1998

• The New Jersey Supreme Court rules that the actions of the scouts to expel James Dale, who was openly homosexual, as a scout leader violated New Jersey's "public accommodations" law. The Boy Scouts appealed.

2000

June

• President Clinton issues Executive Order 13160 that prohibited discrimination based on "sexual preference" in "federally conducted education and training programs." Federal agencies normally have to comply with such Executive Orders.
• Four days after Clinton's order, the United States Supreme Court handed down its decision in the New Jersey case, Boy Scouts vs. James Dale. The Court noted the issue in the case was whether "applying New Jersey's public accommodations law in this way violates the Boy Scouts' First Amendment right of expressive association. We hold that it does." (This was a 5-4 decision, meaning that if just one justice had voted differently, the Scouts would have had to accept homosexual scout leaders nationwide.)
• Homosexual and lesbian groups, joined by other liberal groups, immediately reacted to the Supreme Court decision by promising to punish the Scouts by whatever means they could to try to force them to change their position on homosexuals.

July

• As part of the national effort lead by a coalition of homosexuals, lesbians, feminists, atheists and assorted liberals, the scouts were attacked on several fronts. Some corporations withdrew financial support of the Scouts or began bending under the pressure to do so. A number of local United Way organizations expelled the scouts from the group of organizations that will be included in their local fundraising drives.
• State and local governments also began to prohibit the Scouts from using publicly-owned buildings such as schools and public parks and campgrounds. Chicago, San Francisco, San Jose and a number of smaller cities moved to ban local scout troops from using these facilities.
• Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) introduced legislation in Congress, H.R. 4892, which would revoke the Boy Scouts' national charter. Co-sponsoring are Representatives Stark (D-CA), Lee (D-CA), McKinney (D-GA), Nadler (D-N.Y.), Velazquez (D-N.Y.) and Lewis (D-GA).
• The State of Connecticut moved to prohibit state employees from donating to the Boy Scouts through the state-run charitable giving campaign. The state also began an investigation whether to prohibit the Scouts from using state-owned buildings and state parks.
• Maryland Governor Parris Glendening called the Scouts' policy on homosexuals "outrageous and divisive" at a public rally organized in part by homosexual activists.
  
  

August

• The San Diego Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) files suit to stop the city from extending the Boy Scouts lease of 17 acre Scout camp in Balboa Park that the Scouts have been using for nearly 50 years. Similar lawsuits are threatened in other places.
• An Eagle Scout color guard presenting the colors at the opening of the Democratic National Convention is booed by sign-waving delegates. Democratic officials not only refused to apologize to the Scouts or to criticize the delegates' behavior, but stated that "Democrats across the board support equal rights for gays and lesbians and we want to make sure they are not discriminated against." Neither Al Gore nor Joe Lieberman, both former scouts, condemned the booing or apologized to the Eagle Scouts.
• The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) declared August 21st a "National Day of Protest" against the boy scouts and staged demonstrations at the Scouts'national headquarters and 36 local councils in 21 states. Demonstrators tried to present a petition with 55,000 signatures to national Scouting officials. These protests were widely covered by the media.
• The press reports that Interior Department Solicitor John Leshy had asked Attorney General Janet Reno whether the Department could continue to allow the Boy Scouts to hold the National Jamboree and continue to camp on public land in light of Clinton's Executive Order 13160. George Bush expresses grave concern about the possibility of the Scouts being prevented from using public land and Al Gore finally addressed the issue, promising that this will be permitted if he is elected President.

September

• Reacting to growing public outrage that the Interior Department even questioned whether Clinton's Executive Order 13160 could ban Scout groups from using the public's land, Attorney General Janet Reno quickly issued her opinion that it did not.
• A new national organization, Save Our Scouts, kicks off a national public education effort to inform the public of the attacks on Scouting and to get signatures on a petition supporting the Scouts in maintaining their standards.
• Additional local United Way organizations and businesses buckle to pressure to withdraw financial support of the Scouts.
• The House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to defeat H.R. 4892 by a 361-12 vote with 51 Congressmen voting present.
• Attacks on Local Councils increase as Boy Scouts are excluded from public schools and parks.
• On September 26, 2000 H.R.5306 is introduced to protect the Scouts. Over 50 Congressmen co-sponser the bill.

2001

• Senate Passes Amendment to protect the Boy Scouts.
• "Scout's Honor" Film Aired on PBS
• Heart Of Florida United Way changes position to support the Boy Scouts thanks to contributors who objected.
• SOS Petition more then doubles the petition by Scouting for All.
• Congress Passes Bill that protects the Boy Scouts.