The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that the local chapter of the Boy Scouts will have to pay $200,000 in rent if they wish to keep their headquarters in a city-owned building. The Scouts previously had to pay just $1–the increase reflects the market value of the property. The local Boy Scouts chapter will now either have to vacate its old headquarters or take the $200,000 from its program budget, which fund a summer camp and 39 individual Scout packs.
City officials rightfully claim that they cannot use tax payer money to subsidize an organization that discriminates against gays. The Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the the group’s discriminatory policies in Boy Scouts of America v. Dale by referring to the First Amendment right of the freedom of association. I support the decision and the right of private groups to determine their own membership. But this does not mean these private organizations also have the right to receive government funding.
It’s unfortunate to see that kids are the ones who are going to suffer the most from the Boy Scout’s discriminatory policies in this instance. But I think actions such as those taken by the City of Philadelphia are the best way to eradicate discrimination. Once organizations see how costly it is to discriminate, they will be forced to reevaluate their policies to see if they are truly worth it.
Profit, not high minded notions of equality, is the primary reason why the private sector is so much more progressive with regard to gay equality than the government is. I’d like to see more local governments challenge the Boy Scout’s policy by rightfully denying them tax-payer’s money.
I’m sorry Elizabeth but I can honestly not see how a city that does not allow gay marriages feels it is OK to take away government funding because the Philadelphia Council won’t break ranks from the BSA in regards to their membership policy. Once the city and state leaders fully accept the gay community then it would be a fair trade off but as there is no fair trade off just a group that does plenty of good in the community getting evicted I can only see this as the city deems the land is valuable to them in a monetary sense. This has nothing to do with gay rights, if it did they would clear up there own issues with gay rights before jumping down on others.
You want to know what I see happening from this move? I see that the council will have to shut down some of its inner city troops and cub packs meaning instead of a worthwhile activity for these kids to partake in they will now be out on the streets more then likely upping our already ridiculous crime rates.