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October 2000

Background Facts.

Around 1985, we obtained United Way’s agreement to conform its membership contract to the provisions of the Philadelphia Human Relations Act as amended. (September 1982). The United Way contract with all membership organizations require that agencies not discriminate explicitly on the grounds of sexual orientation. The United Way has failed to enforce this contract in re: the Boy Scouts of America and other funded organizations.

1. Leadership: The Board is chaired by David L. Cohen, Esq. (Ballard Spahr), formerly chief of staff to Mayor Ed Rendell who failed to support Policy 102 (multiracial-cultural-gender fair education), and failed throughout his term to appoint eminently qualified lesbian women and/or gay men to serve on the Board of Education. Several years ago, Rendell did appoint Christine James Brown to the Board of Education, who has failed to demonstrate any tangible support for Policy 102 implementation.

Data: Cohen is at 215-864-8900 and 9220 fax cohendl@ballardspahr.com
Brown is at 215 665 2601 (and 2602 fax) cjbrown@uwsepa.org

2. Public Funding and Contract Compliance: United Way refuses to cancel its contract with the Boy Scouts of America.as noted above. The contract allows termination and penalities if agencies do not comply. United Way is giving one-half million dollars plus a year to the BSA in Philadelphia and several million to the Archdiocese, though not an immediate issue here. It has NEVER funded our community (ies) at ANY significant level in comparison to its funding for organizations that discriminate. (Action AIDS, a member agency gets $100,000 annually which could be donated through donor option). Despite United Way’s claims, the UW Year 2000-1 annual report shows that it allocated $550,000 to the BSA including six specific scouting groups. The United Way, through the offices of its President, avers that the United Way will NOT cancel its contract with the BSA.

3. Boy Scouts of America Philosophy. For a near decade the Boy Scouts have maligned gay people and vowed to discriminate. It has invested enormous effort in litigation to support its view that it is a “private” (not public) organization, that it has the right to discriminate, specifically against gay youth and adults, and that it has the right to claim public funding, public spaces, and special privileges generally. The BSA locally is called the Cradle of Liberty Council and its program “Learning for Life" have offices at 22nd and Winter with the phone # 215-988-9811. Repeated phone calls to Greg Lyles, LFL director and BSA employee have obtained Lyles promise that some of our requested documents may be delivered to us from the “national.” (bylaws, charter, mission statement)

4. The "Learning for Life" program housed at several public schools is not a traditional boy scouting experience. "Urban" (code word) children, who are poor and who are primarily racial and ethnic minorities and white) are taught how "not to lie to their mothers" and how "not to cheat" - a values course - different from the opportunity to romp in the countryside and enjoy nature. (Source: BSA executive director quoted in the Daily News and the Philadelphia Inquirer news report 9/18/2000).

5. Plgtf Negotiations or Attempted Negotiations: In 1989, 1992, and 1995, the plgtf engaged in brief and unwelcomed negotiations with the United Way to cease funding discriminatory agencies (like the BSA). In response to plgtf public criticisms in the mid-90's, UW appointed a well-meaning body of individuals who would not be publicly accountable and who had no historical memory re: negotiations. Once the heat was off, the body disbanded. There were no publicly reported outcomes, recommendations, timelines, etc from this venture. In May and again in July 2000, plgtf asked the United Way President to allow us to meet and other community organizations to meet the Board to discuss its continued funding of the Boy Scouts. In September, Board Chair and the President indicated their willingness to meet plgtf leadership – that is all. The Board Chair declined our recommendation that he invite his top ten board colleagues to this meeting and informed us that the meeting would be to “explain” his already formed decision.

Summary: It is our view that one cannot fund part of an organization that discriminates without supporting discrimination and bigotry. The United Way expects our community to roll over and play dead - or hopes that given an effective public relations message that we will admire the Emperor's new clothes and be grateful.

Source: Rita Addessa at 215-772-2000 and 2004 fax. www.op.net/plgtf and plgtf@op.net