Carly Rae Jepsen Backs Out of Boy Scout Event Because of Anti-Gay Policy
Carly Rae Jepsen, the artist who is responsible for the (really annoying) song “Call Me Maybe,” was invited to perform at the Boy Scouts of America National Scout Jamboree, and she agreed. She has since backed out of the event. The reason she cites is the BSA’s discriminatory policy towards gay members.
In a statement released over the micro-blogging site, Twitter, Jepsen said the following over three tweets:
As an artist who believes in equality for all people, I will not be participating in the Boy Scouts of America Jamboree this summer. 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.
The Boy Scouts have, for years, maintained their policy barring LGBT scouts and scout leaders. It was not until recently, after widespread national attention of the discriminatory policy, that they have been debating whether or not to discontinue the policy.
In January, the Boy Scouts claimed that they were going to decide whether or not to keep the policy, but after backlash from the religious right, they decided to stay their decision until May.
If the Boy Scouts of America do decide to end their policy, then it will be a major step in civil rights of the LGBT community. We really are making tremendous strides in the direction of equality.
You know what I don’t like about this whole controversy? No one seems to be paying attention to the Boy Scouts’ ban on atheists from joining their organisation. Why is no one trying to boycott the Boy Scouts for their ban on atheists or pressuring them to change that policy too? Why didn’t Jepsen say, “I always have and will continue to support the LGBT and nonreligious communities”?
I’m not trying to detract from the importance of LGBT rights and the advancements they have made, but no one cares that atheists are being discriminated against just as much as gay people within this organisation.
Baby steps, I guess.
Posted on March 5, 2013, in LGBT and tagged atheist ban, boy scouts, bsa, call me maybe, carly rae jensen, discrimination, equal protection, gay, jamboree, lgbt. Bookmark the permalink. 1 Comment.
No one cares about atheists rights because most people agree that atheists shouldn’t have any “special” rights, because as President Bush (Sr.) once said, atheists shouldn’t be considered citizens or patriots, this is “one nation under god”.