n the wake of the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision permitting the Boy Scouts of America to ban gays and others from leadership positions, American Atheists yesterday called upon President Clinton to resign his post as honorary chairman of the BSA. A letter sent to Mr. Clinton by AA President Ellen Johnson urged him to "consider your status as honorary president of the Boy Scouts of America, as well as the special relationship between the federal government and the BSA."

    "It is morally and constitutionally improper for the nation's highest elected official to use the authority of this Office to support a group which discriminates against millions of Americans simply because they have a particular sexual orientation, or are honest about religious speculations," Johnson said.

    She called for an end to federal subsidies and endorsements of the BSA.

   "We can start by asking Mr. Clinton to resign as honorary chair of the Scouts in light of their discriminatory policies, as well as programs which subsidize and encourage BSA activities." She cited the use of a U.S. Army base which is reportedly "leased" to the Scouts for $1 per year, and serves as the location of their National Jamboree.

   Every President since William Howard Taft (1857-1930) has served as the BSA honorary head.

    On June 28, the Supreme Court ruled in BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA v. DALE that the BSA enjoyed the rights of an "expressive association," and could discriminate against homosexuals when choosing scoutmasters. Chief Justice William H. Rhenquist, in his opinion for the majority, said that requiring the group to accept gays as leaders "would significantly burden the organization's right to oppose or disfavor homosexual conduct."

    The ruling reversed a decision made by the N.J. State Supreme Court, which said that the exclusionary policy violated the Law Against Discrimination (LAD). This ruling treated the BSA as a "public accommodation" rather than a private club beyond the reach of civil rights statutes. In its 5-4 decision, the high court concurred.

    The Scouting organization has come under attack not only for its exclusion of homosexuals, but its requirement that prospective members also swear an oath of belief in a deity. Atheists have challenged the policy, but these complaints, too, have revolved around whether the BSA is a private group or a public accommodation.

   The Supreme Court decision in BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA v. DALE examined only the group's discriminatory practices in selecting scout leaders. Its exact impact on the wider policy of excluding gays or atheists from general membership is not known, but the ruling is likely to support those who argue in favor of the current vetting.

    Announcing the campaign to encourage Mr. Clinton to resign as BSA head, American Atheists National Spokesperson Ron Barrier declared, "It's about time that the BSA acted honestly about this issue."

    "They can't continue to hide behind the mantle of being a private organization, and then ask for the sponsorship of fire departments, police departments or other publicly funded entities, or demand special access to the public schools in order to recruit." He cited the case of Portland, Oregon atheist Nancy Powell, a mother who has been protesting local school policies which permit the Boy Scouts to enter classrooms during the school day in order to recruit.

    "As long as the BSA continues to discriminate against gays, atheists or anyone else, they don't deserve special support or any of our tax money."

    Barrier added, "We call upon President Clinton to be president of ALL Americans, and sever federal support for scouting."

    In addition to a letter-writing campaign directed at the White House, Johnson urged supporters to publicize the issue of Boy Scout discrimination, and demand that their state and local governments also sever ties. "No level of government has any business supporting an organization -- especially one that claims to be 'private' -- and which discriminates against youngsters simply on the basis of their sexuality or religion, or the lack of it."

    The current campaign renews a call Johnson made in August, 1999` while a guest on the ABC news program "Politically Incorrect." She urged co-panelist Tony Rodham, brother in law of Mr. Clinton, to "pass the word" in hopes of persuading the Boy Scouts to end their bigoted and discriminatory practices.

   To participate in the on-line campaign urging Mr. Clinton to resign as honorary chair of the Boy Scouts of America, visit http://www.atheists.org/action/

[text only]