City (San Diego, CA) settles Boy Scouts lease suit

[PatGund]

http://signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20040109-9999-7m9scouts.html

(Quote)

"The city of San Diego has agreed to cancel its lease in Balboa Park with the Boy Scouts, hoping to end the city's role in a 3½ -year legal battle with the American Civil Liberties Union.

The Boy Scouts, however, vowed to continue fighting for its 18-acre headquarters even without city support, because it believes its constitutional liberties are at stake. Last month, the group received a letter of support from the U.S. Justice Department, stating the group's predicament raised "substantial concerns" that the group's rights were being violated."

Somehow, why am I *NOT* surprised that Ashcroft's Justice Department would be on the side of the BSA on this?? The Boy Scouts want to discriminate and claim to be a "Private Religious Organization", fine. Then they should expect to lose many of the benefits they had before the Religious Right took them over.

As a former scout myself, I'm happy to see the city of San Diego settle this - and disgusted that the organization I loved as a boy has become so close-minded and bigoted.

[David__77]

1. Yeah right... they're "discriminated" against...

BSA is free to continue its discriminatory practices, but the City of San Diego is not allowed to subsideze it--that's an infringement on people's rights.

[colgate]

2. They want to have it both ways

The BSA wants to be considered a "private organization" for the purpose of excluding people from membership, but says it's a "public" organization for the purpose of getting a favorable lease from the city. Can't have it both ways. Now that they won on the basis of somehow being "private", let them get hoisted on their own petard by another court. Delicious!:evilgrin: