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AUDIO: Kevin Jennings railed against boy scouts in public school system

By Kerry Picket on Oct. 6, 2009 into Water Cooler

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*Updated with information on Scouting for All.

Below is audio and a partial transcript of Kevin Jennings', President Obama's safe school czar, thoughts on keeping the Boy Scouts out of the public school system.  This is from a 2000 speaking engagement with his former organization the Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network (GLSEN) in Iowa. In the same speech, Mr. Jennings also advocated for mandating a gay friendly curriculum in the public schools from kindergarten onward. (h/t Chad Thompson http://www.drthrockmorton.com)

AUDIO

"The Boy Scouts are a private organization, and they therefore should be allowed to do what they want, and we[GLSEN] agree.  They are a private organization, and they should be allowed to do whatever they want, which means they must leave the 11,000 schools where they are officially owned and operated by the district itself.  If you want to have the right to do what you want, because you are private, you cannot expect public money and public employees spending their time to administering your program.  The fact is that our public schools cannot be in the business of running discriminatory programs.  It is wrong. It undermines the very reason why we have schools, and it must not happen."

"...and if the Boy Scouts want to discriminate, they can discriminate on their own time and their own money."

"...so let the Boy Scouts hoist themselves upon their own petard.  They say, 'we're a private group, we should be allowed to do whatever we want.'  Fine.  Do it on your own time and your own money.  Get out of the schools."

Mr. Jennings bio is also mentioned prominently on the website Scouting For All.  He is a member of their Scouting for All National Advisory Board.  According to its website, the organization's mission is as follows:

THE MISSION of Scouting For All, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, is to advocate on behalf of its members and supporters for the restoration of the traditionally unbiased values of Scouting as expressed and embodied in the Scout Oath & the Scout Law, and to influence the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) to serve and include as participating members ALL youth and adult leaders, regardless of their spiritual belief, gender, or sexual orientation.

The organization has recently said that President Obama should "not be the honorary President of the Boy Scouts of America until and unless all Americans, gay or straight, beleiver or non-beleiver, are able to be members. Please write President Obama and urge him not to accept the "honor" from the Boy Scouts until they stop descriminating."

 

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There are 3 Comments

fedup58

The Boy Scouts of America has always been about God and Country. No on ever said that a non-believer could not join. It would be good because he might come to be a believer and get his soul saved through the blood of Jesus. If Mr. Jennings wants a scouting club for gays let him just start one up and stop the gripping.
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ozindell

If he doesnt want the BSA in public schools, then any gay rights group should be banned as well, the double standard needs to stop.
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tummler10

I was a Boy Scout. This 501(c)3 group practices discrimination. Once I indicated that I was gay, I was asked to leave, rather than accept my Eagle Scout aware. Plan and simple - no scandal, just injustice. This is a matter of ongoing litigation. Jennings has every write to question their access, given their tax status. BSA - I say this as a member fedup58, is NOT about God and Country - not when it discriminates. That is unAmerica. Heroes like Jennings who stand up for the rights of all - that is true patriotism. The founding fathers would've had no patience for your indolence. Scouting For All fights to end the BSA's ignorance and I support them. So should we ALL.
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