H
hellodwg
Guest
NEW YORK STATE
Who: I am the mother of an 8 year old girl, a third grader who is in her second year with the same Brownie Girl Scout troop. The discrimination we are facing is by the Girl Scouts of Suffolk County, (Long Island, New York)
What: Religious Discrimination. The scheduling of our Girl Scouts Service Unit camping trip conflicts with when Rosh Hashanah falls this year, Friday evening through Sunday, September 26-28, 2003. Rosh Hashanah is one of the two highest holy days in the Jewish religion and when it falls on a school day, the public schools are closed in deference. No matter how my family observes this holiday, it is a time reserved for family and we cannot in good conscience justify sending our daughter on a camping trip for the weekend. This is not a weekend that should have been approved for such a large scale Girl Scout event and my daughter is very upset at not being able to be a part of this large camping trip. What the Girl Scouts of Suffolk County are calling a resolution to this remains discriminatory against any girls who are Jewish and is creating a “separate but equal” scenario which is most definitely separate but also most definitely not equal. Their resolution to this is that the service unit camping trip would go on as scheduled. My daughter’s troop as a troop alone, separate from the service unit, could try to get a reservation at the campsite for another fall weekend, but there was no guarantee of availablility. The troop leader at the troop level said that she would book another camping trip in the spring. But, that would be for my daughter’s troop only. My daughter’s troop is going to the service unit camping trip as the Girl Scouts of Suffolk County did not say that the date has to be changed to be inclusive for all, and for her to withdraw would not be fair to the rest of the troop. The service unit camping trip has a wide range of activities that involve all the girls from all the troops, many of these girls my daughter knows and is friendly with. This would be a totally different kind of experience than a separate camping trip with just my daughter’s troop, if all the girls in my daughter’s troop would even want to, or be able to, go on this second trip. This scheduling conflict completely contradicts what the Girl Scout organization is. “Girl Scouts of the USA is the world's pre-eminent organization dedicated solely to girls — all girls — where, in an accepting and nurturing environment, girls build character and skills for success in the real world. In partnership with committed adult volunteers, Girl Scouts cultivate their full individual potential. The qualities they develop in Girl Scouting — leadership, values, social conscience, and conviction about their own self-worth — serve them all their lives” http://www.girlscouts.org/about/
“Girl Scouts of Suffolk County's mission is to assist girls to achieve their highest potential and become a vital part of their community. Programs are educational and recreational and are based on ethical values that open a world of opportunities for youth working in partnership with adult volunteers. Girl Scouts provides a safe and nurturing environment where girls from all backgrounds develop the confidence, determination and skills needed to thrive in today's world. Girls learn to set and reach goals; improve decision-making skills; appreciate the diversity of others; and become leaders.” http://www.scgsc.org/aboutus.html
My reasons for pursuing this are based on my understanding that this incident is in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment to the US Constitution and the Civil Rights Act of 1964, specifically sections 201, 202 and 203. Although the Girl Scouts are a private
organization, they are non sectarian which means they do not have any one religious affiliation, and I feel that this would also fall under the "place of public accomodation" wording of Sec 201a.
I did contact the New York State Division of Human Rights and spoke with an investigator. The earliest appointment date I was able to be given to file a formal complaint is Thursday October 16. The appointment is after the camping trip though but I took it anyway because it is the next logical step of action. I would like to know what course of action an attorney could take with me at this point. I am looking for the legal leg to stand on that makes it something I can clearly and immediately fight using our legal system.
Who: I am the mother of an 8 year old girl, a third grader who is in her second year with the same Brownie Girl Scout troop. The discrimination we are facing is by the Girl Scouts of Suffolk County, (Long Island, New York)
What: Religious Discrimination. The scheduling of our Girl Scouts Service Unit camping trip conflicts with when Rosh Hashanah falls this year, Friday evening through Sunday, September 26-28, 2003. Rosh Hashanah is one of the two highest holy days in the Jewish religion and when it falls on a school day, the public schools are closed in deference. No matter how my family observes this holiday, it is a time reserved for family and we cannot in good conscience justify sending our daughter on a camping trip for the weekend. This is not a weekend that should have been approved for such a large scale Girl Scout event and my daughter is very upset at not being able to be a part of this large camping trip. What the Girl Scouts of Suffolk County are calling a resolution to this remains discriminatory against any girls who are Jewish and is creating a “separate but equal” scenario which is most definitely separate but also most definitely not equal. Their resolution to this is that the service unit camping trip would go on as scheduled. My daughter’s troop as a troop alone, separate from the service unit, could try to get a reservation at the campsite for another fall weekend, but there was no guarantee of availablility. The troop leader at the troop level said that she would book another camping trip in the spring. But, that would be for my daughter’s troop only. My daughter’s troop is going to the service unit camping trip as the Girl Scouts of Suffolk County did not say that the date has to be changed to be inclusive for all, and for her to withdraw would not be fair to the rest of the troop. The service unit camping trip has a wide range of activities that involve all the girls from all the troops, many of these girls my daughter knows and is friendly with. This would be a totally different kind of experience than a separate camping trip with just my daughter’s troop, if all the girls in my daughter’s troop would even want to, or be able to, go on this second trip. This scheduling conflict completely contradicts what the Girl Scout organization is. “Girl Scouts of the USA is the world's pre-eminent organization dedicated solely to girls — all girls — where, in an accepting and nurturing environment, girls build character and skills for success in the real world. In partnership with committed adult volunteers, Girl Scouts cultivate their full individual potential. The qualities they develop in Girl Scouting — leadership, values, social conscience, and conviction about their own self-worth — serve them all their lives” http://www.girlscouts.org/about/
“Girl Scouts of Suffolk County's mission is to assist girls to achieve their highest potential and become a vital part of their community. Programs are educational and recreational and are based on ethical values that open a world of opportunities for youth working in partnership with adult volunteers. Girl Scouts provides a safe and nurturing environment where girls from all backgrounds develop the confidence, determination and skills needed to thrive in today's world. Girls learn to set and reach goals; improve decision-making skills; appreciate the diversity of others; and become leaders.” http://www.scgsc.org/aboutus.html
My reasons for pursuing this are based on my understanding that this incident is in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment to the US Constitution and the Civil Rights Act of 1964, specifically sections 201, 202 and 203. Although the Girl Scouts are a private
organization, they are non sectarian which means they do not have any one religious affiliation, and I feel that this would also fall under the "place of public accomodation" wording of Sec 201a.
I did contact the New York State Division of Human Rights and spoke with an investigator. The earliest appointment date I was able to be given to file a formal complaint is Thursday October 16. The appointment is after the camping trip though but I took it anyway because it is the next logical step of action. I would like to know what course of action an attorney could take with me at this point. I am looking for the legal leg to stand on that makes it something I can clearly and immediately fight using our legal system.