Philly, Scouts End Gay-Rights Battle

The city will sell the scouts the building for about half the $1.1M value

A local Boy Scouts group has resolved a long battle with the city of Philadelphia over the Boy Scouts of America's ban on gay members.

The city had threatened to evict the scouts from their city-owned headquarters building if the group discriminated against gays.

But a federal jury this year agreed the eviction would violate the private Cradle of Liberty Council's First Amendment rights.

A lawyer for the scouts says the city, rather than appeal, will sell the scouts the building for about half the $1.1 million value.

In exchange, the city won't have to pay the $1 million in legal fees spent by the Scouts.

Scouts lawyer Jason Gosselin says City Council will vote on the deal Thursday. But he says it's not clear that council approval is needed to settle the case.

 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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