GLAAD, the nation's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) media
advocacy and anti-defamation organization, today drew attention to the
resignation of a member of the Board of Directors of the Ohio River
Valley Council of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) following the BSA's
decision to oust Jennifer Tyrrell, a mom from Bridgeport, Ohio, as her
son's scout leader because she is gay. The BSA currently bans LGBT
scouts and scout leaders.
David J. Sims resigned from the Board on Friday, April 27 in a letter
that cites his long history and support of scouting. He wrote:
"Ms. Tyrrell's removal goes against my fundamental beliefs of how
we should treat our fellow human beings and is, in my opinion, wholly
discriminatory. I understand that the Boys Scouts of America is free to
run its organization as it sees fit, however, I cannot formally be a
part of it based upon this policy."
To view the letter in full see below or visit: http://www.glaad.org/equalityscouts
Over 250,000 Americans have joined Tyrrell's Change.org petition calling on the BSA to end its history of discrimination.
Read more after the jump.
Supporters can join Tyrrell's call here: http://change.org/scouts. A video of Jen sharing her story at the GLAAD Media Awards is available here: http://youtube.com/glaad. Celebrities including Josh Hutcherson, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, as well as Glee stars Max Adler and Grant Gustin also showed support for Tyrrell and her family at the GLAAD Media Awards.
Among those opposed to the ban on LGBT scouts is Republican
Presidential candidate Mitt Romney, who said in a 1994 video:
"I believe that the Boy Scouts of America does a wonderful service
for this country. I support the right of the Boy Scouts of America to
decide what it wants to do on that issue. I feel that all people should
be able to participate in the Boy Scouts regardless of their sexual
orientation."
Video of Romney's remarks is available is available at http://www.glaad.org/equalityscouts.
"I've been touched by the long list of supporters who, like me,
believe that discrimination should not be a part of the Boy Scouts of
America's policies," said Tyrrell. "The Scouts are losing Board
Members, good volunteers and scouting families, and the time is now to
join organizations like the Girl Scouts of America and the 4H Club in
welcoming all."
"The only 'character development' and 'values-based leadership
training' the Boy Scouts have taught our young people in this case is
that blatant discrimination is OK," said GLAAD President Herndon
Graddick. "Tossing aside the hard work and leadership of a committed
mom because of who she loves is not a 'value' that a majority Americans
want taught to their children."
Among service organizations, the Boy Scouts are increasingly
isolating themselves with their prohibition on gay youth and leaders.
Organizations including the Girl Scouts of America, the Boys &
Girls Clubs of America, as well as the 4H Club all welcome gay kids as
well as adult leaders. And just this month, the president of the James
Beard Foundation announced that she would rescind her acceptance of the
Boy Scouts' Distinguished Citizen Award, noting the Scouts' policy
prohibiting gay people from service and leadership.
