SUNBURY - The Greater Susquehanna Valley United Way Board voted by majority Tuesday not to release $11,300 of discretionary funding to the Susquehanna Council of Boy Scouts of America after four months of placing that money on pause while the national Boy Scouts of America organization reviewed its policy of not granting membership to open or avowed homosexuals.
The board's action was in response to the recent decision at the national Boy Scouts level to partly change its long-standing membership policy. The new policy states that youth members will not be excluded based on sexual orientation, but maintains a membership ban on open or avowed homosexual adults.
"We applaud the Boy Scout organization for including gay youth, but without any rationale, they've excluded gay adults," said Keri Albright, president and CEO of Greater Susquehanna Valley United Way. "I've called the National Boy Scouts office and asked for an explanation on their revised policy but have received no response."
United Way policy
United Way maintains a diversity and inclusion policy, which states that resources will support and fund community partners that provide programs to individuals regardless of sexual orientation, among other factors.
Documentation provided to United Way from the Susquehanna Council includes a non-discrimination policy, which states the Council "does not unlawfully discriminate... on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, ancestry, disability or handicapped status, veteran status, marital status, or political affiliation."
The majority of the United Way Board did not feel the local Council's policy met United Way's standards and mission, Albright said.
"It's a reality that some discrimination is still lawful, including discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation," she said.
The application received for 2013 funding from the Susquehanna Council of the Boy Scouts of America stated that the program for which funding is being requested targeted both youth and adult members. The Council applied for funding for the "Prepared. For Life" program. This year's application stated that United Way funding would be used to train 100 percent of the Council's 711 adult volunteer leaders in their positions, 100 percent of new youth enrolled, and 50 percent of 1,269 youth currently enrolled in the United Way service area.
Why stop now?
"People ask us, why stop funding the Boy Scouts now?" said Eric Rowe, United Way Board chair. "We've long funded the local Council on the belief - and through conversations - that they don't discriminate. However, when asked if they would state that publicly, they declined. As a board, we're also thinking about the young scout with a gay parent who wants to be a volunteer leader. The message that's being sent to that kid now is that his dad is not okay if he's gay, perpetuating a stereotype that United Way can't support."
Greater Susquehanna Valley United Way has been distributing donations specifically designated to the Susquehanna Council in payments that began in March. United Way will continue to do so, until those designations are paid in full. United Way will also continue to honor designations specifically in future campaigns, and as always, the application process reopens annually.
"The Boy Scouts undeniably have a long history of positively affecting both youth and adults, so this decision is less about other organizations and more about how Greater Susquehanna Valley United Way will lead in the communities we serve," said Albright. "We fund programs that reflect the value and practice of welcoming people of diverse backgrounds. We're not straight adults or gay adults. We're adults. There is strength in unity and that's what we're promoting."
Row said there is a need for programs like the Boy Scouts in the region.
"That's why we hope down the line, the Boy Scouts are eligible to receive funding for a program that reflects United Way's priorities and mission. Our motto is Live United," he said.