IRVING, TX/ March 8, 2004/ PRNewswire – Boy Scouts of America is disappointed to learn that the U.S. Supreme Court has decided not to hear a case involving government discrimination against Boy Scouts.

Connecticut’s exclusion of Boy Scout councils from a 900-charity fundraising campaign among state employees is a clear violation of Boy Scouts’ First Amendment and equal protection rights. Charities still permitted to participate in this campaign include gay and lesbian groups and numerous groups which discriminatorily limit services to a particular sex, ethnic group, or age group.

Last year, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals recognized that singling out Boy Scouts from all similar organizations in the campaign was clearly “viewpoint disparity,” but nevertheless held that Connecticut could require Boy Scouts to “pay[] a price” for “exercising its First Amendment rights.” Boy Scouts of America believes that this decision flies in the face of Supreme Court decisions prohibiting government viewpoint discrimination as well as the Supreme Court’s decision in Boy Scouts of America v. Dale, which held unconstitutional New Jersey’s attempt to interfere with Boy Scouts’ leadership policies.

Boy Scouts councils in Connecticut will continue to work for the benefit of the children of Connecticut, including providing inner-city youth with Scouting’s character- and leadership-building programs.

For Questions and Answers about the Court's decision, click here.