Philadelphia has been battling with the boyscouts over their explicit denial of membership to homosexuals. The key issue is that the boyscouts have had rent free residence in a city building since the 1920s. This would be a good arrangement, as the boyscouts indeed offer services for many underprivileged kids in the city - its not all camping but after school programs and mentoring too - if the scouts were not also in the business homophobia. A private organization of course has the freedom of bigotry if it so chooses, but for a city government to heavily subsidize a policy of discrimination is flatly unacceptable. So I was pleased to read today that Philadelphia mustered up the strength to call the scouts out on their refusal to either change their policy or pay the rent of a non-subsidized tenant. While the consequence will be unfortunate for many kids, there is no justification for city support without scout policy change.
So, Im proud of you philly! But, Im still thrilled - elated - that my weekly commuting to your fine city ends next week.
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