Eagle Scout Steven Cozza, 14, recently handed out flyers protesting the position of the Boy Scouts of America on gays. |
The National Gay Lobby was stopped cold in its tracks when it tried to send unsolicited e-mail to Boy Scouts and their leaders.
More than 1,000 adult scout leaders and an unknown number of Boy Scouts were sent unsolicited e-mail messages from hundreds of homosexual activists. One of those scout leaders filed a complaint about the National Gay Lobby to the lobby's Internet service provider for breaking the terms of service contract for their website.
The group had posted the list of scouts' e-mail addresses and encouraged their activists to send e-mail messages to everyone on the list. Although the group claims its messages were educational and informative, a number of the recipients claim the messages were attacking and offensive.
Despite the fact that the National Gay Lobby operates its own Internet service provider, which the group claims is "gay friendly," that ISP purchases service from a chain of companies ending with Global Crossing of Rochester, N.J.
"I didn't expect action so fast. It was only a matter of hours," Boy Scout committee member Steven Hummel, a computer network consultant and former private investigator, told WorldNetDaily. Hummel and his son both received unsolicited e-mails, or spam, from homosexual activists because their e-mail addresses were on the website. Hummel objects to spam of any kind and knew how to stop it.
"I called Global Crossing directly and got through to a person and explained to them that there was a website downstream from them that was soliciting others to send unsolicited spam mail," Hummel explained.
Hummel said every ISP has a policy regarding spam, and he used his private eye experience to track down the top company in the chain of service providers involved.
The next day the e-mail addresses were removed from the site and a notice was posted in its place.
"Over the past 48 hours, more than 1,000 adults involved in Boy Scouts of America programs heard from hundreds of you about the BSA's efforts to intimidate and punish Scott and Steven Cozza for speaking out on behalf of fair treatment for gay youth. Many of the good Christian adults who received your educational email messages were angered that you interrupted their lives with unwanted truth," proclaimed the website.
A spokesman for the group could not be reached by press time.
The American Family Association is a non-profit, non-denominational Christian-based group that strongly opposes the "homosexual agenda," according to the AFA website. The watchdog organization is watching the National Gay Lobby closely on the Boy Scout issue, according to spokesman Buddy Smith.
The e-mail campaign was created to support the efforts of a scoutmaster and his son who are actively teaching other scouts and leaders to lie about and hide homosexual scouts and leaders from Boy Scouts of America officials.
Scott Cozza is a former scoutmaster and his son Steven is an Eagle Scout. The elder Cozza was removed from his position because of his efforts to radically change the scouting program. The Cozzas also want girls and atheists to be admitted to the organization.
The family has created a website that advocates keeping homosexual orientation of boys and leaders secret from BSA officials while supporters work to change the official policy towards homosexuals. The Cozzas have a petition drive under way and over 34,000 have already signed.
Recent court cases have challenged the ability of the BSA to be selective in its membership. The New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that the BSA must not discriminate in its membership practices, but that case is under appeal. The BSA has won similar cases in other states, including California.
Cozza, 14, recently attended an Eagle Scout dinner honoring adults and youths who have attained scouting's highest rank. He and his father stood outside, handing out flyers and demanding a change in policy to the scouting program.
Hummel said he doesn't want the issue to interfere with the children involved in scouting.
"Scouting is for the boys and to build their self-esteem. They should not be a part of some agenda," he said.
He was much more concerned by the fact that spam was being sent, rather than with the content or intent of the messages.
"I'm opposed to receiving any unsolicited e-mails, especially when there is an agenda attached," said Hummel. He said he pays for Internet service and does not want unsolicited e-mail to cause his ISP to encounter additional costs that may end up being passed on to consumers.
"I am not an official with the BSA other than I am a committee member in our local troop. My son is almost Eagle and my father and grandfather were scouts as was I. I was simply on their list, and I chose not to have my e-mail address advertised for their purposes," Hummel explained.
The Cozzas hope to change the minds of many scouts, scout leaders, and parents regarding the rules of the program.
"Scouting For All is a nonprofit organization made up of scouts, adult leaders and concerned individuals outside of scouting dedicated to ending the discrimination of the Boy Scouts of America towards gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered youth and adults. Scouting For All is also advocating that the Boy Scouts of America end its discrimination against girls and atheists, http://www.scoutingforall.org/">according to their website.
AFA was pleased that Hummel knew how to get the e-mail addresses off the website so quickly. Smith said he is now concerned that the National Gay Lobby hinted on its website that it may soon use the list again in some other way.
"Well, if these folks were angry about receiving email, they're probably going to have to seek medical attention when they hear about what we have in store for them next," the National Gay Lobby announced on its website.
Smith said such a statement is of concern, and may result in legal action if needed.
"We do not think their statement warrants any legal actions, but it certainly contains elements that could develop in that direction should they persist," said Smith. Steven Crampton, the AFA Center for Law & Policy's chief counsel, is considering what actions to take.