Backlash to the backlash.

BSA gets local government support after nonprofits reject its ban on gays

Immediately following last year's U.S. Supreme Court ruling allowing the Boy Scouts of America to bar gay members, the group experienced a severe backlash to its policy, with school districts and United Way agencies across the country severing their ties to the Scouts. Now the group is enjoying a brief backlash to the backlash, as legislators introduce bills to support the BSA in its battle and conservatives aim to take their cause to the ballot box.

"These things are bad and a bit of a setback," said James Dale, the openly gay former Eagle Scout whose case the Supreme Court considered. "But it's not insurmountable. The reason they're doing it is because of the success that the issue has had." Among the most recent developments:

* The Arizona legislature is considering a bill that would prevent local governments from withholding funding from the Scouts. The bill was prompted by the city of Tucson's ban on funding groups that discriminate. "It shouldn't be right that governments can impose this kind of discrimination on an organization, especially one that has provided such service to our state for such a long time," said Republican state representative Mark Anderson.

* A similar move in Tempe, Ariz., to penalize the Scouts has also led to a recall effort against the city's openly gay mayor, Neil Giuliano. Giuliano's supporters say the real reason for the recall is his sexual orientation. "At its core this drive to recall a great mayor is about prejudice, not principle," said Brian Bond, executive director of the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund.

* Religious conservatives in Florida's Broward and Miami-Dade counties are preparing ballot measures to repeal laws banning public funding to groups that discriminate.

* A Connecticut state senator wants to eliminate the state Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities because the commission ruled that the Scouts can't be included in the state employee contribution campaign.

Dale said the latest battles are a chance for national gay groups to capitalize on the growing distaste for the Scouts' policy. "What I've seen is that the reason these legislative issues came about is that so many people were outraged by the discrimination," he said. "That's a wonderful grassroots opportunity that we as a movement need to harness."