Strike Against Bigotry: LAPD Cutting Ties with Bigoted Boy Scouts

More and more public institutions are cutting ties with the Boy Scouts of America because of the BSA's bigoted position and discriminatory policies towards gays and atheists. The BSA won a legal right to discriminate as a private organization, but the price for this victory is that they cannot continue receiving support or endorsements from public institutions or any private institution which values equality. I'm not sure if they realized that this price would have to be paid, and it's taken a long time for it develop, but the BSA is certainly unhappy about it now.

The LAPD has been getting complaints for nearly a decade about their Explorers Program. It's a violation of city law to contract with any business or organization that discriminates on the basis of sexual orientation. The fact that Exploring is a subsidiary of the Boy Scouts of America is undeniable. The fact that the BSA discriminates on the basis of sexual orientation is undeniable. Nevertheless, the city has waffled unforgivably on the matter -- but maybe that's now changing.

Robert M. Salzman, a member of the LA Board of Police Commissioners, writes:

In Los Angeles, the Explorer Programs are administered by a city contractor that in turn subcontracts with the Boy Scouts to administer the programs. The problem is that the Boy Scouts openly proclaim their right to discriminate based on sexual orientation and religion. I know first-hand the significant value of the Explorers Programs to the LAPD and for the young men and women who participate. But no matter how valuable the programs, that value is no justification for them to be administered by an agency that does not comply with the city's non-discrimination laws.

Regrettably, when this issue has been considered in the past, the many supporters of the Boy Scouts have successfully used the quality of the Explorer Program to defeat efforts to separate the substance of the program from the Boy Scouts' policy of discrimination. Once again, that effort has begun with a campaign that targets the Police Commission.

What's significant is that the City Attorney is taking a strong stand in defense of equality:

I am hopeful that this longstanding problem may finally be near a sensible resolution. Last week, our new City Attorney issued an opinion concluding unequivocally that the arrangements with the LA Scouts do not comply with city law which "makes clear that any entity ... entering into a contract or subcontract with the City must not discriminate in their employment practices against an employee or applicant for employment based on race, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital status, domestic partner status, or medical condition."

The City Attorney's advice to the Police Commission and the Fire Commission is clear: "If LAFD or LAPD desire to continue to contract out the administration of their youth development programs and the LA Scouts desire to be a contractor or subcontractor, then the LA Scouts should adopt a non-discrimination policy that adheres to the City's law on non-discrimination." In other words, these valuable youth development programs may continue, but they should be in compliance with city law. The Boy Scouts are entitled to discriminate based on sexual orientation and religion in their own affairs, but they are not entitled to both discriminate and administer an L.A. city youth program. They must choose one or the other.

The Los Angeles fire department has already decided to cut ties with the Boy Scouts and start a new youth program that they will administer themselves. This program won't discriminate and it certainly won't teach that people are inferior simply because they are gay or atheist. This will, right from the start, make it morally superior to what the BSA and its subsidiaries offer. With the LA fire and police departments finally taking the lead, perhaps other government institutions around the nation will make a similar move and stop paying the Boy Scouts of America to spread their intolerance under government supervision.