Five Things a
Concerned Citizen Can Do About Discrimination in the Boy Scouts
All Americans should be concerned about the discriminatory practices of the Boy Scouts of America. By excluding gay and atheist people from its ranks, the BSA teaches the next generation that intolerance of people with different religious beliefs and sexual orientations is OK. Such a message not only contradicts basic Scouting values, but also contradicts American values of inclusiveness and respect for all.
Here are some things that any Hoosier can do to encourage the Scouts to end its harmful policies:
1) Write a letter of protest to the national Scout
headquarters and the local Boy Scout council office.
Ask them to reverse their policy on gays and atheists in the Boy Scouts. If you have an affiliation with the Boy Scouts, be sure that you mention it. Addresses of whom to contact locally and nationally are on the address list below.
2) Encourage United Way to practice nondiscrimination.
Write a letter to your local United Way, asking them to refuse contributions to organizations that practice discrimination on the basis of religion and sexual orientation. Also, send a copy of the letter to the national United Way organization. Statewide, the only United Way chapter enforcing such a policy is the United Way of Monroe County
If you currently contribute to a United Way without such a policy, you might consider making a contribution to the United Way of Monroe County, accompanied by a letter to your local United Way explaining that you wish to contribute to a fund that does not permit discrimination based on sexual orientation and religion.
Addresses for United Way chapter in the local area are provided in the address list below.
3) Write a letter to the U.S. President, who is also the
honorary president of the Boy Scouts
The President of the United States is also the honorary president of the Boy Scouts. Urge him to take a stand against discrimination in the Boy Scouts by resigning as its honorary head.
4) Donate to youth organizations that do not discriminate
A number of youth groups do not practice discrimination. These include the Girl Scouts of America, 4-H clubs, the Campfire Boys and Girls, Boys and Girls Clubs, and many (but not all) Big Brother/Big Sister agencies.
5) Check out the Scouting for All website
Scouting for All is the national organization dedicated to ending discrimination in the Boy Scouts. Their website (http://www.scoutingforall.org) offers many other suggestions for citizens interested in helping to make Boy Scouts inclusive.
Additionally, we will keep you posted on things you can do locally to help end Boy Scout discrimination in local Scouting units. See our website at http://www.geocities.com/his_s4a
Addresses and Contact Information:
Hoosiers for Inclusive Scouting:
Michael Craw: [email protected]
John Clower: [email protected]
Web Page: http://www.geocities.com/his_s4a
E-mail: [email protected]
National Scout Office:
Mr. Roy L. Williams, Chief Scout Executive
National Headquarters Boy Scouts of America
PO Box 152079
Irving, Texas 75015-2079
972-580-2000
Mr. Ed Whitacre Jr., President
Boy Scouts of America
Southwestern Bell
175 E. Houston St.
San Antonio, TX 78205
210-821-4105
Gregg Shields, BSA Spokesperson
National Headquarters Boy Scouts of America
PO Box 152079
Irving, Texas 75015-2079
972-580-2000
Local Boy Scout Offices:
Anthony Wayne Area Council
Chris Mathes, Scout Executive
3635 Portage Blvd.
Fort Wayne, IN 46802-4797
Phone: 219-432-9593
Buffalo Trace Council
1050 Bayard Park Dr.
Evansville, IN 47731-3245
Phone: 812-423-5246
Calumet Council
Michael Creagh, Scout Executive
8751 Calumet Ave.
Munster, IN 46321-2593
Phone: 708-474-6212
http://www.jorsm.com/calcouncil
Crossroads of America Council
1900 N. Meridian St.
Indianapolis, IN 46206-1966
Phone: 317-925-1900
Hoosier Trails Council, BSA
Randy Brown, Scout Executive
2307 E. 2nd Street
Bloomington, Indiana. 47401-5394
1-812-336-6809
Fax 1-812-333-2412 or 1-800-844-6809
http://boyscouts.hsonline.com/Council.htm
E-mail: [email protected]
Lincoln Heritage Council
824 Phillips Ln.
Louisville, KY 40233-6273
Phone: 502-361-2624
Sagamore Council
Page Berry, President
518 N. Main St.
Kokomo, IN 46903-0865
Phone: 765-452-8253
Wabash Valley Council
501 South 25th St.
Terre Haute, IN 47803-2603
Phone: 812-232-9496
Local United Way Chapters:
United Way of Monroe County (nondiscriminating)
441 S College Ave
Bloomington, IN 47403-1514
(812) 334-8370
United Way of Central Indiana (Boone, Hancock, Hendricks, Marion and Morgan Counties)
3901 N. Meridian Street
P.O. Box 88409
Indianapolis, IN 46208-0409
(317) 923-1466
e-mail: [email protected]
website: http://www.uwci.org
United Way of Lawrence County
PO Box 671
Bedford, IN 47421-0671
(812) 277-0493
United Way of Bartholomew County
522 S. Franklin
P.O. Box 827
Columbus, IN 47202-0827
Phone: (812) 376-3001
Fax: (812) 376-0019
e-mail: [email protected]
United Way of Johnson County
P.O. Box 153
Franklin, IN 46131-0153
(317) 736-7840
United Way of Howard County
210 W Walnut St
Kokomo, IN 46901-4539
(765) 457-6691
Greater Greene County United Way
P.O. Box 102
Linton, IN 47441-0102
(812) 847-4272
United Way of the Wabash Valley
P.O. Box 3094
Terre Haute, IN 47803-0094
(812) 235-6287
National United Way:
United Way National Headquarters
701 North Fairfax St.
Alexandria, Virginia, 22314-2045
(703) 836-7100
President of the United States:
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Washington, D.C. 20500
202-456-1414
Fax: 202-456-2461
E-mail: [email protected]
White House we site: www.whitehouse.gov