Council to Discuss Boy Scouts’ Gay Ban

The Laguna Beach City Council, tackling what Councilman Robert F. Gentry called one of its “most important public policy decisions,” today will reconsider a dilemma involving the city’s Police Explorer program and discrimination against gays.

At issue is how the city should respond to the Boy Scouts of America’s policy banning openly gay people from becoming Explorer program members or advisers.

Laguna Beach, which has a law that prohibits discrimination against gays, also has a 22-year-old Police Explorer program.

Troubled by the conflict, Police Chief Neil J. Purcell Jr. in September informed the Boy Scouts that the city will not discriminate against gays. When the charter agreement with the Boy Scouts was up for renewal in February, Purcell simply resubmitted it, once again stating the city’s position against discrimination.

Kent W. Gibbs, president of the Scouts’ Orange County Council, said then that the city essentially agreed to abide by the Boy Scouts’ rules when it filled out the charter agreement paperwork.

But last month, Gentry suggested that the city consider rescinding the agreement rather than associating with an organization that bans gays.

On Monday, Gentry said his feelings have not wavered.

“It’s very cut and dried for me,” he said.