[20291] in APO-L
Re: HIV-Positive Scout Files Complaint
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Gordon III, Albert F)
Fri Mar 12 20:20:27 1999
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 1999 20:24:47 -0500
Reply-To: "Gordon III, Albert F" <afgordon@ROANOKE.EDU>
From: "Gordon III, Albert F" <afgordon@ROANOKE.EDU>
To: APO-L@LISTSERV.IUPUI.EDU
Wow I can't believe this. I thought everyone is given equal treatment
wether or not of illness or not. And this girl being denied into the Girl
Scouts is just rediculous to me.
Albie
$%$%$%$$%$%$%$%$%$%$%$%$%$$%$%$%$%$%$%$%$%$%$
Albie Gordon
ICQ-8872638
AIM-WIINGMAN AG or KuchtaAPO
afgordon@roanoke.edu or algordon@hotmail.com
PN- (540) 375-6280
!@!@!@!@!@!!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@
-----Original Message-----
From: Derek Cashman <cashman@YAHOO.COM>
To: APO-L@LISTSERV.IUPUI.EDU <APO-L@LISTSERV.IUPUI.EDU>
Date: Friday, March 12, 1999 8:11 PM
Subject: [APO-L] HIV-Positive Scout Files Complaint
>This just came across the AP newswire and I thought it might interest
>some of those here...
>
>HIV-Positive Scout Files Complaint
>
>Thursday, 11 March 1999
>Q U E E N S B U R Y , N .Y . (AP)
>
>A HUMAN-RIGHTS complaint has been lodged against the Girl Scouts for
>initially denying membership to an HIV-positive 8-year-old.
>
>The Legal Action Center of New York City filed it Wednesday on behalf
>of Quashawn Donovan with the state Division of Human Rights. Quashawn
>was rejected from seven troops in the Queensbury area last year
>because she has the virus that causes AIDS, according to her mother,
>Dianne Donovan.
>
>"We want the human rights division to require the Girl Scouts to
>educate all troop leaders, volunteers and staff that HIV cannot be
>transmitted through casual contact," said Legal Action Center lawyer
>Sally Friedman. "We also want them to order the Girl Scouts to adopt
>stricter anti-discrimination policies that would hold people who
>violate them accountable."
>
>The complaint also seeks unspecified damages to compensate Quashawn
>for the emotional distress she suffered when she was rejected by troop
>leaders, Friedman said.
>
>An administrative law judge will hear the complaint, which alleges
>violations of the state's human rights law. His decision would be put
>into effect by the state commissioner of human rights.
>
>Kit Huggard, executive director of the Adirondack Girl Scout Council
>in this town about 45 miles north of Albany, declined to comment
>Wednesday on the complaint. She maintains, though, that the Girl
>Scouts do not discriminate against any child, including those with
>life-threatening illnesses.
>
>According to the complaint, the local council gave Mrs. Donovan an
>enthusiastic response when she first approached them in October
>looking for a troop for her daughter. But she said she was later
>rebuffed by troop
>leader after troop leader, who individually hold the power to decide
>who joins their troops.
>
>Mrs. Donovan said she believes leaders, who are volunteers, were
>afraid parents would pull their children from troops if Quashawn
>joined.
>
>The Legal Action Center accused the local council with discrimination,
>and the national organization, Girl Scouts USA, with "aiding and
>abetting" that discrimination.
>
>Friedman said troop leaders don't face any consequences if they
>violate the organization's anti-discrimination policy.
>
>
>==
>_________________________________________________________
>
>Derek Cashman (cashman@yahoo.com)
>President; Richmond VA Alumni Association
>Alpha Phi Omega
>
>
>_________________________________________________________
>DO YOU YAHOO!?
>Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com
>
