Letter - Joanne Hedge

Joanne Hedge

This is regarding “City turns back Scouting proposal” (Oct. 18),

wherein the City Council voted 3-2 not to have staff study why federal

funds should or shouldn’t be awarded by the city to various community

groups such as the Verdugo Hills Boy Scouts who ban gay men as members.

No matter how much good a group is doing, a cloud of prejudice and

intolerance hangs over it if, indeed, it uses federal funds and practices

or endorses any intolerance, including that of sexual and gender

orientation.

It’s not as though their good works would dry up due to lack of

federal money, because there are hundreds of philanthropic organizations

willing to support groups whose tenets do not uphold the entire meaning

of equality and equal opportunity in a democratic society.

A distinction should be made, of course, with such groups as the YWCA

and YMCA which, despite their initial names, and with a “family-oriented”

mission, nonetheless admit members of all religions and genders.

Glendale sends the wrong message to its neighbors, including

corporations such as The Walt Disney Co., whose GC3 campus expansion

plans will attract more than 7,000 new employees, and consequent new

homeowners and families whose orientation may vary from the traditional

1950s “Ozzie and Harriet” picture. Many other cities have moved forward

regarding this issue, and have not suffered for it.

With respect for ongoing good works by Glendale community groups,

today’s goal by city decision-makers should be to strive to demonstrate,

not delay, that good deeds best have their roots in no less than

unconditional, brotherly love.

JOANNE HEDGE is president of the Glendale Rancho Homeowners Assn.