Recognizing the Boy Scouts - Hon. Barbara Lee (voted for H.Res 853)

[The Straight Story]

RECOGNIZING THE BOY SCOUTS -- HON. BARBARA LEE (Extensions of Remarks - November 20, 2004)

GPO's PDF

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HON. BARBARA LEE
OF CALIFORNIA
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Saturday, November 20, 2004

* Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, today voted with my colleagues in support of H. Res. 853, recognizing the Boy Scouts of America for the public service the organization performs for neighborhoods and communities across the United States.

* Althouh I voted in support of this resolution, I remain concerned by the Boy Scouts continuing discrimination against gays and lesbians.

* An organization that purports to teach children ``principles which are conducive to good character, citizenship, and health'', as indicated by this resolution, and which ``teaches the core values of duty to God and country, personal honor, respect for the beliefs of others, volunteerism, and the value of service and doing a `good turn' daily'' does a disservice to children when it teaches them that it is okay to discriminate against someone based on their sexual orientation.

* While we as a Congress can and should support the good deeds done by individual Boy Scouts and troops throughout the country, we should not overlook or tacitly condone the discriminatory policies and attitudes of the larger organization or its administrators.