The UUA and the Boy Scouts of America:
A Continuing Struggle for Inclusiveness
Public Actions and Witness
Press Release: Scouting For All, 1/23/01
National Eagle Scout Association Revokes Membership Of Openly Gay Man
Fort Lauderdale, FL - In a highly questionable act, the National Eagle Scout
Association (NESA), a fellowship of men who have achieved the Eagle Scout rank,
revoked the membership of openly gay Eagle Scout, Mark LaFontaine, less than
one month after accepting his membership.
The revocation comes after LaFontaine received, on December 28, 2000, an official
membership letter, certificate and card from the National Eagle Scout Association,
which in effect asked him to participate in the Scouting program. The official
membership letter reads in part, "If you are not involved presently, we would
like to encourage you to volunteer by contacting your local council service
center," and it is signed by Robert M. Gates, President of the National Eagle
Scout Association.
NESA was established to enlist the assistance of those who have achieved the
highest honors in Scouting through leadership, fundraising and other activities.
According to their official web page, "The purpose of NESA has remained the
same: to identify Eagle Scouts and to provide a manpower resource for local
councils. The primary objective of local chapters is to guide Eagle Scouts,
of all ages into service within the local council." ( http://bsa.scouting.org/nesa/index.html)
The rank of Eagle Scout is the highest achievement possible within the BSA.
"This is the first time we have ever heard of a NESA membership being revoked
because of a member being gay. One does not have to be a member of the Boy Scouts
of America to be a member of NESA. All one has to be is an Eagle Scout. It seems
now that NESA members must also be alert that if you are gay NESA will also
kick you out", said Scott Cozza, President of Scouting for All.
Of particular interest in his acceptance letter from NESA is the statement,
"You, more than nearly anyone, know the value and importance of scouting to
your community and to the youth the movement serves. As you were helped by others
to become and Eagle, you now have much to offer others in Scouting."
"It is ironic that I have achieved the highest honor the BSA can give," said
LaFontaine, "yet because of my orientation, I am not considered leadership material
by the very organization that trained me to be a good leader. I call upon all
Eagle Scouts to stand up and be a voice for human rights within the Scouting
movement," said LaFontaine.
Media Contacts: Either Mark LaFontaine himself or Jeremy Liebbe, Southern
Regional Director and spokesman for Scouting For All, may be contacted for further
information or inquiries.
Jeremy Liebbe
Eagle Scout Southern Regional Director
Scouting For All
jliebbe@scoutingforall.org
Mark LaFontaine
Eagle Scout
checkm2000@aol.com
(954) 661-1324
Action Alert
Scouting For All's National Day of Protest Against the Boy Scouts of America's
Immoral Policy of Discrimination Against Gay Youth and Adults - August 21, 2000
Scouting For All is calling for a National Day of Protest at all Scout Councils
throughout the United States of America. This National Day of Protest provides
an opportunity for fellow scouts, adult leaders, concerned individuals, churches,
and organizations who support the diversity of the human family to oppose the
BSA's bigoted and immoral practice of discrimination against a beautiful segment
of the human family.
Scouting For All will be PROTESTING at the Boy Scouts of America's national
headquarters in Irving, Texas. We are asking those who are not able to PROTEST
with us at the BSA national headquarters, to PROTEST at your local BSA Council.
If you find the courage to stand with us to support our gay youth and are willing
to find the time to organize a protest we need the following information: Contact
Person, Phone Number, Email Address, Address and Name of the Scout Council you
will be protesting at. Please send this information to info@scoutingforall.org.
Your local Scout Council is listed in the phone book. Please check out the new
addition to our web page called the A ction Alert Command Center for further
details. The contact person for each protest site will be listed in the Command
Center. Please make contact and lend a hand of support to the protest in your
area. Our first amendment provides Americans the right to freedom of speech.
All that is necessary to protest is to inform your local police. Some cities
may require a permit depending how large the protest group is. Our gay scouts
should not have to hide who they are. We need to embrace and love our gay kids
and provide them a safe world to live in.
Scouting For All will lead the Protest in Texas
When: Monday, August 21, 2000 (PLEASE NOTE THE DATE CHANGE)
Where: Boy Scouts of America's national headquarters located at 1325 W.
Walnut Lane, Irving, Texas
and Local Scout Councils throughout the United States of America
Time: 8 AM to 11 AM
Contact: Scott Cozza, President Scouting For All
707-778-0564 or info@scoutingforall.org
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