Final arguments presented in Philadelphia Boy Scout eviction case

Dan82 · Jun 23, 2010

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/loca...ia_Boy_Scout_eviction_case.html#axzz0rfpCehKL

Either local Boy Scouts are victims of a "gay agenda" driven by aggressive rights activists, or their own anti-gay publicity forced the city to order them out of rent-free space, jurors were told Tuesday.

Deliberations will start Wednesday in the U.S. District Court case to decide if the scouts can be forced out of city-owned offices because they will not renounce the national organization's ban against homosexuals.

Starkly different versions of the case were offered Tuesday during final arguments.

The scouts' attorney argued that gay rights activists plotted, with the help of sympathetic city officials, to force the scouts out of their building near Logan Square. The city countered that it was forced to act after the scouts issued a news release announcing their decision to forbid gay scouts or troop leaders.

At issue is a 1928 lease that made available to the scouts a half-acre of city land at 22d and Winter Streets, about a block from Logan Square, for $1 a year. In 2007, after years of negotiations, the city said it would not subsidize discrimination and ordered the Cradle of Liberty Council to vacate the property or start paying $200,000 a year in rent.

The scouts say that violated their right to free speech and due process.

"The city wants you to give the Boy Scouts the back of your hand," said the Scouts' attorney, William M. McSwain of Drinker Biddle & Reath L.L.P.

McSwain recited a long list of contributions that the scouts make to Philadelphia, including an annual food drive that last year collected 2.5 million items. About 15,000 Philadelphians are active in scouting, he said, and most do not have cars to travel to the scouts' suburban office near Valley Forge.

"All the benefits I've described are connected to that beautiful building," McSwain said.

Read more: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/loca...ia_Boy_Scout_eviction_case.html#ixzz0ri2r3jzS
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NickT · Jun 23, 2010

I've always disliked the boy scouts...meh...

Final arguments presented in Philadelphia Boy Scout eviction case

Dan82
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Final arguments presented in Philadelphia Boy Scout eviction case

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