Carly Rae Jepsen to Boy Scouts: Don’t Call Me Until You Accept Gays

This is crazy, but - actually, let me take back my number.

  • Share
  • Read Later

Carly Rae Jepsen is boycotting the Boy Scouts of America until the group lifts its controversial ban against gay scout members and leaders.

The pop singer tweeted today that she won’t be playing the national Boy Scouts Jamboree this July:

[tweet https://twitter.com/carlyraejepsen/status/308946285359149057%5D

In subsequent tweets, she continued: “I always have and will continue to support the LGBT community on a global level and stay informed on the ever changing landscape in the ongoing battle for gay rights in this country and across the globe.”

(MOREBoy Scouts Consider Ending Policy Banning Gay Members and Troop Leaders)

Jepsen’s decision comes just a few days after the band Train said they wouldn’t play the Jamboree unless the BSA lifted its ban. According to their website, Train didn’t know the Boy Scouts had such a policy against gays, and are looking forward to playing for thousands of scouts “as long as they make the right decision before then.” It also comes four days and 62,000 signatures after Eagle Scout Derek Nance launched a Change.org petition calling on Jepsen and Train to denounce the policy and back out of the event.

“Projected attendance for the 2013 National Scouting Jamboree is over 50,000 Boy Scouts, Venturers, volunteers and staff,” Nance wrote. “Among those 50,000 are countless LGBT young people who are forced to hide who they really are, in fear of being kicked out of the organization they love. This has to change.”

The Jamboree is held every four years, and the 2013 edition is being billed by the Boy Scouts as “big” and “wild.” But with its headlining entertainers backing out, whitewater rafting and mountain biking will be about the wildest things will get for this year’s attendees.

MOREWill the Boy Scouts Reverse Its Anti-Gay Policy?