After more than 3,000 people signed gay Eagle Scout Derek Nance's Change.org petition urging musical acts Train and Carly Rae Jepsen to denounce the Boy Scouts of America's national ban on gay Scouts and gay Scout leaders, Train issued a statement Friday urging the Boy Scouts of America to end their national ban on gay membership.
Both Train and Carly Rae Jepsen have been tapped to headline the Boy Scouts of America's 2013 National Jamboree. Train, in their statement, said that unless the Boy Scouts of America moves to end their national ban on gay Scouts and gay Scout leaders, they will not perform.
"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 said in a statement posted to their website. "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."
Carly Rae Jepsen has yet to respond to the Change.org petition or requests from GLAAD. So far, more than 3,000 people and counting have signed Derek Nance's petition.
"I'm thrilled that my petition brought the Boy Scouts' hurtful anti-gay policy to Train's attention," said gay Eagle Scout Derek Nance, who launched his petition on Change.org yesterday. "More than 3,000 people are wondering, will Carly Rae Jepsen do the same?"
Journalists interested in speaking with Nance should use the contact information at the top of the page.
Live signature totals from Derek Nance's Change.org petition:
http://www.change.org/carly
Train's statement on the Boy Scouts of America:
http://savemesanfrancisco.com/profiles/blogs/a-message-about-the-upcoming-boy-scouts-show