Philadelphia Boy Scouts Face Eviction Over Anti-Gay Policy
FoxNews.com
The Philadelphia Boy Scouts could find themselves booted from their historic dowtown headquarters Monday unless a dispute with City Hall over the group’s anti-gay policies is resolved.
The Cradle of Liberty Council—Philadelphia’s Boy Scout chapter—has been housed in an historic building in downtown Philly for almost 80 years, paying almost nothing for the prime piece of proprety under the terms of a 100-year sweetheart lease it inked with the city in 1928. But that lease is set to expire, and city officials say the taxpayer’s shouldn’t be footing the Scouts rent bill because of it’s national policy banning openly gay members and leaders. The Scouts must either pony up the fair market rent for the space—about $200,000 a year—or find a new home.
“If they want to accept the national policies of the Boy Scout organization they have to be able to pay for it,” said Philadelphia City Councilman Jack Kelly.
According to a letter the Boy Scouts received from City Solicitor Rome Diaz, the Boy Scouts have until Dec. 3 to sign a new lease and start paying for the use of the property, or the city will find a new tennant and the scouts will be evicted.
Diaz, who is openly gay, refused FOX News’ request for an interview.
Cradle of Liberty Council member John Braxton, a retired judge and former Eagle Scout, said the Scouts can’t afford the steep rent increase. He said the Scouts’ policy on gays is “don’t ask, don’t tell.”
“I have known persons who have been gay within our scouting program,” Braxton said. “We never ran them out. They’re Eagle scouts, they’re achievers, and what they do in their personal sexual life is not an issue within their scouting life,” he said. (more…)
The problem that I have with this is that Philadelphia is currently playing host to one of the most major conflicts between young Black males in years. Police commissioner Sylvester Johnson has just called out 911 for men everywhere to get involved in local organizations who are addressing the situation the best they can. Check out the demographics of who would be affected by such a move in the name of “tolerance”:
From the Cradle of Liberty Council’s website-
The Cradle of Liberty provides ScoutReach to 2,500 youth. The following is a breakdown of the demographics.
Triune: Hispanic 8%, Black 64%, Asian 5%, Other 22%
Frontier: Hispanic 15%, Black 29%, Asian 9%, Other 47%
Delaware: Hispanic 19%, Black 34%, Asian 2%, Other 45%
Northern: Hispanic 4%, Black 12%, Asian 2%, Other 82% (source)
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