Groups protest Newport Beach Boy Scouts

Bryce Alderton

NEWPORT BEACH -- With chants such as “Homophobic BSA [Boy Scouts of

America], they don’t want me because I’m gay,” about 50 volunteers

representing three organizations lined Coast Highway Sunday to protest

county dollars that go toward the Boy Scouts of America, which, the

protesters contested, discriminates and excludes gay youth.

Joe Delaplaine, an organizer from the Stonewall Initiative for Equal

Rights, strolled behind the line of protesters, holding a megaphone and

leading some of the chants directed toward cars, bicyclists, runners and

anyone passing by.

Members from the International Action Committee and Liberate Orange

County also walked the sidewalks Sunday.

Delaplaine explained he was protesting “because there are so many

people who are afraid to be. The Boy Scouts supposedly send out a message

of leadership and, in the past few years, they’ve been discriminatory

with intolerance and excluding a whole group of people that can’t be a

part of [the Boy Scouts]. They shouldn’t be excluding anyone and the

Orange County Board of Supervisors shouldn’t be supporting

[discrimination].”

In September 2000, the Orange County Board of Supervisors approved to

extend the Boy Scouts of America’s lease on the 1.4-acre Sea Base site

for 30 years.

Delaplaine said the protest was held Sunday so it wouldn’t conflict

with Orange County Pride, a gay pride event, held at the UC Irvine campus

Aug. 19. Delaplaine handed out fliers on Aug. 19 detailing Sunday’s

protest.

“It’s all by word of mouth and going back to the grass-roots,”

Delaplaine said. “Gay youth might feel more isolated and alone, so we

want them to see that there’s people who support them.”

Sunday’s protest was Maggie Vascassenno’s first against the Boy Scouts

and said it was a result of the Board of Supervisors decision to fund the

Boy Scouts.

Vascassenno, a member of both The Stonewall Initiative and the

International Action Committee, held a sign and chanted “Out loud, out

proud.”

“Our tax dollars are being used to support homophobia and [tax

dollars] can’t be used to support any form of discrimination,”

Vascassenno said. “We want to raise consciousness and stop funding of the

Boy Scouts.”

Hannah Smith signed up to be a Stonewall volunteer on Sunday after

friends encouraged her to get involved.

“I’m protesting against homophobia and ignorance. I want everyone to

accept everyone else,” Smith said. “I don’t hate anyone. I’m just trying

to be heard and trying to make a difference. Everyone needs equal rights

in this country.”

Officials for the Boys Scouts of America could not be reached for

comment.

* Bryce Alderton is the news assistant. He may be reached at (949)

574-4298 or by e-mail at o7 [email protected] .