In light of all the trouble in the Catholic Church and in the Boy Scouts itself, you'd think he might be a little more mellow about the rights of a
private organization.

[url]people.aol.com/people/news/now/0,10958,364602,00.html[/url]

Steven Spielberg was in the nation's capital
                    Sunday as he was honored at the Human Rights
                    Campaign's annual dinner for his commitment to
                    equal rights, PEOPLE reports.

                    Singer Melissa Etheridge, 41, presented him HRC's
                    2002 National Equality Award and called him "a
                    man with a heart and soul like I have never known --
                    one of the greatest artistic and altruistic men in
                    America."

                    Also on hand for the event: Tipper Gore, Betty
                    DeGeneres (mother of Ellen), House Minority
                    Leader Dick Gephardt (D-Mo.), Democratic National
                    Committee chair Terry McAuliffe and Judy Shepard,
                    the mother of Matthew Shepard.

                   [b] In regard to human rights, Spielberg spoke about
                    how the Boy Scouts of America's policy of barring
                    gay troop leaders prompted him to end his lifelong
                    affiliation with the organization. [/b]

                    "For me the greatest value of scouting was scouting
                    created opportunities for me to become proud of
                    myself," he said. "And, maybe most importantly, it
                    was through the Boy Scouts of America, as I was
                    trying out for a merit badge in photography, that I
                    actually discovered my passion for filmmaking."

                    He considered himself a passionate advocate of
                    scouting, he said, "until the Supreme Court case of
                    (James) Dale vs. the Boy Scouts of America (in
                    2000, which upheld the group's right to exclude
                    gays), where I realized something that I really had
                    not been very aware of -- that you could be black,
                    white, you could be Hispanic and Asian,
                    Native-American, Jewish, Catholic, Islamic, but you
                    couldn't get into the scouts if you were gay. And I
                    know it's tough just being a kid trying to find
                    acceptance, trying to accept yourself."

                    Moreover, he emphasized, "I just have to say that
                    quitting the Boy Scouts was probably one of the
                    most painful experiences I've ever had to endure.
                    But they are wrong and you are right. We are right
                    -- supporting causes like the Human Rights
                    Campaign isn't difficult and it's not even brave. It's
                    mandatory because every day, we wake up in a
                    country that presumes basic liberty and freedom."

                    Not that he wished to end on a dire note. Said
                    Spielberg: "I find that our world is expanding to all of
                    our needs. I really feel that the changes are just out
                    there. If I could sing, which I know you would all
                    love me to do, I would be Richard Beymer right now
                    with that great song from 'West Side Story' --
                    'Something's Coming, Something Good.'"

[url]www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2001/6/28/232331.shtml[/url]

The above is an article that chronicles some recent problems with Scout Masters.

I bet they aren't letting too many straight guys do the overnites with the Girl Scouts either.

What I never get is the need to destroy something just because you think it is not perfect..  Steve should have stayed in Boy Scouts and tried to
change it from the inside.  Instead they pontificate unhappily and claim they must take their ball and go home.

No kidding.  You'd figure out after the Catholic child molestation scandals, the gay rights people would understand the Boy Scouts' concerns, see they were more interested in protecting their children from sexual abuse than hurting gay peoples' feelings and sense of acceptance.

Dammed if you do, dammed if you don't.

--LS

...and what is the difference between the Boy Scouts of America and Steven Spielberg?

The BSA has the integrity to make a stand, stick to their beliefs no matter what, and NOT ONCE ATTACK OR BELITTLE THOSE OPPOSING THEIR view. Funny, how he's got to keep hacking on the BSA (didn't you leave yet, Steve? Buh-bye!)....yet the BSA hasn't said a word against him.

Besides, what's the big deal.....we're talking about an uber-liberal suckfest where immoral pigfuckers kow-tow to the soulless vampiric heirarchy...who cares what they think?

who cares what spielberg thinks!!
he has made a few good movies, but big deal.I dont know why people always pay so much attention to movie stars and the like ,just because they can act does not make them a great scholar or anything,as a matter of fact they usually have a really screwed up personal life.

Sometimes I wonder what might have happened had that stalker gotten over the fence.

Sounds more like the "Lesbo and Homo Rights Campaign" to me. Screw them.