ouse lawmakers have introduced legislation that would authorize Congress to repeal its 84-year old honorary charter for the Boy Scouts of America because of the BSA's discriminatory policies. The measure, H.R. 4892, was introduced by Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-Calif), and cited the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision which declared that the Scouting organization was an "expressive association" and could discriminate on the basis of sexuality when hiring troop leaders.

   "We're not saying they're bad," Woolsey declared. "We're saying intolerance is bad, and I don't see any reason why the federal government should be supporting it."

   The Scouts require that all members be "morally straights" and swear an oath of belief in a deity. Gays and atheists have protested the discriminatory policies of the BSA for years; the June 28 court decision in BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA v. DALE, however, establishes strong legal grounds that the BSA is not subject to civil rights and anti-discrimination statutes. Since the ruling, pressure has mounted for state and local governments to sever their ties with the BSA, and for President Clinton to resign his post as honorary chairman of the Scouting organization.

   The Congressional Charter was presented to the Boy Scouts of America in 1916, six years after its founding. Approximately 90 other groups also have Charters, which are given in recognition of patriotic, charitable and educational work. The status does not include any public funding, but Rep. Woolsey said that it "gives the impression that an organization has a congressional seal of approval."

   Woolsey is a former member of the Girl Scouts, and her son is a former Boy Scout. Her district constituency includes Steven Cozza, a 15-year-old Eagle Scout from Petaluma, California who founded the group "Scouting For All" which advocates the elimination of BSA discrimination.

   On July 13, Woolsey and other Members of Congress sent a letter to President Clinton urging him to resign as honorary head of the Boy Scouts of America.

   "In order to disavow this policy of intolerance, as well as clarify any misconception of Presidential approval," the letter stated, "we urge you, the leader of our nation, to resign as the honorary head of the BSA."

   In addition to Ms. Woolsey, Representatives Bob Filner (D-Calif.) Cynthia McKinney (D-Ga.), Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), George Miller (D-Calif.), Barney Frank (D-Mass.), Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), John Oliver (D-Mass.), Janice Schakowsky (D-Ill.) and Jerold Nadler (D-N.Y.) signed the letter.

   "Private groups have the right to choose their membership and leaders," said Woolsey, "but the federal government should not support intolerance."

   In other developments related to the Boy Scouts of America case:

   ¶    Chapters of the United Way, a national group which coordinated planned giving and disburses grants, are ending their contributions to the BSA. The Providence, R.I. United Way chapter announced earlier this week that it was giving all recipients five months to reverse any membership or hiring policies which "discriminate for any reason, including sexual orientation." According to the Providence Journal-Bulletin newspaper, the charity mailed letters to 65 organizations including the Boy Scouts which receive approximately $7.3 million in annual funding.

   The paper also reports that the Narragansett, N.J. Council of the BSA has reversed its discriminatory policy, which led to the firing of Eagle Scout and assistant scoutmaster James Dale back in 1990. Dale was forced from his position after a local media report identified him as the head of a college gay rights group. Dale filed suit after being dismissed from the BSA, and the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that the scouts violated the state's LAD statutes ("Law Against Discrimination.") The U.S. Supreme Court, though, reversed that ruling in last month's decision.

   "The Narragansett Council has since joined a Minnesota council by passing a resolution urging the national parent organization to reconsider the ban," the paper said. "Officials from the Narragansett Council say the parent group is still reviewing its policy..."

   Nationally, United Way channels over $83 million a year to various BSA troops and councils. Chapters of the UW in San Francisco, Santa Clara and Santa, Calif.; New Haven, CT.; Somerset County, N.J.; Santa Fe, N.M.; and Portland, Me. all have anti-discrimination by laws in their respective charters which prohibit funding of groups which discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation.

   ¶    More evidence of a "backlash" against the BSA is coming from reports that Eagle Scouts are returning their badges to the BSA headquarters in Texas to protest the organization's discriminatory policies The Philadelphia Inquirer reported on Tuesday that "several hundred" Eagle Scouts have returned badges and other gear, and written letters of protest as well. The move is being denounced by the Washington, D.C.-based Family Research Council, though, the same group leading the "Hang Ten" campaign to display copies of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms and government buildings. Rob Regier, a policy analyst for FRC told reporters, "I think it's sad that they would do this. They're brought into the false notion that this is a new civil rights movement."

   ¶    Thus far, most of the attention and news coverage about the BSA imbroglio is focusing on the fact that the Boy Scouts discriminate against gays, thanks to the requirement that members be "morally straight." Atheists are also targets of this discrimination, though, since prospective members must swear an oath of allegiance to a deity.

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