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World Scouting Members
Condemn U.S. Boy Scouts' Bigotry

Scouts from 20 Nations Voice Opposition to American Policy

Are Openly Gay Scouts from Other Nations Allowed in USA?

Compiled By GayToday

Petaluma, California-Three American representatives have returned to the U.S. following their participation in the Swedish National Jamboree where they were witness to Scouts from other nations voicing their opposition to the Boy Scouts of America's discriminatory policies against gays and atheists.

Both youths and adult members at the Scouting event, they said, voiced concern over whether the Boy Scouts of America would allow openly gay scouts and leaders to attend international events held in the United States.

"Many members of Scouting organizations around the world allow gays to partake in their Scouting programs, so how would the Boy Scouts of America react to them?" asked one participant.

Scouting For All presented a formal request to the World Committee of the World Organization of the Scouting Movement (W.O.S.M.) asking that the Committee condemn the Boy Scouts of America's discriminatory policy.

W.O.S.M. has anti-bias requirements that national organizations must fulfill in order to retain their charter memberships in World Scouting. The Boy Scouts of America's refusal to allow certain religious denominations to charter troops, in conjunction with the organization's control by certain religious groups favoring discriminatory policies against gays, stands in blatant violation of these requirements.

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"We met with representatives from several National Scouting organizations and members of the World Bureau, who voiced concern and disdain over the Boy Scouts of America's policy of discrimination" said Mark LaFontaine, Southern Regional Director.

It was learned that, recently, several European countries held a Scout Conference in which they passed a non-discrimination policy that provides for the inclusion of homosexuals. "This policy seems to send a clear message to the Boy Scouts of America that their policy is in direct conflict with the World requirements, "stated Wil Fisher, Northeastern Regional Director.

Scouting For All was invited by the Swedish Guide and Scout Council to participate in its International Jamboree Scout 2001 between July 29th and August 5th.

Scouting For All was represented by three Regional Directors, Mark LaFontaine (Southern), Wil Fisher (Northeastern) and David Perry (Midwestern).

Their presentations alerted over 2,000 youths and their leaders to the harm caused by such bias as is upheld by American Scouting officials. They spoke of putting an end to such bigotry as affects thousands of young men worldwide. Scouting For All held its workshops in the Global Development Village as an external organization and received publicity in Swedish media nationwide.

Scout 2001 had over 27,000 participants from over 30 countries around the globe.