Feds Set Strict Guidelines Against Scout Discrimination But Let MoCo Off The Hook
Falls Church, VA -- The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights has finally ruled in regards to Public Advocate's complaint that Montgomery County, Maryland violated the Boy Scout's of America Equal Access Act.
Last year Public Advocate presented evidence that the county took actions against the Scouts because of their requirement that Scouts and the adults who lead them be morally straight. Public Advocate believes that this violates the law, championed by former Senator Jesse Helms, which prohibits school districts that receive federal funds from discriminating against the Boy Scouts.
The OCR investigation did not result in the appropriate sanctions being taken against Montgomery County for, what Public Advocate believes, was a clear violation of federal law, however they did clarify offenses against the Scouts that are unacceptable under the new law.
In a letter to Public Advocate Executive Director Eugene Delgaudio, the OCR states that school districts "may not aid or perpetuate discrimination by providing significant assistance to an entity that discriminates against the Boy Scouts and therefore, (school districts are) responsible for compliance with the Boy Scouts Act." This finding is significant because it clearly sends a message to school administrators by informing them that they cannot bypass federal law by having other government agencies discriminate against the Scouts on their behalf.
"While we are disappointed that they choose to overlook Montgomery County's discrimination against the Boy Scouts of America, which is costing scouting groups thousands of dollars a year, we are very encouraged that the Office of Civil Rights has now set the standard for enforcing the new law," stated Delgaudio. "Hopefully this will prevent other Scouts across America from having to endure the same hardships that those in Maryland have been plagued with because of these politically charged new regulations which were championed by the radical homosexual lobby."
Public Advocate, a Virginia based non-profit, pro-family organization filled the federal complaint against Montgomery County last February. A copy of the original complaint and the Department of Education's findings are available upon request. For more information please contact Jesse Binnall at 703/582-7924 or by email at [email protected].
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