Letter: Why no public outcry against the Boy Scouts?

Friday, April 6, 2001 | 4:51 a.m.

The Boy Scouts is admittedly a discriminating organization that will not accept gays or nontheists (atheists or agnostics). Unfortunately, many of our governmental agencies are currently supporting and endorsing the Boy Scouts despite their discriminatory practices.

The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld the right of the Boy Scouts to practice discrimination because they are a private, rather than a public, organization. Public funds and facilities should not be used to support private, discriminatory organizations. If brochures inviting membership in the Ku Klux Klan were distributed in schools or by the police there would surely be a public outcry. Why is there no such outcry regarding the Scouts? Endorsement of the Boy Scouts by schools, police and other taxpayer-funded entities is a flagrant misuse of public funds.

My tax payments should not be used to support an organization that will not accept my children because of their religion or sexual orientation.

MEL LIPMAN

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