Boy Scout council 'devastated' by United Way cuts -program for inner-city children lost

philly.com ^

[chance33_98]

Boy Scout council 'devastated' by United Way cuts

The board chairman of the local group said a program for inner-city children would be lost.

By Linda K. Harris Inquirer Staff Writer

The board chairman of a regional Boy Scouts council said yesterday that the group was distraught over the loss of funding from the United Way.

On Thursday, the United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania voted to cancel the second half of a $400,862 grant for the Cradle of Liberty Council because the council reneged on its adoption of a nondiscrimination policy against gays. United Way also cut the second half of a $17,901 grant to the Boy Scouts' Chester County Council, also because of discrimination against gays.

"We're absolutely devastated by this," said David H. Lipson Jr., Cradle of Liberty's board chairman. "We met with United Way. We told them clearly that we're trying to bring about change. It's evolutionary rather than revolutionary."

The United Way had been working with Cradle of Liberty representatives for two years on the issue of discrimination against gays. The United Way has a policy of nondiscrimination based on sexual orientation and does not provide funds to organizations that discriminate.

The Boy Scouts of America won a U.S. Supreme Court decision in 2000 that upheld the group's decision to fire an openly gay scout leader.

Since that time, the United Way has targeted its Boy Scouts grant money exclusively for the scouts' Learning for Life Program, which was organized in the schools. Anyone could participate.

In its public statement released after the announcement of the funding cut, the United Way said it had "determined that there was not sufficient organizational separation between the Learning for Life program and the overall Boy Scouts organization."

Lipson, however, mourned the loss of the program for inner-city children.

"It's character-building training for kids, how to be a better citizen," Lipson said. "I don't know how we're going to do this. The program cost $600,000 a year, and United Way gave us $400,000."

Jennifer Hathaway, spokeswoman for United Way, said yesterday that the response to the agency's move had been low-key, partially because United Way president Christine James-Brown had spoken to many people in the community before the decision was made.

"The corporations locally said this was aligned with our policies of nondiscrimination," Hathaway said.

The Cradle of Liberty Council voted unanimously in May to adopt an antidiscrimination policy regarding sexual orientation. The move was directly related to negotiations with United Way and was an attempt to bring the local council into compliance with United Way's nondiscrimination policies.

But when the national Boy Scouts of America organization learned of the local council's decision, it immediately threatened to revoke the Cradle of Liberty Council's charter and to replace the board.

The local council succumbed to the pressure and ousted a South Philadelphia Life Scout, Gregory Lattera, who announced he was gay.

"The irony is that we are a council that is working to bring about change in the Boy Scouts," Lipson said. "It can't be done in a day. We've learned that."

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[AdamSelene235]

Did they offer to restore funding in exchange for an anal sex merit badge?

[demkicker]

OKAY FREEPERS, DON'T YOU THINK IT'S ABOUT TIME WE HAVE A FREEPER FUNDRAISER FOR THE BOY SCOUTS ON THIS SITE? LET'S DO IT!

[templar]

The United Way has a great deal of power. Way too much power, IMO. That's why I quit giving to them about 20 or so years ago. I usually try to persuade others to do the same, but Hey! ... give where you feel your hearts' intentions are best fulfilled.

[JOE6PAK]

Lets have a FREEPER FUNDRAISER FOR THE GAY SCOUTS to leave the planet.

[chance33_98]

I'm with you on that!

[Conservababe]

The United Way, once again, shows it's true colors.

I quit giving to this extortion organized charity in the late sixties.

Yes, management would call us in, after pledging our pay to the UW, and then tell us we would have to sign over a percentage of wages to them. It was not voluntary, as our raise review reflected our contributions.

But, even though they have gone underground and built a new fundraising image, there are still mouses in the workplace that still fall for their agenda and extortion fundraising methods.

[AD from SpringBay]

Up the United Way and their homosexual tyrany funding practices. Give to your local Boy Scouts.

[Arpege92]

Nothing like breaking the hearts of little boys in the name of Political Correctness! "United Way" needs a new name...how's about "Divided Way" or "Our way or the highway"!!!!

[nmh]

I suppose it's better to have boys sexually molested by adults on the prowl for innocence.

[I still care]

I hope that, instead of apologizing, the scouts put all over the airwaves advertisements how United way pulled all their support for inner city children because of the gay lobby.

Don't back down, don't apologize.

It should be United Way that should be nervous for their income for what they have done.

Give them hell. If I was a donator to UW, and I heard that on the radio, I would pull my donation in a minute.

[nmh]

Could someone find out the address for this BSA in financial distress so people could send them some money. They must be feeling rather demoralized with discrimination against homo perversion.

[I_Love_My_Husband]

ping

[Lancey Howard]

I have absolutely no respect for anybody who gives so much as one dime to those scumbags at United Way. And the "I-have-to-contribute-or-my-company-will-get-mad" cowards are the worst of all.

[Rightwing Conspiratr1]

So is the United Way going to return the donations to those who thought that money was going to the Boy Scouts? Hmmm

[Kuksool]

The United Way "earns" its revenue by being the Middle Men for various charities. Other than that, the organization is totally useless. Our charity donations are better served if we give directly to the charities, instead of the United Way. In this case, screw the United Way, and support the Scouts.

[GOPJ]

Let's start a conservative version of "United Way" and give our tax free gifts to organizations backing conservative causes. Why beg them to work with us?

[GOPJ]

Let's start a conservative version of "United Way" and give our tax free gifts to organizations backing conservative causes. Why beg them to work with us?

[I got the rope]

Count me in.

[ScrtAccess]

Okay, let me see if I have this straight....

The BSA used a particular argument in court to say they are a private organization and can exclude those they don't believe fit thier values. They won.

Now, they want to use property and funds that those groups they exluded help pay for, and now because doors are closing thats a problem?

Not long ago someone on Free Republic said choices have consequences, or at least they used to. Seems to me those choices still have consequences. I'm only sorry that it is the kids that have to pay the price of the consequences.

[Dark Knight]

>>The Boy Scouts of America won a U.S. Supreme Court decision in 2000 that upheld the group's decision to fire an openly gay scout leader. <<

I am an Eagle Scout from years back and I bristle every time I hear this. He was not fired. He was a volunteer. He was IIRC a 19 or 20 year old Assistant Scout Master, and was in college. He decided to write an article in his college newspaper about being gay. The content was about his positive gay experiences with an older lover. The article was "discovered", and he was kicked out. Cool, considering why.

A life scout openly declares his gayness. So now how do you arrange events like campouts. Two components, keeping him from being sexually interested in other boys on the outing, and keeping him from getting his @ss kicked by other boys on the outing. When you toss in the sexual component on an outing, with juveniles you are playing with fire, in this society.

Scouts are trying to avoid this issue. Liberals are trying to force their beliefs on them, but they won't protect them lawsuits if they change. The Boy Scouts cannot win witht the liberal agenda. Libs don't care. Destruction of the Boy Scouts is a positive thing, doncha know!

DK

[Skybird]

Simple solution--instead of making the check out to "United Way" just avoid the middleman (and their rake of the proceeds) and make the check payable to "Boy Scouts of America."

[Kay Soze]

Right on!

I like your tack on this!

[teldon30]

Let's say you have a son in a scout troop...both older scout leaders are gay...would you let your son do overnights with them?

[scripter]

Support your local Boy Scout organization. Simply insert your zip code at the link and give on-line.

[ScrtAccess]

Just because they are gay does not mean they are pedophiles. Just because I like women doesn't mean the neighbors daughter is in danger if she spends the night with my daughter. I know a lesbian who works in child care, and I'd certainly trust her with my children. I really don't care about their preference as long as they know to keep their hands off the kids. And since we are on that subject, I don't trust people who are straight to keep their hands off the kids.

[teldon30]

So if you had a daughter let's say 14...you would let her do overnight campouts with 20 year old straight males? You don't get it...any guy with common sense should feel a little uncomfortable being with young girls and especially if it is a moment that it is unsupervised...no one speaks the truth...gays like each others equipment...young or old...of course you aren't going to hear the truth come out of their mouths...they always paint a rosy picture...i'm not talking 8 year olds...i'm talking 13 and 14 year old boys here...that age where a little confusion is going on as far as sex is concerned.

[I got the rope]

ScrtAccess Since Mar 20, 2003

Kinda late for trolling...don't you think?

[I got the rope]

Read this troll

[kingu]

What gets me is the outrage expressed in this thread.. What is missing is the relief that an organization that was trying to force the local Boy Scout council into a position that is contrary to the national organization isn't giving money.

I mean, if you don't like United Way's polices, then you shouldn't like United Way's money.

Another thing I don't see is outrage at the local council for giving into this, or thanks to the National board for putting a stop to it.

[diamond6]

ABSOLUTELY!!!

[jocon307]

My $$ are there, won't be more than $40, but I'm good for that. Freepmail me.

[scripter]

Well said, teldon30. What some don't know is that percentagewise gays are more likely to molest children:

• Report: Pedophilia more common among 'gays'
• Gay Foster Parents More Apt to Molest 

Here's some related links:

• Homosexuality and child molestation: the link, the likelihood, the lasting  
• Homosexuality and Child Sexual Abuse  FR 
• Homosexual Rape and Murder of Children  FR 
• Child Molestation and the Homosexual Movement (PDF) 

After reading the above I don't understand why anybody can support gays in the Boy Scouts.

[scripter]

There's some additional and informative links in post 33.

Homosexual Agenda Index

Homosexual Agenda Keyword Search

[I_Love_My_Husband]

Make sure you're on scripter's ping list. You're good. And needed.

[I got the rope]

I mean, if you don't like United Way's polices, then you shouldn't like United Way's money.

Since the United Way has enlightened us with their "policies" will they will give refunds and matching refunds from companies that gave in the past year. Money that was given with the intention of assisting certain groups like the BSA. FAT CHANCE. These enlightened homo apologist are stealing money in my book...especially when they pull fast ones like this. I suspect they'll start feeling it in their pocketbook soon enough.

[rmh47]

I had the opportunity to work with my local United Way a few years ago as a volunteer fundraiser. I learned a great deal about the organization.

While there is an umbrella organization for the United Way, each local UW is independantly run and makes its own decisions in these matters. The contribution that each local United Way makes to the national organization is less than 1% of the funds they raise.

The fact that the Phillidelphia UW chooses not to contribute to the local BSA does not mean that other United Way organizations in other cities do the same.

The last time I checked, the UW in my city still supported our local BSA chapter.

[Graybeard58]

"So is the United Way going to return the donations to those who thought that money was going to the Boy Scouts? Hmmm"



Nope, that's just more of the donors money they can give to Planned Parenthood.

[I got the rope]

Thanks, Ilovemyhusband.

Scripter...please add me to the list.

[rmh47]

"So is the United Way going to return the donations to those who thought that money was going to the Boy Scouts? Hmmm"

Nope, that's just more of the donors money they can give to Planned Parenthood.

Our local United Way doesn't support Planned Parenthood. I don't know aboout other cities. You should ask.

[watchin]

First of all, consider how you'd feel about a young man wanting to lead a girl scout troop. Uncomfortable with that?

As for your argument against a homosexual/pedophile link, you'd better get past the emotions and do some homework. Simply looking at the statistics, comparing the percentage of homosexuals in the population with the percentage of homosexual child-molestors - one finds that they are forty times more likely to molest children than heterosexuals.

Of course, homosexuals avoid the percentages, and would rather focus on the raw numbers, citing the fact that more heterosexuals than homosexuals are child molestors. Remember that they are only a small percentage of the population.

Oh, and you might like this picture of Elton John:

Probably no relation to this story, though.

[watchin]

Tim!!

[scripter]

Scripter...please add me to the list.

Done.

You just missed a ping here: Older women urged to become lesbians. As some have said, the gay agenda never sleeps.

[I got the rope]

This is for you Graybeard58...looks like you're right.

United Way and Planned Parenthood in Illinois

[Paleo Conservative]

Up the United Way and their homosexual tyrany funding practices. Give to your local Boy Scouts.

If you can afford it, also donate to Boy Scouts in areas where funding is cut off by the United Way.

[I got the rope]

LOL! The epitome of Trolls.

[Paleo Conservative]

Our local United Way doesn't support Planned Parenthood. I don't know aboout other cities. You should ask.

As far as I am concerned, we should boycott the United Way everywhere not just the areas of the country where they enforce an extreme leftist agenda.

[GOPJ]

bump

[demkicker]

Looks like we've got to target this particular Boy Scout council:

Boy Scouts of America Council
504 S Concord Rd
West Chester, PA 19382

Go HERE and click View Full Report and you will be able to make a donation.

[ScrtAccess]

"Read this troll "

Nothing like resorting to name calling when you disagree with an opinion, huh! See, I thought the whole idea of the forumn was to share opinions and look at other views. I kind of like people explaining to me why my opinions may be wrong and that helps me decide if they really are wrong. Name calling don't seem particularly productive though.