Scouting for All, a local human rights organization dedicated to fighting the Boy Scouts of America’s discrimination against gays and atheists will hold a rally at 11:00 a.m. this Sunday, Oct. 12, at 1207 Upas Street, outside the Boy Scouts local headquarters in Balboa Park. Darrell Lambert, an Eagle Scout and nontheist, will be the keynote speaker at the event to challenge the Boy Scouts of America’s exclusionary membership policy targeting gays and atheists.

“We’re hoping for a good crowd,” Scouting for All’s Howard Menzer said. “We expected more backing than we got. Last year and years prior Balboa for All has been a pretty solid group. This year it is scouting for all and PFLAG, and I know of no other group that is helping us. Of course I am not happy about that, but I will be there and we will get people there one way or another.”

According to Menzer, in past years The Center and the San Diego Democratic Party have taken a much lager role in the rally. Delores Jacobs of The Center expressed regret over not being able to be more involved.

“We are just stretched to capacity,” said Jacobs, who is overseeing five major events this month. “We were going to be able to move ahead and be as supportive until [Proposition] 54 came up and AJ [Davis-Defeo the director of The Center’s Public Policy Department] has been crazy trying to help all the collaborators on ‘No on 54.’ I just literally didn’t have enough people to help, with 54 coming up that quick. We didn’t think we would actually end up with an October election and when we did we were screwed.”

In addition to the keynote speaker there will be a number of local representatives at the event to address the Scouts’ current exclusionary policies and issues related to the City of San Diego’s “sweetheart” lease of prime Balboa Park land to the local Boy Scouts.

In July 2003, the city’s lease to the Boy Scouts was deemed unlawful in an historic ACLU court case.

The Boy Scouts of America are currently appealing the ruling. The city council has voted not to participate in the appeals process but did not take the additional step towards terminating the lease with the scouts.

The Oct. 12 rally outside the Boy Scouts’ headquarters is expected to last until 1:00 p.m. Participants are urged to bring signs to show their support in ending the Boy Scouts’ discriminatory policies. For more information concerning the Scouting For All rally, visit the gaylesbiantimes.com web site for a link to their home page.