Philadelphia to end Boy Scouts deal

The city of Philadelphia has taken steps toward terminating a land-use agreement with the city's Boy Scout council over its policy of refusing to admit openly gay members. William T. Dwyer III, executive director of the Cradle of Liberty Council, said the mayor's chief of staff told him earlier this month that the city had decided to end the agreement, which entitled the council to free use of a city-owned property. The city has said the council's stance on gay membership conflicts with its fair-practices ordinance. Cradle of Liberty, the third-largest council in the nation, would be able to use an alternative office in suburban Philadelphia if removed from its current space, said David H. Lipson, the council's board chairman. "I think we would consolidate to one space," Lipson said. Boy Scouts representatives were scheduled to meet Friday with city officials.