http://www.sacbee.com/news/calreport/calrep_story.cgi?story=N2001-04-16-1800-1.html

Spielberg cites discrimination, leaves Boy Scouts board

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Director Steven Spielberg announced Monday that he is leaving his post on the advisory board of the Boy Scouts of America because the youth group excludes gay members and leaders.

"The last few years in scouting have deeply saddened me to see the Boy Scouts of America actively and publicly participating in discrimination. It's a real shame," Spielberg said in a statement.

The Oscar-winning producer and director, who gained the Scout's highest honor of Eagle Scout, has been a member of the group's advisory board for about 10 years, said his publicist Marvin Levy.

The U.S. Supreme Court last summer ruled that the Boy Scouts' national policy banning gay members and leaders is constitutional. The high court cited the right to freedom of association granted to private groups.

Although he was on the advisory board, Spielberg did not currently have an active, direct role with the Scouts, Levy said. Spielberg, who earned a Scout badge for photography in his youth, previously convinced the organization to adopt a badge for cinematography, Levy said.

A telephone call seeking comment from a Scouts spokesman in Los Angeles was not immediately returned.

Spielberg, who has made past financial contributions to the Scouts, said that he will continue to encourage the group to "end this intolerance and discrimination once and for all."

"Once scouting fully opens its doors to all who desire the same experience that so fully enriched me as a young person, I will be happy to reconsider a role on the advisory board," Spielberg said.

Many cities, schools, churches and companies nationwide have struggled with how to reconcile support with local Scouts troops in light of their own anti-discrimination policies.

-- (Dumbya's f@vorite.charity), April 17, 2001

Answers

Maybe Spielberg can have the gays camp out in his backyard. I'm sure they will have hours of fun with knot-tying.

-- libs are idiots (moreinterpretation@ugly.com), April 17, 2001.