Dialogue between gays, Scouts greeted with hope

A well-publicized dialogue between local gay activists and the Boy Scouts South Florida Council is being met with equal parts of skepticism and hope:

Why would SAVE Dade Executive Director Jorge Mursuli enter into a truce with an organization that continues to refuse him as a member?

``Our job is to educate and advocate for the rights of all people regardless of their sexual orientation,'' Mursuli said this week. ``I think we've done that. We've prevented our public dollars from being used in an organization that has discriminatory policies.''

According to the agreement, the Scouts will seek private donations in lieu of $125,000 in Miami-Dade County funding; can still use Miami-Dade public schools, but won't recruit during school hours; and will craft a training plan with the help of Miami's Project YES, a group that educates about the needs of gay youth.

Also, the Scouts pledge to sue any groups that use its name to further their own agenda. One example: Broward's Equal Rights Not Special Rights has tried to use the Scouts to repeal Broward's gay-rights ordinance. The Scouts have told them to stop; so far no suits have been filed.

The yearlong series of meetings between SAVE Dade and the Scouts, facilitated by the United Way of Miami-Dade, began last summer after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the Scouts' right to ban gays from the organization.

Here's what a few community leaders think about the agreement, which comes on the heels of prospective gay-rights referendums in Dade and Broward counties:

Timothy Curran, a gay ex-Scout who lived in Miami-Dade when he lost his 18-year legal battle to remain a Scout in 1998:

``This is some fig leaf that the United Way can use to continue funding the Boy Scouts in Dade County -- and appear [that the United Way is] complying with its anti-discrimination policy.

``This is a baby step in the right direction. I think it's unfortunate that SAVE Dade and the activists in the community felt it necessary to help out creating a fig leaf. But I also recognize that they are the experts on the political situation.

``I understand politics and political necessity. I hope at some time in the future, a different political landscape will allow SAVE Dade and others to revisit the situation. They're in a tough spot -- and I might have done the same.''

Robin Bodiford, who helped draft Broward's anti-discrimination law and is now working to defend it:

``From our point of view, this agreement the Scouts have made, we have to defend it. . . . It's only a step in the right direction, but every step has to be encouraged.''

Martha Fugate, executive director of Project YES:

``You can imagine how I must have reacted when [SAVE Dade] told me they want me to do this. My reaction was, it's impossible.

``But I'm also a firm believer that there's no problem that communication can't solve. I felt like I was cornered. But as I worked at it, and looked at my commitment, I began to see that it is possible . . . At this point, it's all we can hope for,'' said Fugate, who stood with Mursuli, Boy Scouts executive Jeffrie Herrmann and Dade United Way President and CEO Harve A. Mogul at a news conference last week announcing the agreement.

Sam Terilli, a Miami-Dade attorney who is a longtime member of the Boy Scouts' South Florida Council:

``I support [the agreement]. It's a good idea. It turns down the heat on the issue and allows both sides to continue talking. Both sides have valid points, valid issues and do good things for the community.''

Terilli said he personally disagrees with the Scouts' policy to expel gay members and wants to work from within to help change the policy. ``I don't think any child, any young man should be told to leave.''

Eston ``Dusty'' Melton, a Miami-Dade lobbyist, Eagle Scout and former Southern Region council member, who quit the organization last year over the policy:

``I am encouraged by the announcement, but the policy remains abhorrent. Discrimination is un-American, and at odds with the objectives of Boy Scouting as I know it.''

Melton declined to elaborate, except to say that he agonized over his decision to quit the Scouts. He resigned after coming to believe the current national council is immovable on the issue.

``I look forward to the day I can rejoin the Boy Scouts of America. That day will be when the policy changes,'' he said.

Outlooks runs the second and fourth Thursday of the month. To contact Steve Rothaus, call 305-376-3770, or send him faxes at 305-376-5287. Notices can be mailed to: Steve Rothaus, 1 Herald Plaza, Fifth Floor, Miami, FL 33132. The column is online at http://miami.com/gay

srothaus@herald.com