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(Updated) Top state Democrats are helping the Boy Scouts of America raise money at an upcoming gala — to the consternation of at least two prominent party leaders critical of the organization’s exclusion of gays.
Nancy DiNardo (pictured), chairwoman of the state Democratic Party, is being honored at the Greater Bridgeport Good Scouts Award Breakfast on June 14. The event is a fundraiser for the “leadership development and values-based programs of the Boy Scouts of America, Connecticut Yankee Council.”
As the state party promotes the fundraiser, a party-endorsed statewide candidate called on DiNardo to change her mind, and New Haven’s party chairwoman said she’s skipping the event.
Allison Dodge, the Democratic State Central Committee’s executive director, sent an email to fellow Democrats Tuesday announcing that DiNardo would be honored as a “Good Scout” at the event. Dodge encouraged Democrats to buy a $100 ticket to the fundraiser, or to make a $50 donation. The donation would go towards an ad that the state central party will be placing in the program booklet for the event, Dodge wrote.
Click here to view a flyer for the event.
The email push came on the heels of a story the New Haven Register featuring a former scout leader from Guilford who was kicked out of the Boy Scouts for being openly gay. He was invited to a different Connecticut Boy Scouts event, then uninvited because of his sexuality.
The Boy Scouts of America “does not accept the membership of those that are openly or avowed homosexual,” according to national spokesman Deron Smith. (Click here for a column by New Haven’s Henry Fernandez on the topic.)
Melissa Bailey File Photo
New Haven Democratic Town Committee Chair Susie Voigt (at right in photo) said she’s boycotting the fundraiser for that reason.
“As much as I like and respect Nancy DiNardo, I’m going to decline going to a Boy Scouts of America event,” she said.
“That’s not really an organization that I’m fully supportive of,” because of their anti-gay stance, she said. “They still apparently have the view that it’s not morally right to have anything other than a heterosexual gender preference.”
“I can’t make Nancy DiNardo’s choices for her,” Voigt said, “but I would have declined the invitation.”
“I wouldn’t go to a club that discriminated against a group of people,” she added.
Thomas MacMillan Photo
Kevin Lembo (at left in photo, with his partner and one of their adopted sons), the state health care advocate and the Democratic party nominee for comptroller, agreed. He called DiNardo Wednesday when he heard that she would be participating in the fundraiser and voiced his disapproval. Lembo is openly gay; he and his partner have three adopted sons. He noted that the Boy Scouts discriminate against not only gays but also atheists.
“I prefer, obviously, that she not participate in the event, but that’s not my event,” Lembo said.
Reached Wednesday, DiNardo defended her role.
“I understand [Lembo’s] position,” DiNardo said Wednesday. “I have supported gay rights and I still do. It doesn’t mean that I don’t want to help Bridgeport. I’m a former educator in Bridgeport. I know how important it is that children have structured activities to attend.”
“Do I support all of the positions of the Boy Scouts? Absolutely not,” DiNardo said. “But this is money that’s going directly to Bridgeport children.”
DiNardo said she does not support excluding openly gay people from participating in the Boy Scouts. Openly gay politicians agreed that she has been supportive of gay rights.
DiNardo found support among two openly gay state legislators.
Thomas MacMillan File Photo
Bethel State Rep. Jason Bartlett (pictured), the first openly gay black state legislator in the nation, said he found it “a little odd” that DiNardo would raise money for the Boy Scouts. He said he’s not against DiNardo accepting the award, because “overall, they do good work.”
He said the Boy Scouts does need to change: “I think that we need to continue to fight the battle with them, in terms of trying to open up their anti-gay policy.”
“I probably would caution her to think about that as she goes forward,” he said.
State Rep. Mike Lawlor of East Haven, who’s also openly gay, said he has no problem with DiNardo’s role in the event. Lawlor and Bartlett both said they have participated in ceremonies for local troops.
Lawlor said she is being put in an awkward position because of the Boy Scouts’ anachronistic national policy.
He said there’s no question Connecticut is a tolerant place for gays.
“You can’t find a single politician [in Connecticut] who would defend a policy like this. Everybody thinks it’s ridiculous. People are so over this discussion,” he said. However, local troops can’t change the Boy Scouts’ national policy of rejecting gays, he said.
That contradiction “will continue to put people in a uncomfortable position,” he said. “Nancy’s in that position right now.”
In a statement Wednesday afternoon, Republican State Party Chairman Chris Healy defended DiNardo.
“Democrat Chairman Nancy DiNardo should be commended for supporting the Greater Bridgeport Boy Scouts of America and should not let criticism stop her efforts to promote the organization for its fine work,” he said.
Also note that the Boy Scouts discriminates against atheists: http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=news≻=&sc2=news&sc3;=&id=100459
"But the Boy Scouts' policy of excluding gays, atheists, and agnostics clashes with the city's non-discrimination policies, and the Police Commission has determined that the LAPD will no longer associate with Learning for Life. The new program will commence on Jan. 1, 2010, and will rely in part on donations. "
And not just leaders, but scouts as well: http://www.ffrf.org/news/radio/shows/2007/07/#r-07-07-2007