizenship and are wholesome precepts in the education of the growing members."<ref name="duty"/></blockquote> During the membership application process and as a requirement to obtain membership, youths and adults are required to subscribe to the precepts of the Declaration of Religious Principle and to agree to abide by the Scout Oath and Law, which include the words, "do my duty to God" and "reverent". Youths are also required to repeat the Scout Oath and Law periodically after being accepted as Scouts. The BSA believes that atheists and agnostics are not appropriate role models of the Scout Oath and Law for boys, and thus will not accept such adults as leaders. ===Position on homosexuals=== {{see also|Religion and homosexuality|Societal attitudes toward homosexuality}} Since 1991, openly gay individuals have been officially prohibited from joining the Boy Scouts of America.<ref name="curran">{{cite web|url=http://lambdalegal.org/cgi-bin/iowa/cases/decision.html?record=224|title=Curran v. Mount Diablo Council of the Boy Scouts of America|accessdate=2008-05-25|date=1998|work=Lambda Legal|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20060903235529/http://lambdalegal.org/cgi-bin/iowa/cases/decision.html?record=224|archivedate=2006-09-03}}</ref> A 1991 Position Statement states: “We believe that homosexual conduct is inconsistent with the requirement in the Scout Oath that a Scout be morally straight and in the Scout Law that a Scout be clean in word and deed, and that homosexuals do not provide a desirable role model for Scouts.”<ref name="Cornell">{{cite web|url=http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/99-699.ZO.html|title=Opinion of the Supreme Court of the United States, No. 99—699, Boy Scouts v. James Dale|accessdate=2007-09-03|publisher=Legal Information Institute, Cornell University Law School}}</ref> The BSA thus "believes that a known or avowed homosexual is not an appropriate role model of the Scout Oath and Law."<ref name="morally">{{cite web|url=http://www.bsalegal.org/morally-straight-cases-225.asp|work=BSALegal.org|title=Morally Straight|accessdate=2008-05-25}}</ref> The language used to describe the BSA's policies on homosexuals has evolved over time. Prior to 2004, the policy stated: :"We do not allow for the registration of avowed homosexuals as members or as leaders of the BSA."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bsa-discrimination.org/html/bsa_gay_policy.html|title=BSA's Policy on Homosexuals|work=BSA Discrimination|accessdate=2006-07-08}}</ref> In 2004, the BSA adopted a new policy statement: :"Boy Scouts of America believes that homosexual conduct is inconsistent with the obligations in the Scout Oath and Scout Law to be morally straight and clean in thought, word, and deed. The conduct of youth members must be in compliance with the Scout Oath and Law, and membership in Boy Scouts of America is contingent upon the willingness to accept Scouting’s values and beliefs."<ref name="morally"/> The BSA stated in a 2000 press release that, "Boy Scouting makes no effort to discover the sexual orientation of any person."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scouting.org/media/press/2000/000628/index.html|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070126161643/http://www.scouting.org/media/press/2000/000628/index.html|archivedate=2007-01-26|work=Boy Scouts of America|title=BSA Sustained By US Supreme Court|accessdate=2006-07-09}}</ref> BSA application forms for youth membership and adult leadership positions do not inquire about the applicants' sexual orientation and do not mention the BSA's policies regarding homosexuals.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scouting.org/media/forms.aspx|title=Scouting Forms from the National Council|work=Scouting.org|accessdate=2008-05-25}}</ref> However, there exist reports of Scouting leaders questioning members about their sexual orientation, sometimes resulting in their expulsion.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bsa-discrimination.org/html/review_bsa_gay_policy.html|work=BSA Discrimination|title=A Review of BSA's Gay Policy|accessdate=2008-05-25}}</ref> In 2005, a high-level employee of BSA was fired by the [[Boy Scouts of America#National Council|National Council]] after the organization received a copy of his bill from a [[Gay tourism|gay resort]] at which he had vacationed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.motherjones.com/news/update/2005/08/scouting.html|work=Mother Jones.com|title=Scouted Out|accessdate=2008-05-25}}</ref> BSA [[Boy Scouts of America#Local councils|local councils]] and Scouting units are required to adhere to National Council policies as a condition of their charters;<ref name="opendoor">{{cite web|url=http://www.uua.org/news/scouts/openingdoor.html|title=Opening the Door to Gay Boy Scouts|work=Globe|work=Boston Globe|author=Jackson, Derrick Z.|date=[[June 8]], [[2001]]|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20060118050100/http://www.uua.org/news/scouts/openingdoor.html|archivedate=2006-01-18|accessdate=2008-05-25 }}</ref> however, there is inconsistency in the way some have interpreted and implemented official policy on homosexuality. Several local councils have stated that they have implemented the policy in a way that is similar to the [[Military of the United States|U.S. Armed Forces']] [[Don't ask, don't tell]] policy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bsa-discrimination.org/html/globe-010808.html#0801Article|work=BSA Discrimination.org|title=Boston Minuteman Council: Policy of Nondiscrimination|accessdate=2008-05-25}}</ref> In this view, homosexuals should be allowed to remain members as long as they do not disclose their [[sexual orientation]], and the BSA should not question or investigate their sexual orientation. There is, however, disagreement as to whether [[Don't Ask, Don't Tell]] is consistent with National Council's official policy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.personal.psu.edu/glm7/m079.htm|title="Please Ask, Please Tell" Not "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Should be the Watchwords for Organizations Like the Boy Scouts|author=Gary L. Morella|accessdate=2008-05-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=23911|title=Words Don't Hide Homosexuality|accessdate=2008-05-25|author=Dougherty, Jon|date=2001|work=WorldNetDaily|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20050111093552/http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=23911|archivedate=2005-01-11}}</ref> ===Position on gender=== {{see also|Single-sex education}} According to the BSA, "The Cub Scout and Boy Scout programs were designed to meet the emotional, psychological, physical, and other needs of boys between the ages of 8 and 14."<ref name="girls">{{cite web|url=http://www.bsalegal.org/gender-cases-226.asp|title=Litigation Regarding Girls Seeking Membership|work=BSALegal.org|accessdate=2008-05-25}}</ref> While the BSA does not admit girls to these programs, the [[Venturing (Boy Scouts of America)|Venturing]] program is open to young men and women ages 14 through 21.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scouting.org/venturing/|title=Venturing BSA|work=Boy Scouts of America|accessdate=2008-05-25}}</ref><ref name="28-406"> {{cite book|url=http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/28-406.pdf |title=Boy Scouts of America Youth Application |id=#28-406B |accessdate=2007-10-06 |publisher=Boy Scouts of America |quote=Venturers and Sea Scouts registered in a crew or ship prior to their 21st birthday may continue as members after their 21st birthday until the crew or ship recharters or until they reach their 22nd birthday, whichever comes first.}}</ref> ===Reaction to nondiscrimination policies=== {{see also|Discrimination}} Some BSA local councils have had their [[United Way of America|United Way]] funding reduced because of their adherence to the BSA's policy on sexual orientation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thewaytocare.org/html/about_bsqa.html||title=Boy Scout Q & A|publisher=United Way of Eastern Fairfield County|accessdate=2007-10-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://ffrf.org/timely/bsa.php|title=Boy Scouts Of America Practices Discrimination|publisher=Freedom From Religion Foundation|accessdate=2007-10-09}}</ref> In order to continue receiving unreduced United Way funding, a few local councils, including one in New Jersey, have signed nondiscrimination statements, apparently in violation of BSA National Council policy.<ref name="jersey"/> In 2001, a local council in Boston adopted a nondiscrimination policy; however, when an openly gay man attempted to register as a merit badge counselor he was rejected on the basis of his sexual orientation.<ref name="jersey">{{cite web|url=http://www.bsa-discrimination.org/html/njcouncil.html|title=United Way to Continue Aid to Central Jersey Scouts|work=NY Times|date=2001-08-31|accessdate=2006-11-03}}</ref> The same year, nine BSA local councils proposed a resolution that would have allowed local councils to comply with nondiscrimination policies regarding homosexuals but the resolution was rejected by the BSA National Council.<ref name="opendoor" /> Also in 2001, the BSA "revoked the charters of several Cub Scout packs in Oak Park, [[Illinois]], because the sponsors, a parent-teacher group, adhered to a nondiscrimination policy."<ref name="opendoor"/> The [[Cradle of Liberty Council]] in [[Philadelphia]] adopted a nondiscrimination policy in 2003 but was [[Cradle of Liberty Council#Headquarters controversy|ordered to revoke it]] by the National Council.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,303420,00.html|title=Boy Scouts' Rent Skyrockets in Philadelphia to $200K Over Gay Ban|date=2007-08-18|author=Catherine Donaldson-Evans|publisher=Fox News|accessdate=2008-05-25}}</ref> The BSA's policies have been legally challenged but have not been found to constitute illegal discrimination. {{main|Cradle of Liberty Council v. City of Philadelphia}} ==Youth organization membership policies== The membership policies of youth organizations vary; many have less restrictive membership criteria than the BSA by choice and/or because of nondiscrimination laws in their country. ===Mainstream Scouting=== The [[World Organization of the Scout Movement]] (WOSM) serves the mainstream [[Scout Movement]] along with the [[World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts]] (WAGGGS). WOSM has a membership of 155 National Scout Organizations with more than 28 million individuals.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scout.org/en/about_scouting/facts_figures/census|title=Census|accessdate=2007-09-03|publisher=World Organisation of the Scout Movement}}</ref> Only one Scouting organization per country is recognized by WOSM. In about ten percent of the countries, the National Scout Organization is a federation composed of more than one Scout association; some of the associations in a federation may be segregated by religion (e.g., Denmark and France), ethnicity (e.g., Bosnia and Israel), or native language (e.g., Belgium). The WOSM National Scout Organization in the United States has been the Boy Scouts of America since it became a member in 1922. The [[value system]] of the BSA and other Scouting associations may differ; this is evident in the different Scout promises and laws used by associations (see [[Scout Promise]] and [[Scout Law]]). Correspondingly, the membership policies of Scouting associations may differ as well. For example, in contrast to the BSA's policy, homosexuals are not restricted from membership or leadership positions in [[Scouts Canada]] and most European associations, including [[The Scout Association]] in the [[United Kingdom]], [[Ring deutscher Pfadfinderverbände]] of [[Germany]] (German Scout Federation), and the [[Svenska Scoutrådet|Swedish Guide and Scout Association]]; all are WOSM members.<ref>Scout UK Equal Opportunity Policy for [http://web.archive.org/web/20070214101645/www.scoutbase.org.uk/library/hqdocs/eqopps/eo-sbe-y.htm young people] and for [http://web.archive.org/web/20070214101645/www.scoutbase.org.uk/library/hqdocs/eqopps/eo-sbe-a.htm adults] .{{Citation broken|date=December 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bsa-discrimination.org/html/wosm.html|title=World Scouting Movement|work=BSA Discrimination|accessdate=2008-05-25}}</ref> In countries [[Homosexuality laws of the world|where homosexuality is legal]], there is usually at least one Scouting association that allows homosexuals as members and leaders. "Duty to God" is a [[Scout method|principle of worldwide Scouting]] and WOSM requires its member National Scout Organizations to reference "duty to God" in their Scout Promises (see [[Scout Promise#World Organization of the Scout Movement requirements|WOSM Scout Promise requirements]]). Scouting associations apply this principle to their membership policies in different ways. The [[Boy Scouts of America]] takes a hard-line position by excluding atheists or agnostics from membership. [[Scouts Canada]] defines "duty to God" broadly in terms of "adherence to [[Spirituality|spiritual]] principles" and does not have any explicit policy excluding non-[[theists]].<ref name="dutytogod">{{cite web|url=http://www.bsa-discrimination.org/html/god-top.html|title=BSA and Religious Belief|publisher=BSA Discrimination.org|accessdate=2008-05-25}}</ref> According the Equal Opportunities Policy of [[The Scout Association]] in the United Kingdom: <blockquote> "To enable young people to grow into independent adults the [[Scout method|Scout Method]] encourages young people to question what they have been taught. Scouts and Venture Scouts who question God's existence, their own spirituality or the structures and beliefs of any or all religions are simply searching for spiritual understanding. This notion of a search for enlightenment is compatible with belief in most of the world's faiths. It is unacceptable to refuse Membership, or question a young person's suitability to continue to participate fully in a Section, if they express doubts about the meaning of the [[Scout Promise|Promise]]."<ref name="por_eo_belief">{{cite web|url=http://www.scoutbase.org.uk/library/hqdocs/eqopps/eo-rel-y.htm|work=Policy Organisation and Rules|publisher=The Scout Association|title=Equal Opportunities Policy: Guidelines with reference to Young People: Religious belief|accessdate=2007-10-05|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20061117013950/http://www.scoutbase.org.uk/library/hqdocs/eqopps/eo-rel-y.htm|archivedate=2006-11-17}}</ref> </blockquote> The membership policies of Scouting organizations also vary regarding the inclusion of girls, see [[Scouting#Co-educational|Coeducational Scouting]]. The [[Girl Scouts of the USA]] accepts homosexuals and allows its members to substitute another word in place of "God" when reciting the Girl Scout Promise.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.girlscouts.org/program/gs_central/promise_law/|title=Girl Scout Promise and Law|work=Girl Scouts of the USA}}</ref> For information on Scouting associations that are not members of WOSM or WAGGGS, see [[Non-aligned Scouting and Scout-like organisations]]. ===Other American youth organizations=== The [[American Heritage Girls]] is a Christian Scouting organization that provides an alternative to the [[Girl Scouts of the USA]] (GSUSA). American Heritage Girls' policies on gays and atheists are similar to those held by the BSA. It was formed by parents who were unhappy that GSUSA accepted lesbians as troop leaders, allowed girls to substitute a word more applicable to their belief for the word "God" in the Girl Scout Promise, and allegedly banned prayer at meetings. Other [[youth organization]]s do not have policies that exclude homosexuals and atheists, and are coeducational, such as [[Camp Fire USA]], [[SpiralScouts International]], [[4-H]], and the BSA's [[Learning for Life]] program.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bsa-discrimination.org/html/groups.html|title=Alternative Youth Groups|work=BSA Discrimination|accessdate=2008-05-25}}</ref> ==Litigation over the membership policies== The Boy Scouts of America has been [[lawsuit|sued]] because of its membership, leadership, and employment standards.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bsalegal.org/litigation-222.asp|work=BSALegal.org|title=Litigation|accessdate=2006-07-09}}</ref> Some of the lawsuits dealt with the BSA's standards that require Scouts and Scouters to believe in God and not be openly homosexual, and the exclusion of girls from membership in some programs.<ref name="duty"/><ref name="morally"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bsalegal.org/gender-cases-226.asp|work=BSALegal.org|title=Teaching “Boys to Do Things for Themselves and Others”|accessdate=2006-07-09}}</ref> There has been some opposition to single-sex membership programs and organizations in the United States including some programs of the BSA.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bsa-discrimination.org/html/girls-top.html|title=BSA and Girls in Scouting|work=Discrimination in the BSA|accessdate=2008-05-25}}</ref> The Boy Scouts of America admits only boys to its Cub Scout and Boy Scout programs. Several lawsuits involving girls seeking admission to these programs have resulted in court rulings that the BSA is not required to admit girls.<ref name="girls" /> During the 1980s and 1990s, there were several high-profile lawsuits intended to require the BSA to include gays or atheists. In 1981, Tim Curran, an openly-gay former Scout, sued asking that he be accepted as an Assistant Scoutmaster (see [[Curran v. Mount Diablo Council]]).<ref name="curran" /> In 1991, twin brothers William and Michael Randall, who had refused to recite the "duty to God" portion of the Cub Scout Promise and Boy Scout Oath, sued to be allowed to continue in the program (see [[Randall v. Orange County Council]] and [[Welsh v. Boy Scouts of America]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/data2/californiastatecases/s039161.pdf|title=Randall v. Orange County Council, Boy Scouts of America|accessdate=2008-05-25|date=1998-03-23}}</ref> In addition, there were several other lawsuits involving basically the same issues.<ref>e.g. Merino v. BSA, Pool & Geller v. BSA, Welsh v. BSA, Seabourn v. BSA. See [http://www.bsa-discrimination.org/index.html Discrimination in the BSA]{{Citation broken|date=December 2007}}</ref> Ultimately, the courts ruled in favor of the Boy Scouts of America in each case. The courts have repeatedly held that the Boys Scouts of America, and all private organizations, have a right to set membership standards in accordance with the [[First Amendment to the United States Constitution|First Amendment]] protected concept of [[freedom of association]]. In particular, in [[Boy Scouts of America v. Dale]], the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2000 that the BSA's Constitutional right to freedom of association gave them the authority to expel a gay assistant Scoutmaster.<ref name="Cornell"/> After the Dale decision, public opinion in some communities turned against the BSA; corporations, charities, and even some local governments criticized the policy, threatening to either cut off financial support or block the Boy Scouts from using public buildings for their meetings. While some segments of the public criticized the organization, other groups became more enthusiastic in their support of the Scouts.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewCulture.asp?Page=%5CCulture%5Carchive%5C200103%5CCUL20010315a.html|title=Despite Controversy, Boy Scouts Say Business Continues as Usual|author=Jason Pierce|publisher=Cybercast News Service|date=2001-03-15|accessdate=2008-05-25}}</ref> Since the Supreme Court's ruling, the focus of lawsuits has shifted to challenging the BSA's relationship with governments in light of their membership policies. A number of lawsuits have been filed by or with the assistance of the [[American Civil Liberties Union]] over issues such as government association with the BSA and the conditions under which the BSA may access governmental resources.<ref name="access">{{cite web|url=http://www.bsalegal.org/access-to-government-forums-cases-223.asp|work=BSALegal.org|title=Access to Government Forums|accessdate=2006-07-09}}</ref> ===Governmental sponsorship of Scouting units=== {{see also|Torcaso v. Watkins|Separation of church and state in the United States}} The [[American Civil Liberties Union]] (ACLU) has taken legal action to stop governmental organizations from serving as the chartered organizations (sponsors) of Scouting units. The [[U.S. Department of Defense]] announced in 2004 that it would end direct sponsorship of Scouting units in response to a lawsuit brought by the ACLU.<ref>[http://www.aclu-il.org/legal/courtdocuments/2004/11/winkler_v_chicago_school_refor.shtml Winkler v. Chicago School Reform Board]</ref><ref>[http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2004/November/04_civ_751.htm Department of Defense settles part of litigation challenging its involvement with the Boy Scouts of America]</ref> "The ACLU of Illinois charged that the Boy Scouts' policy violates the religious liberty of youth who wish to participate but do not wish to swear a religious oath, and that direct government sponsorship of such a program is religious discrimination."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aclu.org//religion/discrim/16382prs20041115.html|work=American Civil Liberties Union|title=Pentagon Agrees to End Direct Sponsorship of Boy Scout Troops in Response to Religious Discrimination Charge|accessdate=2006-03-02}}</ref> The BSA agreed in 2005 to transfer all charters it had issued to governmental entities to private entities in response to a request from the ACLU.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aclu-il.org/news/press/2005/03/national_boy_scout_organizatio.shtml|work=American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois|title=National Boy Scout Organization Agrees to End All Local Government Direct Sponsorship of Troops and Packs|accessdate=2006-03-02}}</ref> Previously, about 400 Scouting units had been sponsored by U.S. military bases and over 10,000 by other governmental entities, primarily public schools.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/metro/20041116-115229-4427r.htm|work=Washington Times|title=Boy Scouts Jamboree to Stay at Army Base|accessdate=2006-03-02|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20060419175333/http://www.washingtontimes.com/metro/20041116-115229-4427r.htm|archivedate=2006-04-19}}</ref> (See explanation of [[Boy Scouts of America#Units and chartered organizations|Scouting units and chartered organizations]].) ===Access to governmental resources=== {{see also|Forum (legal)}} In certain municipalities, the conditions under which the Boy Scouts of America can access public and nonpublic governmental resources have become controversial, sometimes resulting in litigation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://scoutingforall.org/articles/2006020104.shtml|work=Scouting for All|title=Boy Scouts Say They're Like KKK Youth|accessdate=2006-03-02|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20060623193333/http://scoutingforall.org/articles/2006020104.shtml|archivedate=2006-06-23}}</ref> Historically, the BSA (and the Girl Scouts of the USA) has often been granted preferential access to governmental resources such as lands and facilities. When a private organization such as the BSA receives access on terms more favorable than other private organizations, it is known as "special" or "preferential" access whereas "equal" access is access on the same terms. For example, state and local governments may lease property to nonprofit groups (such as the BSA) on terms that are preferential to or equal to the terms they offer to commercial groups, in other words they may give nonprofit groups either special or equal access. Special access includes access at a reduced fee (including no fee) or access to places off-limits to other groups. The categorization of access as "special" or "equal" is not always clear-cut. Some cities, counties, and states have ordinances or policies that limit government support for organizations that practice some types of discrimination. When the BSA's membership policies are contrary to these laws, some government organizations have moved to change the terms under which the BSA is allowed to access its resources. Private individuals have filed lawsuits to prevent governmental entities from granting what they see as preferential access.<ref>''Winkler v. Chicago School Reform Board, et al., Evans v. Berkeley'', discussed [http://www.bsalegal.org/access-to-government-forums-cases-223.asp here]{{Citation broken|date=December 2007}}</ref> The BSA on the other hand has sued governmental entities for denying what it sees as equal access.<ref name="access"/> In response to these changes and litigation, the federal government passed laws mandating the BSA's equal access to local and state-level governmental resources. The [[Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act]], enacted in 2002, requires public elementary and secondary schools that receive [[U.S. Department of Education]] funding to provide BSA groups equal access to school facilities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/boyscouts.html|title=Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act|work=US Dept. of Education – Office for Civil Rights|accessdate=2008-05-25}}</ref> The [[Support Our Scouts Act|Support our Scouts Act]] of 2005 requires state and local governments that receive [[United States Department of Housing and Urban Development|HUD]] funding to provide BSA groups equal access to governmental forums (lands, facilities, etc.). State and local governments still have flexibility regarding the provision of special access to the BSA.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c109:S.642.IS:|title=Support Our Scouts Act of 2005|work=US Library of Congress|date=[[March 16]], [[2005]]}}</ref> ===Recent litigation=== Recent litigation has been primarily about access to governmental resources. ====Active==== *A US District Court's ruling against the BSA on the favorable terms under which the City of San Diego leases public land to the BSA is being appealed (see [[Barnes-Wallace v. Boy Scouts of America]]). *Philadelphia has revoked the favorable terms under which the City of Philadelphia leases public land to the BSA<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/06/us/06scouts.html?ref=us|title=Boy Scouts Lose Philadelphia Lease in Gay-Rights Fight|author=Ian Urbina|publisher=The New York Times|date=2007-12-09|accessdate=2007-12-06}}</ref> ====Inactive==== *In July 2003, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a decision by a U.S. District Judge that excluded the BSA from an annual workplace charitable campaign run by the state of Connecticut because of the BSA's policy on homosexuals. In March 2004, the United States Supreme Court declined to review the case.<ref>{{cite news|last=Seper|first=Jerry|title=High Court Spurns Appeal by Scouts|publisher=Washington Times|date=2004-03-09|url=http://www.washtimes.com/national/20040308-105529-8891r.htm|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20051224064256/http://www.washtimes.com/national/20040308-105529-8891r.htm|archivedate=2005-12-24|accessdate=2008-05-25}}</ref> *In March 2006, the California Supreme Court ruled in [[Evans v. Berkeley]] that the City of Berkeley did not have to continue to provide free dock space to the [[Sea Scouts (Boy Scouts of America)|Sea Scouts]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pacificlegal.org/view_PLFNews.asp?iID=336&sTitle=Berkeley+Sea+Scout+Decision+Appealed+to+United+States+Supreme+Court|title=Berkeley Sea Scout Decision Appealed to United States Supreme Court|work=Pacific Legal Foundation Press Release|date=2006-07-11|accessdate=2006-11-03|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20060813134013/http://pacificlegal.org/view_PLFNews.asp?iID=336&sTitle=Berkeley+Sea+Scout+Decision+Appealed+to+United+States+Supreme+Court|archivedate=2006-08-13}} </ref> In October 2006, the United States Supreme Court refused to review ''Evans v. Berkeley''.<ref>{{cite news|last=Egelko|first=Bob|title=Top Court Rejects Sea Scouts' Appeal On Rent Subsidy|pages=B2|publisher=San Francisco Chronicle|date=2006-10-17}}</ref> *In September 2006, the Oregon Supreme Court ruled that recruiting by BSA in public schools did not violate the state's nondiscrimination laws.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1157768730234070.xml&coll=7|work=The Oregonian|title=Court OKs Boy Scout Recruiting At Schools|accessdate=2008-05-25}}</ref>{{dead link|date=May 2008}} *The U.S. Army gives the BSA special access to a base, [[Fort A.P. Hill]], for its [[National Scout jamboree (Boy Scouts of America)|national Scout jamboree]] and the U.S. Department of Defense spends approximately $2 million per year in taxpayer funds to assist the BSA in staging it. On April 4, 2007 the US Court of Appeals overturned a lower court ruling on the basis of a lack of standing to sue, thus allowing the 2010 and future Jamborees to go forward with continued DOD support (see [[Winkler v. Rumsfeld]]).<ref name="access"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aclu.org/religion/govtfunding/24910prs20060405.html|title=Prominent Chicago Religious Leaders Ask Federal Appellate Court to Protect Government Neutrality in Religion and End Pentagon's Extraordinary Funding for Boy Scout Jamboree|work=ACLU of Illinois Press Release|date=2006-04-05|accessdate=2006-11-03}}</ref> ==Adverse reaction to Boy Scouts of America's membership policies== There has been opposition to BSA's membership policies from organizations and individuals. Some within the [[Scouting|Scouting movement]], as well as long-time Scouting supporters, parents, chartered organizations, and religious organizations have expressed opposition to the policies in ways ranging from protests to forming organizations that advocate inclusiveness. Some push for a voluntary change within the BSA, others seek involuntary change by filing lawsuits, still others choose to disassociate themselves from the BSA or encourage others to do so. Perhaps the most vocal opponent of the policies has been the [[American Civil Liberties Union]], which has brought or been a participant in fourteen lawsuits against the Boy Scouts of America from 1981 to March 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bsalegal.org/podcasts-284.asp|work=BSALegal.org|title=BSALegal.org talks to George A. Davidson, BSA National Counsel, about Winkler v. Rumsfeld|accessdate=2008-05-25}}</ref> A few members of the [[United States Congress|U.S. Congress]] have also spoken out against the BSA's policies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://scoutingforall.org/articles/2005112802.shtml|Scouting for All|title=Congressman Frank's Statement Supporting 'Scouting for All'|accessdate=2008-05-25|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20060620083326/http://scoutingforall.org/articles/2005112802.shtml|archivedate=2006-06-20}}</ref> Since the Dale decision, some [[Eagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America)|Eagle Scouts]] (about 100) have returned their Eagle Scout badge to the BSA in protest.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scoutingmagazine.org/issues/0103/a-sval.html|title=In Support of Values|work=Scouting Magazine|date=March–April 2001}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://scoutingforall.org/eaglebadge.shtml|title= A Dramatic Protest By Some Eagle Scouts Dismayed That The Boy Scouts Bar Gays As Leaders, Some Members Return Their Prized Eagle Badges|work=Philadelphia Inquirer|date=2000-07-18|accessdate=2006-11-03|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20060629062034/http://scoutingforall.org/eaglebadge.shtml|archivedate=2006-06-29}}</ref> The [[Unitarian Universalist Association]]'s opposition to the BSA's membership exclusions led to a dispute between the organizations (see [[Unitarian Universalist Association#Boy Scouts of America controversy|Boy Scouts of America controversy]]). In 2001, the [[Union for Reform Judaism|Union for Reform Judaism's]] Commission on Social Action, citing a commitment to ending discrimination in all forms, issued a [[memorandum]] recommending that congregations stop hosting BSA troops and that parents withdraw their children from all of the Boy Scouts of America's programs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.urj.org/csa/boyscoutsmemo3/|work=Union for Reform Judaism|title=Memorandum: Boy Scouts of America|accessdate=2008-05-25}}</ref>{{dead link|date=May 2008}} Additionally, the General Synod of the United Church of Christ issued a statement urging the BSA to change policy and stated that, "Discrimination against anyone based on sexual orientation is contrary to our understanding of the teachings of Christ."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bsa-discrimination.org/html/ucc-03-res.html|work=BSA Discrimination.org|title=UCC Condemns BSA's Policies|accessdate=2008-05-25}}</ref> The [[Secular Coalition for America]] has urged Congress to revoke the [[Boy Scouts of America#Federal charter|federal charter]] of the BSA, stating: <blockquote> "Our government must not entangle itself in religious organizations; nor should it establish, with government ''imprimatur'', a private religious club."<ref>http://www.secular.org/issues/bsa/?view=summary{{Citation broken|date=December 2007}}</ref> </blockquote> ===Loss of support=== Some public entities and private institutions have ceased financial or other support the BSA, primarily as a result of conflicts between their nondiscrimination policies and the BSA's membership policies. About 50 of the 1300 local [[United Way of America|United Ways]], including those in [[Miami, Florida|Miami]], [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]], [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|Philadelphia]], [[San Francisco, California|San Francisco]], and [[Seattle, Washington|Seattle]], have withdrawn all funding.<ref name="impact">{{cite web|url=http://www.lambdalegal.org/cgi-bin/iowa/news/fact.html?record=1325|work=Lambda Legal|title=The Impact of the Boy Scouts of America’s Anti-Gay Discrimination|accessdate=2006-03-02|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20060626123129/http://www.lambdalegal.org/cgi-bin/iowa/news/fact.html?record=1325|archivedate=2006-06-26}} </ref> The BSA has also lost all funding from several large corporations that had been regular donors, such as [[Chase Manhattan Bank]], [[Levi Strauss]], [[Fleet Bank]], [[CVS/pharmacy]], and [[Pew Charitable Trusts]].<ref name="impact"/> For example, Pew Charitable Trusts, which had consistently supported the BSA for over fifty years, decided to cancel a $100,000 donation and cease future donations.<ref name="impact"/> A number of public entities (including the cities of [[Chicago, Illinois|Chicago]], [[San Diego, California|San Diego]], [[Tempe, Arizona|Tempe]], [[Buffalo Grove, Illinois|Buffalo Grove]], [[Berkeley, California|Berkeley]], and [[Santa Barbara, California|Santa Barbara]], as well as the states of [[California]], [[Illinois]], and [[Connecticut]]) have canceled charitable donations (of money or preferential land access) that had historically been granted to the Scouts.<ref name="impact"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://scoutingforall.org/aaic/040501.shtml|work=Scouting for All|title=The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors told the BSA They Couldn't Use Its Facility Free of Charge as Long as They Had a Discriminatory Policy|accessdate=2006-03-02|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20060626185857/http://scoutingforall.org/aaic/040501.shtml|archivedate=2006-06-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://scoutingforall.org/aaic/021103.shtml|work=Scouting for All|title=The Connecticut Human Rights Organization Affirmed Its Earlier Decision to Exclude the Boy Scouts from the State Employee Fund-raising Campaign|accessdate=2008-05-25|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20060626185643/http://scoutingforall.org/aaic/021103.shtml|archivedate=2006-06-26}}</ref> Eagle Scout filmmaker [[Steven Spielberg]] had been a long-time supporter of Scouting, depicting a young [[Indiana Jones]] as a Boy Scout in the 1989 film ''[[Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade]]'' and helping to create the [[Cinematography]] [[Merit badge (Boy Scouts of America)|merit badge]]. Spielberg resigned from the BSA Advisory Council in 2001, saying, "it has deeply saddened me to see the Boy Scouts of America actively and publicly participating in discrimination."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywood.com/news/Spielberg_resigns_from_Boy_Scouts_board/386418|work=Hollywood.com|title=Spielberg Resigns From Boy Scouts Board|accessdate=2008-05-25}}</ref> ===Efforts to change the membership policies=== [[Image:Scouting For All.png|right|125px|thumb|Scouting for All Logo|[[Scouting for All]] logo]] There have been numerous efforts (other than litigation) to change the BSA's membership policies regarding gays and atheists but all have failed. At the BSA annual national meeting of local council representatives in Boston in 2001, nine local councils submitted a resolution to give more discretion for membership standards to local councils and chartered organizations;<ref name="otm">{{cite web|url=http://www.mountainpridemedia.org/oitm/issues/2002/01jan2002/news08_vtscouts.htm|title=Vermont Scouts: Is There Change in the Wind?|date=2002-01-01|accessdate=2008-05-25|first=Juanita L.|last=Lerch|work=Out in the Mountains|publisher=Mountain Pride Media}}</ref> this resolution and two others also seeking to liberalize the homosexuality policy were considered by the BSA National Executive Board but the initiative failed in 2002.<ref name="mfc">{{cite web|last=Barnett|first=Robert|url=http://www.mfc.org/contents/article.cfm?id=542|title=Boy Scouts of America reaffirms position on homosexuality|publisher=Minnesota Family Council|accessdate=2008-05-25}}</ref> Some current and former Scouts and Scout leaders formed organizations that advocated the inclusion of gays and atheists. In 1991, William Boyce Mueller, a former Cub Scout and grandson of original Boy Scouts of America founder [[William D. Boyce|William Dickson Boyce]], helped start an advocacy group of gay former Scouts called the "Forgotten Scouts".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bsa-discrimination.org/html/boyce.html|title=Scout's Honor|work=Advocate Magazine|author=Jim Merrett|accessdate=2008-05-25}}</ref> The [[Coalition for Inclusive Scouting]] was another organization. Both of these organizations are apparently inactive now.<ref name="inclusive"> {{cite web|url=http://www.inclusivescouting.org/|work=Coalition For Inclusive Scouting|title=Official Site|accessdate=2008-05-25|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070416093708/http://www.inclusivescouting.org/|archivedate=2007-04-16}}</ref> [[Scouting for All]] seeks to promote [[tolerance]] and [[Multiculturalism|diversity]] within the BSA.<ref name="sallabout"> {{cite web|url=http://www.scoutingforall.org/data/home.html|work=Scouting for All|title=About Us|accessdate=2008-05-25|archiveurl=http://www.scoutingforall.org/data/home.html|archivedate=2006-08-15}}</ref> Scouter Dave Rice co-founded Scouting for All in 1993, initially for the purpose of changing the BSA policy on sexual orientation. In 1998, the Boy Scouts of America dismissed him after 59 years of membership for "involving Scouting youth" in his effort. Rice, who is not gay, stated that he obeyed all rules and guidelines and that he never misused his leadership status or promoted an agenda during troop meetings. He maintains that the Boy Scouts of America violated its own rules by summarily dismissing him without granting him a chance to present evidence to a regional review board as is required by the BSA's "Procedures for Maintaining Standards of Membership".<ref name="dave">{{cite web|url=http://www.scoutingforall.org/mediacenter/dave.shtml|work=Scouting for All|title=Dave Rice|accessdate=2008-05-25|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20060623181723/http://scoutingforall.org/mediacenter/dave.shtml|archivedate=2006-06-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/examiner/archive/1998/09/13/METRO16130.dtl|title=Scouts Expel Longtime Leader|author=Carol Ness|work=San Francisco Gate|date=1998-09-13}}</ref> ==Support for the Boy Scouts of America== The membership controversy and subsequent litigation, some of which has been in response to the 2000 ruling in BSA v. Dale, has prompted a number of expressions of support for the BSA organization, program, or policies. In 2002, the National Executive Board of Boy Scouts of America reiterated its support for the policies and affirmed that "the Boy Scouts of America shall continue to follow its traditional values and standards of leadership".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scouting.org/Media/PressReleases/2002/resolution.aspx|work=Boy Scouts of America|title=Boy Scouts of America Resolution|accessdate=2008-05-25}}</ref> ===Support from federal government=== The [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]] and the [[United States Senate|U.S. Senate]] have overwhelmingly passed resolutions in support of the Boy Scouts of America. In November 2004, the House passed a resolution, by a vote of 391 to 3, recognizing "the Boy Scouts of America for the public service the organization performs".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thomas.loc.gov/home/gpoxmlc108/hr853_ih.xml|thomas.loc.gov|work=Library of Congress|title=House Resolution 853: Recognizing The Boy Scouts Of America For The Public Service The Organization Performs For Neighborhoods And Communities Across The United States|accessdate=2008-05-25}}</ref> <!--H.RES.853 --> Then, in February 2005, the House passed a resolution by a vote of 418 to 7, stating that "the [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]] should continue to exercise its long-standing statutory authority to support the activities of the BSA, in particular the periodic national and [[World Scout Jamboree|world Scout jamboree]]s."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:h.con.res.00006:|work=Library of Congress|title=House Concurrent Resolution 6|accessdate=2008-05-25}}</ref> [[Image:Bush BSA Jamboree.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Bush Address BSA Jamboree|President Bush addresses the [[2005 National Scout Jamboree]] at Fort A.P. Hill in Virginia.]] The U.S. [[United States Congress|Congress]] has twice passed bills directly affecting the governmental resources access controversy. In 2001, the U.S. Congress passed the [[Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act]], which encouraged the BSA's access to educational facilities. In July 2005, the Senate voted 98 to 0 in favor of the [[Support Our Scouts Act]], enacted in December 2005, which encourages both governmental support of the Boy Scouts in general and federal support of the [[National Scout jamboree (Boy Scouts of America)|national Scout jamboree]]. Sen [[Bill Frist]], one of the sponsors of the Support Our Scouts Acts, spoke highly of the BSA, saying: :"This unique American institution is committed to preparing our youth for the future by instilling in them values such as honesty, integrity, and character." Of the Act, Frist explained: :"This legislation will allow the Boy Scouts to fulfill its mission without the distraction of defending itself against senseless attacks."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://alexander.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=100&Month=3&date=2005|title=Alexander, Frist Announce “Support Our Scouts Act Of 2005”|accessdate=2008-05-25}}</ref>{{dead link|date=May 2008}} President of the United States [[William Howard Taft]] began serving as the first Honorary President of the Boy Scouts of America in 1911; the tradition has been followed by each succeeding U.S. President to this day.<ref>{{cite web|date=2001|url=http://www.scouting.org/Media/AnnualReports/2001.aspx|title=2001 Report to the Nation|format=html|work=|publisher=Boy Scouts of America|accessdate=2008-05-25}}</ref> In July 2001, [[President of the United States|President]] [[George W. Bush]] addressed the National Scout Jamboree and, although he did not directly discuss the controversies, reiterated his support for the organization. At the Jamboree, Bush commended the Scouts for upholding "values that build strong families, strong communities, and strong character" and said that the Scouts' values "are the values of America."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewNation.asp?Page=%5CNation%5Carchive%5C200107%5CNAT20010731b.html|work= CNSNews.com|title=Bush Calls Scout Values 'America's Values'|accessdate=2008-05-25}}</ref> ===Support from others=== A wide range of individuals, commentators, and conservative groups have spoken out in support of the Boy Scouts of America. The BSA legal website provides a list of editorials written in support of the BSA.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bsalegal.org/what-others-are-saying-202.asp|work=BSALegal.org|title=What Others Are Saying|accessdate=2008-05-25}}</ref> A conservative [[civil libertarian]] group, the [[American Civil Rights Union]] (not to be confused with the ACLU), set up the [http://www.defendscouting.com/sldf/ Scouting Legal Defense Fund]{{dead link|date=May 2008}}, and routinely helped with lawsuits.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.defendscouting.com/sldf/|work=Scouting Legal Defense Fund|title=ACRU supports Scouting|accessdate=2006-02-01}}</ref>{{dead link|date=May 2008}} In a legal brief filed in support of the BSA, the American Civil Rights Union argued that "To label [the BSA's membership policies] discriminatory and exclusionary, and a civil rights violation, is an assault on the very freedom of American citizens to advance, promote, and teach traditional moral values."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bsalegal.org/downloads/bsa_pdfs/BWPDFS/Amicus_ACLU.pdf|title=Amicus Curie Brief in Barnes-Wallace v. Bsa|work=American Civil Rights Union|accessdate=2008-05-25}}</ref> In 2000, a group of current and former members of the BSA created the group Save Our Scouts in order "to support and defend the principles of the Scout Oath and Law".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.saveourscouts.com/about.html|title=About Save our Scouts|work=Save our Scouts|accessdate=2008-05-25}}</ref> Columnist/author [[Hans Zeiger]], an Eagle Scout, has founded the Scout Honor Coalition, a [[grassroots]] organization dedicated to supporting the policies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hanszeiger.net/id11.html|work=HansZeiger.net|title=Scout Honor Coalition|accessdate=2008-05-25}}</ref>{{dead link|date=May 2008}} According to Zeiger, "Scouts' honor is under attack in American culture". Zeiger applauds what he sees as the BSA's courage in resisting political pressure to admit gays, saying, "Regardless of what leads to homosexuality, it is a thing that has an agenda in our society and is very harmful to the traditional family and is causing a tremendous amount of harm to young men. The Boy Scouts are one of the few organizations that have the moral sense to stand against the homosexual agenda".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/culture/20050712-102159-7567r.htm|title=Defending the Scouts|work=The Washington Times|date=2005-07-13|accessdate=2006-11-03|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20061206181645/http://www.washingtontimes.com/culture/20050712-102159-7567r.htm|archivedate=2006-12-06}} </ref> An online petition, which had received over 375,000 electronic signatures, showed support for the Scouts from those who are "deeply troubled by the recent attacks which have come against the Boy Scouts simply because the Scouts have taken a stand for faith and moral values." The petition further asserted that, "As a private organization, the Boy Scouts has every right to set standards for leadership and morality."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://grassfire.net/scouts.asp|title=Help the Boy Scouts|work=Grassfire.net|accessdate=2006-07-08}}</ref> Following the Dale decision, a number of independent research organizations conducted surveys to determine American public opinion on the controversy. In these surveys, more respondents supported the BSA position than opposed it.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bsa-gwrc.org/council/index.html|title=Americans Support Boy Scout Values|accessdate=2007-09-02|publisher=Greater Western Reserve Council}}</ref> [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] (LDS Church), a longtime supporter of the Boy Scouts of America, teaches that homosexual activity is immoral and sinful.<ref>{{cite web|last=Hinckley|first=Gordon|date=2006|url=http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&sourceId=7c86605ff590c010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____ |title=What is the Church's Attitude Toward Homosexuality?|publisher=The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints|accessdate=2006-11-02}}</ref> The LDS Church is the largest single sponsor of Scouting units with over 30,000 units nationwide, which comprise about 13% of BSA's youth members.<ref name="amici"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bsa-discrimination.org/html/newsweek.html|publisher=BSA Discrimination|title=Scouts Divided|author=David France|work=Newsweek|date=2001-08-06|accessdate=2006-11-04}}</ref> The LDS Church has stated that it would withdraw from the Scouting program if it was ever compelled to accept openly homosexual Scout leaders.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mormonstoday.com/000430/N1GayScouts02.shtml|work=Mormon News|title=What Happens If Scouts Must Admit Gays?|accessdate=2008-05-25}}</ref><ref name="amici"/> ==Related issues== These are additional membership controversies. ===Scouting membership in the United States=== {{see also|Wrenn v. Boy Scouts of America}} The Boy Scouts of America is by far the largest source of [[Scouting]] to boys in the United States of America. The BSA is the only Scouting association available for boys to join throughout most of the country. The situation is different in some countries where there are a number of Scouting associations. After the founding of the Boy Scouts of America in 1910 and having received the endorsement of Baden-Powell, the BSA began an active campaign to absorb all other Scout-type youth organizations in the United States.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.troop97.net/bsahist1.htm |title=A Brief Background of Scouting in the United States 1910 to Today |accessdate=2007-09-03 |last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=Troop 97 BSA |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= }}</ref> As a result, almost all competitors had ceased to exist within a few years. The BSA has litigated to protect what it sees as its right to Scouting in the United States. After receiving a federal charter in 1916, the BSA [[sued]] an early competitor, the [[American Boy Scouts|United States Boy Scouts]] (USBS), in 1917 and were subsequently granted an injunction that barred the USBS from using the terms "Boy Scout", "Scout", "Scouting", or any variation thereof.<ref>{{Citation |url=http://www.boyscoutstuff.com/Galleries/Other/other.html |publisher=Boy Scout Stuff |title=A virtual Boy Scout museum &mdash; 1910-1919 |accessdate=22207-10-09}}</ref> By 1930, the BSA claimed to have stopped 435 groups from unauthorized use of "Scouting" or similar words as part of an organizational name or for commercial products.<ref name ="Rowan">{{cite book | last =Rowan | first =Edward L | authorlink = | coauthors = | year =2005 | title =To Do My Best: James E. West and the History of the Boy Scouts of America | publisher =Las Vegas International Scouting Museum | location = | id =ISBN 0-9746479-1-8 }}</ref> Currently, the BSA actively protects its registered [[trademarks]] of words like "Scouting" and its claimed right to the word "Scout" (by association) through legal means.<ref>{{cite web | author = | year = 2007 | url = http://ttabvue.uspto.gov/ttabvue/v?pnam=Boy%20Scouts%20of%20America%20%20} | title = Trademark Trial and Appeal Board Inquiry System | format = | work = | publisher = U.S. Patent and Trademark Office | accessdate = 2007-03-06}}</ref> ===BSA membership size=== BSA records show that the number of Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts has dropped in recent years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://scoutingforall.org/articles/2005032401.shtml|title=Boy Scouts of America Membership Declines|accessdate=2008-05-25|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20060629065002/http://scoutingforall.org/articles/2005032401.shtml|archivedate=2006-06-29}}</ref><ref name="parents">{{cite web|url=http://www.bsa-discrimination.org/html/bsa-membership.html|work=BSA Discrimination.org|title=BSA Lose Parents|accessdate=2006-03-02}}</ref> It is unclear why membership has dropped and whether the membership policy controversy has had an effect on membership levels. [[Scouts Canada]], which has less restrictive membership policies, has also experienced [[Scouts Canada#Issues|a substantial membership decline]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://scouteh.ca/resources/ScoutEh-membership.php|title=Stemming Membership Decline|work=Scout eh!|accessdate=2008-05-25}}</ref> During the same time period, membership increased in other youth organizations, such as the Girl Scouts of the USA and the BSA's Learning for Life program.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bsa-discrimination.org/html/globe-010808.html|work=BSA Discrimination.org|title=Saying No to Bias in BSA, or Not?|accessdate=2008-05-25}}</ref> Both the [[US Census Bureau]] and the [[US Department of Education]] recorded an increase in total available youth during this time frame.<ref name="parents"/> Some local councils have reported membership size numbers in excess of their actual number of members.<ref name="ghost">{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A45573-2005Jan28.html|work=Washington Post|title=Boy Scouts Suspected of Inflating Rolls|accessdate=2006-03-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.11alive.com/news/printarticle.aspx?storyid=64159|work=WXIA 11Alive.com|title=Whistleblower Faults Scouts' Audit|accessdate=2006-03-02}}</ref>{{dead link|date=May 2008}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8109268/|work=MSNBC|title=Number of Black Atlanta Boy Scouts in Dispute|accessdate=2006-03-02}}</ref> "Volunteers say paid Scout leaders have created fictitious 'ghost units' for years to pump up membership numbers to trick donor groups and charities, including the United Way, into giving them more money."<ref name="ghost"/> To help ensure that membership numbers are reported correctly, the BSA adopted new membership validation procedures for use beginning in 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://old.scouting.org/commissioners/newsletter/1-06.pdf|work=The Commissioner|title=New Membership Validation Process|accessdate=2006-07-09}}</ref> ===Historical membership controversies=== {{further|[[History of the Boy Scouts of America]]}} There have been membership controversies in the past that have been resolved such as the exclusion of women from leadership positions, those related to the break up of Exploring, and those resulting from racial segregation. ==See also== {{portal|Scouting|Scout logo2.svg}} *[[Religion in Scouting]] *[[Religious emblems programs (Boy Scouts of America)]] *[[Scouting controversy and conflict]] *[[Scouting in the United States]] *[[Youth Protection Program]] ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== ;Sites supportive of the Boy Scouts of America's policies * [http://www.bsalegal.org/ Boy Scouts of America's official legal site] * [http://www.eaglescoutrally.org/ Eagle Scout Rally for Tradition Foundation] * [http://www.defendscouting.com/sldf/ Scouting Legal Defense Fund]{{dead link|date=May 2008}} * [http://www.saveourscouts.com/ Save Our Scouts] ;Sites critical of the Boy Scouts of America's policies * [http://www.scoutingforall.org/ Scouting for All] * [http://www.bsa-discrimination.org/ Discrimination in the Boy Scouts of America] * [http://www.religioustolerance.org/bsa.htm Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance's web page on the BSA] ;Other sites * [http://www.scouting.org/Media/LOS.aspx Definitions of Scouting terminology] {{Featured article}} {{scouting|us}} [[Category:Criticism of atheism]] [[Category:Controversies]] [[Category:Contentious issues about the Boy Scouts of America|Contentious issues about the Boy Scouts of America]] [[Category:Sexual orientation and society]] [[Category:Homophobia]]