Carey Rae Jepsen, a Canadian singer, has pulled out of the National Boy Scouts Jamboree that is being held in July 2013 due to the Boy Scouts' policy on gay membership and leadership.
Train, the other group scheduled to perform at this event has said that they will also withdraw if the Boy Scouts of America leadership fails to change their policy when they meet again in May, 2013.
Derek Nance collected over 60,000 signatures on a petition sent to Ms. Jepsen asking her to withdraw from this event. Derek is the California Boy Scout that was denied his Eagle Scout recognition when he went public that he is gay.
Ms. Jansen’s statement on her reason for withdrawing from the performance was:
“As an artist who believes in equality for all people, I will not be participating in the Boy Scouts of America Jamboree this summer.”
There is a growing movement of celebrities that support gay marriages. This is a diverse group of actors, actresses, sports figures, authors and others in the public spotlight. One group of 22 people appeared in the Huffington Post with their photographs and their statements on the matter of same sex marriage.
The group includes Clint Eastwood, Charles Barkley, Sean Avery, Cindy Lauper, Brad Pitt, Steven Spielberg and Ann Hathaway. Their statements reflect a “live and let live” philosophy that can be applied in all areas, including the Boy Scouts.
While some fundamentalist Christian groups are supporting the Boy Scouts’ policies on gay participation, there is growing sentiment from many areas of society that these policies should be changed.
The Boy Scouts of America has a Venturing program that includes both boys and girls. This is an excellent idea to help develop healthy relationships for members of the Boy Scouts. You can learn more about this program at http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/Venturing/About/welcome.aspx.
The Venturing Oath includes this statement:
“I will recognize the dignity and worth of all humanity and will use fair play and goodwill in my daily life.”
This statement reflects the values of the performing artists when they support equal opportunity within the Boy Scouts to include gay members and leaders. Carly Rae Jepsen and the musical group Train are congratulated for their public stance in support of changing this policy of exclusion within the Boy Scouts of America.
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