After years of controversy, the case of a gay California man was denied a hearing by the Supreme Court Monday.

The high court declined to hear the case of Charles Merino, a former Boy Scouts leader who was dismissed from his position because of his homosexuality.

According to The Associated Press, homosexuality was reason enough for Merino to be ousted because members of the Boy Scouts are expected to be “morally straight.”

Unfortunately, Merino’s case isn’t exactly surprising. In 1990, Assistant Scoutmaster James Dale also was dismissed from the program, not because of how he interacted with his troops, but because of whom he went home to after the meetings.

If these leaders had been gossiping about their sex lives instead of teaching the troops how to tie knots, that would be one thing.

But there is no evidence to suggest that the leaders acted inappropriately in front of the troops — the leaders were dismissed from their positions because of bigotry — pure and simple.

Both men sued the organization, but in some circles, their plight was treated with snickers and jokes about pedophilia instead of the concern it warranted.

Since the Supreme Court refused to hear Merino’s case, absolutely nothing is resolved. When will the justices tackle the issue that will inevitably keep arising?

Some may argue that the Boy Scouts of America is a private organization, so it is up to Boy Scouts officials to decide who to admit to the group.

But as long as the present policy of “No Gays Allowed” stands, the boys are not learning positive values. What they are learning is that it is OK to discriminate against others because of whom they choose to love.

Sure it’s their rule — but if their rules incorporate discrimination, they are wrong. Why should certain members of the Boy Scouts consider themselves pillars of the community and morally superior if they are teaching thousands of boys across America to hate?

The gay rights movement will never be able to make full strides unless organizations, even private groups like the Boy Scouts, take steps to eliminate discrimination.

If the Boy Scouts do not want to have gay men participating in their organization, that is their prerogative. But they inevitably will be losing members who care about the organization.

And the organization will be losing them for no other reason than its own bigotry.