Carly Rae Jepsen pulls out of Boy Scouts performance due to anti-gay policy
Singer Carly Rae Jepsen has answered calls to pull out of a performance at a Boy Scouts of America jamboree because of its anti-gay policy, and said she will not perform because she believes in equality.
Carly Rae Jepsen and San Francisco band Train had been announced as headliners for the BSA event, but have now both pulled out because of its ongoing ban on allowing gay members, volunteers and staff.
The Call Me Maybe singer Tweeted on Tuesday: “As an artist who believes in equality for all people, I will not be participating in the Boy Scouts of America Jamboree this summer.”
A Change.org petition had been created to convince Jepsen to speak out against the ban, and until she responded, had received 62,000 signatures. GLAAD had also urged the singer to drop out of the event.
Train responded yesterday to say they will only appear in the jamboree if the Boy Scouts of America lifted its ban.
The San Francisco based band said: “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 organisation.
“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 organisation.”
The statement continued: “We look forward to participating in the Jamboree this summer, as long as they make the right decision before then.”
Both Train and Jepsen have a history of being LGBT-friendly and have spoken out in favour of equal marriage.
The national Boy Scouts of Americas board previously postponed from making a decision, but is meeting in May, and is expected to decide on the policy then. It is considering lifting its national ban on allowing gay volunteers, members and staff, which would effectively allow individual scout troops to decide on whether to be inclusive or not.
