Today we'll discuss the potential changes to the Boy Scouts of America policies regarding sexual orientation. We'll also take a look at the Los Angeles mayoral candidates and consider the value of taking a test to get a college degree. Later, we'll check in on President Obama's speech on immigration reform and talk about the harms of sitting at a desk all day. All that and more, on AirTalk.
Boy Scouts may lift ban on gay leaders
The Boy Scouts of America may lift its ban on gay members and leaders as early as next week. The BSA reaffirmed its prohibition of homosexuals in July 2012 and has since come under fire for what many consider to be outdated and discriminatory policies. The Scout’s national board will discuss reforms to the ban next week as part of what they say has been an ongoing dialogue.
The end of the exclusion of gay Scouts and leaders will likely be opposed by some religious groups and more conservative troops. BSA spokesperson Deron Smith says the new policy would reflect a change at the national level – while the Boy Scout institution would allow Scouts and troop leaders of any sexual orientation, individual troops would retain their autonomy and the power to “accept membership and select leaders consistent with each organization’s mission, principles, or religious beliefs.” There is no timeline yet for the potential lift of the ban.
Why is the BSA deciding to do this now?What could be the effect of giving local Boy Scout troops more independence? Will the change in policy really change much if local troops are still allowed to exclude gay members and leaders? Is the BSA’s possible progressive shift the latest in a sweeping societal sea change in attitudes towards gay people? Could this change your opinion about the Boy Scouts or your decision to involve your child?
Guests:
Rabbi Sarah Hronsky, Temple Beth Hillel – Valley Village; Temple Beth Hillel sponsors two units of the Los Angeles branch of Boy Scouts of America, Cub Scout Pack 311 and Boy Scout Troop 36
Peter Sprigg, Senior Fellow with the Family Research Council (FRC), a non-profit organization that aims to advance faith, family and freedom in public policy and to promote culture from a Christian worldview
Who will the get the union endorsement in the mayor’s race?
The L.A. mayoral candidates have been trumpeting their endorsements, but there’s one big fish yet to land: SEIU Local 721, the powerful union that represents roughly 10,000 City Hall employees. The Service Employees International Union has yet to throw their weight behind a candidate, even though they met with the four leading candidates - City Controller Wendy Greuel, City Councilmembers Jan Perry and Eric Garcetti and attorney Kevin James - two months ago. But there are signs the nod will come soon; they’ve called Greuel and Garcetti back for a second interview, to be held this evening.
It’s no secret that the union was unhappy with current mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and the City Council after budget cuts led to recent layoffs of over 350 city workers. Garcetti, who was council president at the time of that decision, is no doubt in for some tough questioning by the union.
Which candidate will inspire city workers to get out the member vote? What promises will he or she have to make? Does the union endorsement mean the election?
Guest:
David Zahniser, reporter with The Los Angeles Times
Airtalk hosts a debate between the four leading mayoral candidates, live in our Crawford Family Forum, moderated by Larry Mantle. Wednesday, February 6th at 7:00 p.m. Admission is free, but reservations are required. Submit your questions for the candidates on the event page:
http://www.scpr.org/events/2013/02/06/airtalk-los-angeles-mayoral-debate
One-two punch on immigration reform
It was only yesterday that we were discussing an immigration deal put together by leaders in the Senate. Now, President Barack Obama himself is weighing in on the issue. Obama has already shown himself to be committed to making changes in this area, as he fought hard for the DREAM Act when it was reintroduced in 2012, as well as deciding not to punish young immigrants who were brought to the United States illegally. And after the November election, which saw massive Latino influence on the polls, Obama again reminded the electorate of his dedication to the cause.
With Republicans assessing the political climate, it looks like some meaningful immigration reform could actually happen. Experts predict that Obama’s plan will align closely with the one reached by the Senate, although it will diverge on one very important point. The Senate deal calls for a secured border to be established between the U.S. and Mexico before amnesty is granted to immigrants, whereas Obama most likely won’t make that same caveat.
In what other ways do the proposals differ? Where will a compromise land? Do you think Obama’s speech goes far enough? Too far?
RELATED: Click here to watch a live feed of the speech
Guests:
Josh Gerstein, White House Reporter for POLITICO
David Grant, Congressional Correspondent, The Christian Science Monitor
The life and career of Lyle Talbot tells the story of American 20th century entertainment
New Yorker writer Margaret Talbot opens the gates to 1930s Hollywood’s in her new book “The Entertainer: Movies, Magic, and My Father's Twentieth Century.” The memoir is a portrait of Talbot’s father, actor Lyle Talbot, the titular entertainer.
A warm, personal remembrance, Talbot’s work touches not only on her father’s life and her own family history, the entertainment industry’s as well. With novelistic prose, Talbot tells stories of Hollywood’s golden years from a rare, intimate perspective. Talbot joins Larry to discuss her memoir, her father, and 20th century entertainment.
Guest:
Margaret Talbot, author of The Entertainer: Movies, Magic and My Father’s Twentieth Century, writer for The New Yorker (Penguin)
Is sitting the smoking of our generation?
Americans sit for an average of 9.3 hours per day, but this seemingly banal fact may be more profoundly damaging to our health than we realize. After one hour of sitting, the production of enzymes in the human body that burn fat declines by as much as 90 percent. Extended sitting, which is six hours or more of minimal activity per day, has been linked to increased risk of obesity, heart disease, diabetes, breast cancer and colon cancer.
But not everyone is taking this growing problem sitting down. Employees are coming up with creative ways to fend off this sedentary lifestyle. Perhaps you’ve seen someone in your office with a standing desk. Or maybe you’ve been asked to join in on a “walking meeting.” Do you have any tricks of the trade to share with other listeners for how to stay healthy given these circumstances?
Are we unknowingly harming our bodies by sitting too much? How damaging really is the lack of physical activity? What can be done to avoid this unhealthy lifestyle? Are you planning on bringing your treadmill to the office?
Guest:
Christian K. Roberts, Ph.D., Assistant Research Professor at the UCLA School of Nursing, Principal Investigator of the Exercise and Metabolic Disease Research Laboratory at UCLA
Home prices in LA are moving on up
KPCC reporter Matt DeBord joins Larry to discuss the rise in home prices in Los Angeles. How will changes to the housing market affect you? Will this dissuade you from buying a home? Do investors throw off prices? How could this affect rentals?
Guest: