FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 10, 2003

Appeals Court Affirms Boy Scouts Exclusion Because of Anti-Gay Policy

A federal appeals court ruled yesterday that the State of Connecticut may exclude the Boy Scouts of America from the State Employee Charitable Campaign because of the Boy Scouts’ anti-gay policy. Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD), having intervened in the matter at the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities, (along with the Connecticut Women’s Education and Legal Fund and the Connecticut Coalition for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Civil Rights), applauds the ruling.

GLAD senior staff attorney Jennifer L. Levi commented, “This ruling confirms that as long as the Boy Scouts retain their anti-gay policy, they may not receive special privileges from the state. We are proud of Connecticut for standing behind its non-discrimination law and, in so doing, protecting all its citizens, including and especially gay youth.”

This case resulted after the Connecticut Comptroller, who oversees the charitable campaign, took action to exclude the Boy Scouts following the United States Supreme Court ruling that the organization has the right to discriminate against gay leaders in the case of Dale v. BSA. The motivation behind the Comptroller’s action excluding the Boy Scouts was to ensure proper and robust administration of the state Gay Rights Law, a law that prohibits use of state facilities in furtherance of discrimination, including based on sexual orientation. The federal district court upheld the exclusion and, yesterday, the appeals court agreed.

Celebrating its 25th anniversary year, Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) is New England’s leading legal rights organization dedicated to ending discrimination based on sexual orientation, HIV status and gender identity and expression.