Evans questions Vance on school sponsorships of Boy Scouts
Dr. Paul L. Vance, Superintendent
District of Columbia Public Schools
825 North Capitol Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002
Dear Dr. Vance:
As you know, yesterday the D.C. Commission on Human Rights ruled against the Boy Scouts of America, National Capital Area Council and in favor of the two complainants who are adult gay men. Specifically that order found that the respondents "unlawfully discriminated against the complainants by subjecting them to disparate treatment by revoking their membership in a place of public accommodation on the basis of sexual orientation, in violation of the Human Rights Act of 1977." The text of that decision is online at http://www.rdblaw.com/boyscouts.pdf.
The article about the ruling in today's Washington Post indicated that the Boy Scouts have a number of District-based sponsors, including Banneker Senior High School and Malcolm X Elementary School. Is this currently the case? Are there other schools, public or charter, which currently sponsor Boy Scout troops? I would greatly appreciate having a list of any public schools which currently sponsor Boy Scout troops, and positive indication from you that our public schools will not sponsor outside groups whose policies violate the D.C. Human Rights Act.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter and I look forward to your response. Please feel free to contact me or Jeff Coudriet of my staff at 724-8058 should you have any questions whatsoever.
Sincerely,
Jack Evans
Councilmember, Ward 2
