Seattle mayor, council backs gay Boy Scouts leader who was ousted

Seattle’s mayor and city council have thrown their support behind a Boys Scouts troop leader in Seattle who was dismissed last month because he is gay.

The Boy Scouts of America revoked the membership of Geoff McGrath two weeks ago after officials learned he was gay when his Seattle Troop 98 was profiled by NBC News.

In a letter, Mayor Ed Murray and council members urged Chief Seattle Council, the regional body, to defend Rainier Beach United Methodist Church in its decision to retain McGrath as scoutmaster. The church is the troop’s chartering organization.

“We believe supporting diversity leads to attracting talent and innovation, hallmarks of a successful city. We believe Scouting is a wonderfully successful tradition, but this act of discrimination is deeply disturbing,” in a letter signed by all nine councilmembers and the mayor.

“It’s not a letter that makes demands or interferes with their own ability to decide. It’s a letter hopefully that will lead to them making changes,” Mayor Murray told KIRO Radio.

The letter refers to a 67 percent approval of marriage equality in King County and pointed to a government that made its City Hall available for same sex weddings at no cost, following approval of Referendum 74.

“The city does not have a standing in this situation as far as legal action,” said Murray. “We’re not planning any legal action. This letter was about civic leaders stating our concern about discrimination.”

Murray said the letter was addressed to the head of the local boy scout council, Rob McKenna, who has himself expressed concerns about the national organization’s stance on gay members.

BSA spokesman Deron Smith said in a statement Wednesday that McGrath “is no longer eligible to serve as an adult leader.”

But the church’s Rev. Monica Corsaro says McGrath continues to lead the troop and that the church stands by him.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.