Save Our Scouts, Part 2

I found out that the Office of Civil Rights at the United States Department of Education has authority to resolve complaints filed under the Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act.

In any case, here is another letter:

Secretary Margaret Spellings
United States Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202

Dear Secretary Spellings:

The City of Philadelphia is moving to evict the Boy Scouts of America from their headquarters at 22nd and Winter Streets. This is in direct response to the national scouting organizations policy of barring avowed homosexuals from serving as leaders. The Scouts were vindicated in their right to set membership standards by the Supreme Court’s Dale decision.

Currently two acts, the Support Our Scouts Act and Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act, have been enacted that protect the rights of the Boy Scouts. This move by the city to force the Scouts to pay market rates on a building they have held for 80 years is clearly retaliation for standing up for their principals (i.e. viewpoint discrimination). Additionally, the local council has been hamstrung by the national office in their efforts to appease the city. In the end, the people who lose are the children.

There is no reason to evict the Scouts except to make a political point. Since the city is clearly violating one or both of the two acts noted above, what are you going to do to enforce the statutes? I hope to see some action by the U.S. Department of Education
in support of Scouting.

Sincerely,



Bruce G. Andersen

cc: Senator Specter
Senator Casey
Mayor Street

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Senator Arlen Specter Philadelphia Office 600 Arch Street, Suite 9400 Philadelphia, PA 19106

Senator Bob Casey Harrisburg Office 555 Walnut Street, First Floor Harrisburg, PA 17101

Mayor John F. Street Room 215 City Hall Philadelphia, PA 19107