This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Re "Boy Scout leaders chastised for marching in Utah Pride Parade" (Tribune, June 15):
I agree that it's wise for the Scouts to avoid "political" events, like party conventions and candidate campaign events, but as Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill said about the country library's participation in the Pride Parade, "Our initial take is that it is not a partisan event and does not constitute a political agency."
Right now, it's OK for Boy Scouts to march with our American flag in the very Mormon Days of '47 Parade but not in the gay Pride Parade. Why? Both are cultural celebrations of Americans. The discrimination doesn't seem fair.
Fairness is just not a value the Scouts are all that interested in; after all, it's not in the Scout Law ("A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent").
I'm tired of people who are friendly, courteous and cheerful while they're discriminating against you. A nice and polite bigot is still a bigot.
Tom Steele
Salt Lake City