California Bill Would Strip Boy Scouts and Other Youth Organizations of Tax Preferences On Account of Membership Policies Excluding Homosexuals

California State Senator Ricardo Lara has introduced a bill entitled the Youth Equality Act.  The Senator’s web page describes the bill (SB 323) as follows:

On the heels of the controversy surrounding the Boys Scouts of America’s policy to exclude members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community as scouts or adult leaders, today State Senator Ricardo Lara (D-Long Beach) and Equality California announced the introduction of new legislation that would remove a state tax exemption for any youth group, including the Boy Scouts, that discriminate against members and leaders on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. Currently, organizations that discriminate on these grounds may still receive sales and corporate tax exemptions, a provision that is intended to encourage acting in the public interest.

Additional coverage of the bill and the uncertainties surrounding its enactment is available from CBS (San Francisco Bay area) and the San Diego Union-Tribune.  

 JRB