FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Thursday, February 21, 2013
CONTACT:
Brett Abrams : 516-841-1105 : brett@fitzgibbonmedia.com
New Petition Urges CA Legislature To End Tax-Exempt Status for Anti-Gay Boy Scouts of America
Over 5000 Californians Join Straight Former Boy Scout Supporting Sen. Ricardo Lara’s Bill To End Tax-Exemptions from Youth Groups that Discriminate Against LGBT Members
** http://signon.org/sign/tell-the-ca-legislature **
CALIFORNIA – A new petition from Eddie Kurtz, a straight former boy scout is urging the California Legislature to pass SB 323, ending tax breaks for youth groups that discriminate against members based on their sexual orientation, including the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). The petition on MoveOn.org’s online petition website, SignOn.org has been signed by over 5000 Californians.
SIGN ON HERE: http://signon.org/sign/tell-the-ca-legislature
“I grew up in the Boy Scout tradition. I started out as a Cub Scout, transitioned through Webelos, and ended my Boy Scout journey as a Life Scout, one rank below Eagle. My closest friends were other scouts. Scouting stands for the finest qualities of humanity: self-reliance, creativity, and an appreciation of nature. Most of all, we were taught how to act as responsible, respectful citizens,” said Eddie Kurtz, who also serves as Director of Campaigns for Courage Campaign. “This is why the Boy Scouts’ continued policy of excluding members based on their sexual orientation is so upsetting to me. It flies in the face of the very values that the scouting tradition professes to teach. As a straight ally, I can’t sit idle while the current leaders of the Boy Scouts disgrace this once-proud American institution with their personal bigotry.”
This petition is one of many petitions started by former Boy Scouts around the country urging the BSA to do the right thing and change their policy to allow openly gay members. SB 323, sponsored by Sen. Ricardo Lara (D-Los Angeles), aims to give the Boy Scouts a nudge in the right direction by eliminating tax exemptions for groups that practice discrimination.
For more information, or for interviews with Eddie Kurtz, please contact Brett Abrams at 516-841-1105 or by email at brett@fitzgibbonmedia.com.
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SignOn.org is the non-profit, online campaign platform from MoveOn.org that lets anyone start and run their own online campaigns.
CourageCampaign.org is an online organizing network that empowers more than 750,000 grassroots and netroots activists to push for progressive change and full equality in California and across the country. As a leading multi-issue advocacy organization, Courage Campaign’s work is supported by thousands of small donations from our diverse community.