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Gay Ban Gets
Scouts Barred
From Syracuse
U.
by 365Gay.com
from the Web, May 18, 2005
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Syracuse, NY -- Syracuse
University has banned a Boy Scouts of America activity from campus because of
the organization's prohibition of openly gay Scout leaders.
University trustees informed Alpha Phi Omega fraternity that it no longer would
be able use campus buildings to conduct its annual Merit Badge Day, when
fraternity members coach Boy Scouts in a variety of topics to earn merit badges.
The school says the Boy Scout's gay ban is a violation of the school's
non-discrimination rule. The youth organization believes they're being
targeted.
"Syracuse University is the recipient of millions of tax dollars and those tax
dollars are from all kinds of people, from all kinds of sexual orientations and
religious beliefs. If you take taxpayers money you have an obligation to
serve all the people," said Ray Sander, Onondaga Seaway Council of the Boy
Scouts of America.
Sander said the Scouts are now looking for another location to hold the event.
Four years ago, former Chancellor Kenneth Shaw told the Onondaga-Seaway Council
of the Boy Scouts it could no longer use the Carrier Dome for its Boy Power
Dinner after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the Boy Scouts' right to reject gay
leaders.
In 2000 the court ruled that the Constitution gave the scouts, as a private
organization, the right to choose its members. The Scouts also prohibits
atheists.
Civil liberties groups have challenged the scouts' access to government
facilities because of the ban and its requirement to swear an oath of duty to
God.
The Pentagon last year settled one lawsuit by telling U.S. military bases around
the world not to become direct sponsors of Boy Scout troops or Cub Scout dens.
Dozens of cities and school boards have also barred the scouts from using public
facilities.
But, a bill before Congress could prevent that from occurring in the future.
Senate Majority leader Bill Frist introduced legislation in March that would
make it illegal to bar the Boy Scouts from using public facilities.
Meanwhile an FBI investigation is continuing into allegations that the Boy
Scouts of America is inflating its membership to gain funding.
The number of scouts has dwindled since it became embroiled in the dispute over
gay scouts.
Membership in the BSA has declined since the Supreme Court ruling. But, in
cities where agencies like the United Way continue to fund the BSA it is alleged
that troops are being encouraged to list fake names as members to boost
enrolment making the group eligible for more money.
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