Carly Rae Jepsen, Train pull out of Boy Scout event over gay ban

[joeybee12]

Carly Rae Jepsen and Train fans who also happen to be Boy Scouts: Don't count on seeing them perform at the upcoming Jamboree in July.

Both artists have pulled out of the 2013 National Scout Jamboree, an annual conclave that attracts over 50,000 participants, over the Scouts' position on including gay, lesbian and transgender members and leaders. Train and Jepsen had originally been slated as headliners for the West Virginia event.

"As an artist who believes in equality for all people, I will not be participating in the Boy Scouts of America Jamboree this summer," Jepsen tweeted Tuesday morning.

Train members wrote on their blog last Friday, "When we booked this show for the Boy Scouts of America we were not aware of any policy barring openly gay people from participation within the organization. Train strongly opposes any kind of policy that questions the equality of any American citizen. We have always seen the BSA as a great and noble organization. We look forward to participating in the Jamboree this summer, as long as they make the right decision before then."

http://entertainment.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/05/17193842-carly-rae-jepsen-train-pull-out-of-boy-scout-event-over-gay-ban?lite

[riqster]

1. This will help the actual Scouts to understand and pay attention.

Good on both artists for taking this stand in this way.

[joeybee12]

3. Yup, lots of kids will be asking why...

And the explanation will be a surprise to a lot of them..I can see these little kids saying, "WTF? Why do we ban gays? Makes no sense." Kids catch on quicker than adults on some things.

[Enrique]

2. maybe they can get Meat Loaf

Boy Scouts love Meat Loaf.

[Gothmog]

4. The proposed change to the rules has been handled badly

I think that the BSA was hoping to vote on the change before anyone found out about the proposed change and then present the new rules to the membership as a done deal. There was a leak and that leak gave the bigots time to mobilized and to bombard the BSA leadership with protests. I firmly believe that a majority of the BSA leaders want to change the rules but the national leadership is afraid of the LDS units and the bigots.

I am convinced that we will see a change in the rules at some point. UPS and others major sponsors are pulling funding. The United Way in some cities have cut off funding and several councils have defied national with their own rules. My council is one of the largest in the Country and there is an understanding that they will not kick out any scout leader unless they wear a scout uniform to a political or gay pride event and we will not cause United Way to pull funding.

[FSogol]

5. Good analysis. Scouts and Scout leaders are already prohibited from

wearing their uniforms at political events.

[Gothmog]

7. Dale as in BSA vs. Dale wore his uniform to a gay pride event

The BSA could have and should have used that as the excuse for banning him. The LDS made a big deal of this issue and that is why the BSA was trapped in banning Dale. LDS units make a disproportionate number of units and scouts and so they have been able to control some of the BSA's policy here

There are a significant number if not a majority of leaders who are working from within to change the rules. My committee chair and I as Chartered Organization Representative have met with council leadership. My district has a number of gay leaders in it and no one cares so long as they do not wear their uniform to a political or gay pride event. At my troop, we have a very strict policy of not asking or caring about the orientation of any scout or leader.

[joeybee12]

8. The head of BSA now is a Mormon...nt

[EOTE]

6. Why is Train rewarding this homophobic behavior?

A mere 15 minute set would have me praying for sweet death.

And I find it extremely hard to believe that all of Train is just figuring out about the BSA's homophobic policies, I can cut Carly Rae Jepsen a little more slack due to her age.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

9. A Carly Rae Jepson boycott will bring them to their knees!

OK, good on her (and Train) for doing the right thing. But you can't help but be a little amused by this.