
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, April 1, 1994                   TAG: 9404010113
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: los angeles times
DATELINE: LOS ANGELES                                LENGTH: Short

COURT: BOY SCOUTS CAN BAR GAY MALE LEADERS

Ruling on an issue closely watched by gay-rights advocates and their opponents, a California appeals court has concluded that the Boy Scouts of America has the right to bar gay men from becoming scout leaders.

In a 2-1 decision, the Second Appellate District of the California Court of Appeal found that a state law prohibiting job discrimination against gay men and lesbians does not apply to the Boy Scouts and does not prevent the organization from excluding gays from the ranks of scout masters.

Forcing the scouts to accept openly gay leaders would violate the organization's First Amendment rights of association, the judges said.

by CNB