LGBT POV

Not only did the LA Police Commission finally sever ties between the LAPD and the antigay Boy Scouts of America after almost two decades of contention, but LGBTs are stepping up to help make the transition from the BSA-Learning for Life Explorer Program to the new LAPD Cadets, according to openly gay LA Police Commissioner Rob Saltzman, Associate Dean at USC Gould School of Law. Click inside for the story and reaction from Roger Coggan, Jon Davidson and Rev. Troy Perry.

Openly gay LA Police Commissioner Rob Saltzman looks like the distinguished USC legal academic he is. But on Tuesday, he emerged as a kind of Rachel Maddow-style Geek Superhero, catching the Boy Scouts of America-linked Learning for Life attorney in his attempt to flimflam the commission. After a decade of complaints from the LGBT community, the Police Commission finally agreed to sever ties between the LAPD and the BSA-Learning for Life Explorers Program. In two weeks, the LAPD must come back with a detailed plan for its own youth program. Click inside for details – and red flag warnings.

Tomorrow morning, the Los Angeles Police Commission will once again hold a public hearing concerning the connection between the LAPD’s Explorers Program and the Boy Scouts of America, which proudly and legally discriminates against LGBT people. A new opinion by LA City Attorney Carmen Trutanich calls for the LAPD to sever ties to the Boy Scouts – but that’s not as easy as it may sound. For at least 8 years since the LA City Council first ordered the LAPD to sever ties, the LA Police Commission has dodged the issue. I argue here that by failing to sever ties, the Police Commission is complicit with the Boys Scouts’ bigotry and is continuing to fail LGBT youth. Click inside for my argument.