California to Strip Boy Scouts of Non-Profit Status for Refusing to Allow Gay Scoutmasters
California legislature is now attempting to strip the Boy Scouts of America of its non-profit status for refusing to allow homosexual scoutmasters.
The state plans to usher in these changes with a new law titled "The Youth Equality Act," which was created by Sen. Richard Lara. This legislation would deny non-profit status to any youth groups that discriminate on the basis of gender identity, race, sexual orientation, nationality, religion or religious affiliation.
This would directly affect Christian non-profit groups that do not accept non-Christians, any youth group restricted to boys or girls, or any group with strict requirements based on its core beliefs which could stem from Christianity and other faiths.
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The Senate Governance and Finance Committee voted 5 to 2 in order to send the bill to the Senate Appropriations Committee. In order to pass the bill, Senate would need to sign off with a two-thirds vote.
In the event that gay marriage becomes law in the state of California, churches could face the threat of their non-profit status being endangered if the Youth Equality Act is passed for refusing to perform gay marriages.
The Boy Scouts recently came under fire by several of its corporate sponsors, who pressured the organization to allow for openly gay scouts, volunteers, and leaders. The group then heard from other supporters opposed to the change and decided to delay is decision on the matter until May.
The BSA announced publicly on Jan. 28 that it was considering changing its policy on gay members and leaders. Groups such as the Catholic Church, Latter Day Saints, and Southern Baptist churches voiced their concerns to the Boy Scouts leading to the delay.
Organizations encouraging the changes included the tex-mex restaurant Chipotle.
