Are you taking American Heritage Merit Badge?
Requirement 3a. Select a topic related to the United States that is currently in the news. Describe to your counselor what is happening. Explain how today’s events are related to or affected by the events and values of America’s past.
Are you taking Journalism Merit Badge?
Requirement 2b. All on the same day, watch a local and national network newscast, listen to a radio newscast, and (with your parent’s permission) view a national broadcast news source online. List the different news items and features presented, the different elements used, and the time in minutes and seconds and the online space devoted to each story. Compare the story lists, and discuss whether the stories are fair and accurate. Explain why the different news outlets treated the stories differently and/or presented a different point of view.
Are you taking American Cultures Merit Badge
Requirement 5. Give a talk to your scout unit or class at school on how people from different groups have gotten along together. Lead a discussion on what can be done to help various groups understand one another better.
Last week, The U.S. Supreme Court delivered a ruling that a longstanding federal law, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, barring workplace discrimination protects gay and transgender employees.
During our summer of Global Citizenship, we’ll highlight this decision and encourage everyone to reflect on the evolution of the civil rights act.
Civil Rights Act
The Civil Rights Act of 1964, which ended segregation in public places and banned employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin, is considered one of the crowning legislative achievements of the civil rights movement. First proposed by President John F. Kennedy, it survived strong opposition from southern members of Congress and was then signed into law by Kennedy’s successor, Lyndon B. Johnson. In subsequent years, Congress expanded the act and passed additional civil rights legislation such as the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Civil rights of the LGBT community – Stonewall Riots
In June of 1969, most states said it was illegal to be LGBTQ. It was also illegal for bars and restaurants to have gay employees or serve gay patrons. Stonewall Inn was one establishment that went against that ruling and as a result there was a raid which resulted in a riot. The Stonewall riot became catalyst for LGBTQ activists. Although Stonewall was not the beginning of the LBGTQ movement, it became the turning point. Today, we celebrate Pride Month in June to commemorate the Stonewall Riots and the impact that LBGTQ people have had in the world. Pride month is also an opportunity to peacefully protest and raise awareness of issues facing the community.
Timeline Summary of Civil Rights movement and Civil Rights Act of 1964
https://www.history.com/topics/civil-rights-movement/civil-rights-movement-timeline
Sources https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/civil-rights-movement#section_14
Timeline Summary of LGBT Rights movement
https://www.history.com/topics/gay-rights/the-stonewall-riots
Sources https://www.history.com/topics/gay-rights/history-of-gay-rights#section_16
Opinion piece by Irene Monroe
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/06/12/opinion/black-lives-lgbtq-lives-pride/