HRC Publishes Boy Scouts Ad
“While the proposed change is a step in the right direction, we can’t pretend that passing the buck to the local level will eliminate anti-gay discrimination because it won't," said HRC communications vice president Fred Sainz. “Generations of gay Americans have been told they’re not good enough to join the Scouts, simply because of who they are. BSA has an opportunity to change that this week by adopting a non-discrimination policy. Scouting, which has played an important role in American society, will be strengthened by that action."
The ad, which will appear in the print edition of the newspaper Monday morning, encourages readers to call on the BSA board to enact a nationwide anti-discrimination policy. Currently the organization’s official policy is to "not grant membership to individuals who are open or avowed homosexuals" as Scouts or adult Scout Leaders.
On Friday, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation announced more stringent criterion for its Corporate Equality Index. To receive a perfect score in the future, companies would have to prohibit philanthropic giving to non-religious organizations that have a written policy of anti-gay discrimination, or permit its chapters, affiliates, or troops to do so.
Labels: advertising, Boy Scouts, HRC, Texas
