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"Morally Straight" Phrase in Boy Scout Pledge has the ACLU Up in Arms
By WebToday midwest bureau staff writers
CHICAGO, September 1, 2000 (WebToday)-- Not everyone is in agreement with the pledge Boy Scouts are required to memorize, recite and adhere to. Of particular debate is the part of the pledge requiring the Scouts to remain "morally straight."
The U.S. Department of the Interior is reportedly working to see if they can bar Boy Scouts from camping in federal parks due to their alleged discrimintory practrices.
Commenting on the proposed ban, ACLU Media Spokesman Ed Yohnka told WebToday, "There are federal laws on the Boy Scout matter that mandate that the Federal Government not support activities that engage in discriminatory behavior. The Boy Scouts of America in the Dale case before the Supreme Court argued that one of the reasons they exist is to exclude gay persons. It raises significant questions for governmental bodies."
The Massachusetts chapter of the ACLU echoed their national office's stand. During an interview with WebToday John Roberts, Executive Director for the ACLU of Massachusetts, said, "I think that the Boy Scouts hold themselves out as an organization that anyone can belong to that the Federal Government has standards they need to apply regarding discrimination. They should apply that (standard ) to the Boy Scouts to prevent them from camping on federal property."
In the mid 1990s the ACLU of Illinois succeeded in getting the City of Chicago to drop their support and charter of Boy Scouts in Chicago due to the Scouts' not adhering to Chicago's Human Rights Ordinance that forbids the exclusion of homosexuals from any activity afforded to non homosexuals.
The White House is now investigating whether the Boy Scouts should have their charter revoked.
In conjunction with The Department of the Interior, the Clinton administration has targeted the Scouts for giving "special legal protections to homosexuals."
It has been revealed from an internal memo from the Interior Department's Bureau of Reclamation, that the Feds are asking for a probe of an upcoming Boy Scout Jamboree, scheduled to be conducted at Fort A.P. Hill in Bowling Green, Virginia.
In the memo it asks for information on whether or not the Boy Scouts receive direct or indirect monetary assistance from the federal government. It so, the Scouts can be banned from a myriad of activities including no more camping on federal land.
Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey says the Scout's charter, which has been in effect since 1916, should be revoked because "A policy of excluding homosexuals is contradictory to the Federal Government's support for diversity and tolerance and should not be condoned as patriotic, charitable, or educational."
WebToday discussed the matter with White House Assistant Press Secretary Mark Kitchens, who said, "I'll get back with you on this." WebToday will post an update with his quote if and when he gets back with us.
CONTACTS: ACLU Media Spokesman Ed Yohnka in the ACLU national headquarters: 312-201-9740 or John Roberts, Executive Director for the ACLU of Massachusetts: 617-482-3170. White House Director of Internet News, Mark Kitchens 202-456-5694.
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