James Dale is a civil rights activist best known for his role in Boy Scouts of America v. Dale, the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case that challenged the organization’s policy of excluding gay youth and adults.  His case prompted a backlash against the organization, one that ignited monumental change across America. 

James joined Scouting at the age of 8 and earned his Eagle Scout Award at 17. While a Rutgers student, a local newspaper published an article on James, in which he discussed being gay.  A few days later, the Boy Scouts expelled James, then 19 years old, from his position of Assistant Scoutmaster. 

James challenged his expulsion, which led to a series of legal cases over a decade.  In 1995, a New Jersey Superior Court ruled in favor of the Scouts, labeling James an “active sodomite” and citing Biblical scripture supporting the expulsion.  In 1999, the Supreme Court of New Jersey overturned the decision and decided unanimously that the actions of the Boy Scouts had violated the state’s law prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation.    

In 2000, the U.S. Supreme Court, in a 5-to-4 ruling, overturned the New Jersey decision and held that the Boy Scouts of America had a First Amendment right to exclude openly gay members.  Although the Boy Scouts had won the court battle, the public outcry resulting from the decision led the organization to reverse its policy and accept openly gay youth, adult Scout leaders, and girls.

James has received numerous accolades for his work from civil rights groups, including the ACLU and HRC.  He works in consulting and marketing and lives in New York City with his partner