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AFA ActivismAction Alert - May 22, 2001Defend The Boy Scouts of AmericaSen. Jesse Helms introduced an amendment to the education bill Monday that would require schools receiving federal money to allow the Boy Scouts to use their facilities.
An amendment to the Education Bill to protect the Boy Scouts will be voted on in both the House (the Hilleary Amendment) and Senate (the Helms Amendment) within the next couple of days. These amendments would put federal education funding in jeopardy to those school districts which allow their facilities to be used by charitable organizations but discriminate against the Boy Scouts. Sen. Jesse Helms introduced an amendment to the education bill Monday that would require schools receiving federal money to allow the Boy Scouts to use their facilities. The amendment also directs the Congressional Research Service to determine how many school districts have taken “hostile action” against the Boy Scouts because of their policy excluding homosexuals. “These very same meeting places at school remain open to over 800 Gay-Straight Student Alliance clubs,” Helms said. Under the Helms amendment, schools that deny equal access to the Boy Scouts despite the warnings would lose federal funds. Helms added, “The arrogant, discriminatory treatment of Boy Scouts of America must not be allowed to continue.” One year ago, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the Boy Scouts' constitutional right, as a private organization, to set its own membership rules. The ruling outraged homosexual rights advocates, who wanted the court to force the Boy Scouts to accept homosexuals as members and leaders. The organization steadfastly refuses to do so, saying that homosexuality goes against the grain of the oath that all Scouts must take: "On my honor, I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country, and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight." According to a Scouts spokesman, all they want is to be treated like everyone else. Boy Scouts spokesman Greg Shields says his organization does not want special treatment. "The question of access is a concern," Shields says. "I think our position is we just ask to be treated like everybody else." Shields says the Boy Scouts recently won a court case in Broward County, Florida, defending their right to access public school facilities. "The federal court found in our favor and said that if a school board allows a private organization access to school grounds, the Boy Scouts have to be treated the same way. The law is on our side," he says. ACTION NEEDEDAn amendment to the Education Bill to protect the Boy Scouts will be offered in both the House (the Hilleary Amendment) and Senate (the Helms Amendment) within the next couple of days.Please contact your member of Congress and politely, but firmly, share your convictions. AFA supports the Hilleary Amendment in defense of the Boy Scouts of America to the Education Bill. AFA also encourages you to contact your Senators with the same urgent message. AFA supports Sen. Helms amendment in defense of the Boy Scouts of America to the Education Bill. The Capitol Switchboard number is (202) 224-3121.
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