Carly Rae Jepsen is taking a stand for gay rights. The “Call Me Maybe” singer was scheduled to perform a concert for the Boy Scouts Of America in July but after discovering that the organization has an anti-gay policy, she cancelled.
Carly had booked the performance as a part of their Jamboree in Mount Hope, West Virginia alongside Train but earlier this morning, she pulled out of the gig and explained her decision on Twitter.
“As an artist who believes in equality for all people, I will not be participating in the Boy Scouts of America Jamboree this summer,” Carly explained. “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.”
In 2012, the Boy Scots of America released a statement regarding their position on homosexuality which is as follows:
While the BSA does not proactively inquire about the sexual orientation of employees, volunteers, or members, we do not grant membership to individuals who are open or avowed homosexuals or who engage in behavior that would become a distraction to the mission of the BSA. Scouting believes same-sex attraction should be introduced and discussed outside of its program with parents, caregivers, or spiritual advisers, at the appropriate time and in the right setting. The vast majority of parents we serve value this right and do not sign their children up for Scouting for it to introduce or discuss, in any way, these topics.
Train has also backed out of the show but says that if the Boy Scouts remove their anti-gay policy, they will be happy to re-join the show. “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,” the band wrote on their official website. “Train strongly opposes any kind of policy that questions the equality of any American citizen.”
Top Photo: Sakura/WENN.com
