LAGUNA BEACH : Report Issued on Scouts’ Gay Bias

A task force formed to lobby the Boy Scouts of America to change its policy of banning gays from joining Police Explorer programs told the City Council this week that a change in the organization’s policy is more likely to be prompted by pending court cases than by lobbying from Laguna Beach.

The task force was formed six months ago by the previous council, which was concerned because the city has a popular and well-established Explorer group but also has a law prohibiting discrimination based upon sexual orientation.

The Boy Scouts of America is considered the parent organization of the Police Explorer program and provides insurance for the groups.

The task force, which is composed of parents, youths, representatives from gay-rights groups and the general public, has met 11 times. Chairwoman Theresa O’Hare reported back to the city for the first time Tuesday night.

O’Hare said the group wrote to 100 cities with non-discrimination ordinances, outlining Laguna Beach’s dilemma and seeking ideas. Of the 33 municipalities that responded, 11 expressed interest in joining the effort to lobby the scouting group to change its policy.

But O’Hare told the council the task force believes change will come from pending court cases.

“We really think it’s just a matter of time,” she said.

Kent Gibbs, a spokesman for the Boy Scouts of America’s Orange County Council, said Thursday that he is not aware of any pending change in the scouting organization’s policy.

The task force is also studying the possibility of Laguna Beach splitting from the Boy Scouts and forming its own cadet program.

Should it do so, however, Laguna Beach scouts would not be able to participate in Boy Scout training sessions, camp-outs, work activities or social events. In addition, the Boy Scouts of America would no longer pay for insurance.

O’Hare said the group will continue to “vigorously explore” possibilities and monitor ongoing court cases. It will report back to the City Council again Feb. 21.