Humanists Applaud Court Raising the Bar for Scouts
October 16, 2006
For Immediate Release
Contact: Roy Speckhardt, (202) 238-9088
rspeckhardt@americanhumanist.org
- www.americanhumanist.org
(Washington, DC, October 16, 2006) Today the Supreme Court affirmed the
California Supreme Court's unanimous decision that a Boy Scouts of America
branch may be treated differently from other nonprofits due to the BSA's
exclusionary policies. As a result, the Berkeley Sea Scouts will no longer
receive free use of a public boat slip due to the group's policy of denying
membership to atheists and gays.
"Public tax dollars and free services should not be extended to groups that
discriminate on religious grounds," commented Roy Speckhardt, executive
director of the American Humanist Association. "People are entitled to their
own beliefs - religious or otherwise - but they are not entitled to public
funds to support the discriminatory practices of those beliefs. I am pleased
that the Supreme Court deferred to the California High Court's sound
decision."
The case (Evans v. City of Berkeley) was first brought before the courts
after Berkeley city officials told the Sea Scouts that they must pay for a
berth at the marina. In order to retain their berthing subsidy they were
told they must break ties with the Boy Scouts or disavow the policy against
atheists and gays. The Sea Scouts refused, claiming that such a provision
violated their free speech rights.
"This is not an issue of free speech," declared Mel Lipman, president of the
AHA. "The Sea Scouts are perfectly free to say what they wish, but the city
of Berkeley may withhold funds from groups that discriminate on religious
grounds. Just as the state may deny financial support to organizations that
discriminate on the basis of race or gender, so may they deny support to
those groups that favor one religion over others or religion in general over
no religion."
"The Boy Scouts of America is sending the wrong message to today's youth,"
concluded Speckhardt. "To exclude atheists, Humanists, and other nontheists,
and to bar gays, is to discriminate solely on the basis of religion and
sexual orientation rather than considering a person's character and good
works. Now is the time for the Boy Scouts to end this outmoded and hurtful
practice of exclusion."
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2000 that the Boy Scouts have the right to
ban openly homosexual scout leaders.
