• subscribe
    • General

    Carly Rae Jepsen cancels Boy Scouts concert to support gay rights

    Carly Rae Jepsen has cancelled a scheduled appearance at the Boy Scouts of America Jamboree over the organization’s policy not to allow openly gay members or leaders.

    The Canadian pop star who sings the hit “Call Me Maybe” made the announcement on Twitter Tuesday in 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…

    Emily Senger

    Carly Rae Jepsen has cancelled a scheduled appearance at the Boy Scouts of America Jamboree over the organization’s policy not to allow openly gay members or leaders.

    The Canadian pop star who sings the hit “Call Me Maybe” made the announcement on Twitter Tuesday in three tweets.

    Jepsen wasn’t the only star to bow out of the show, which is held once every four years and is expected to draw up to 45,000 fans.

    Rock band Train has also said it won’t play the show in a statement on its website: “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 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.”

    As for the Boy Scouts of America, its director of publicity Deron Smith said that the organization respects “everyone’s right to express an opinion.”

    The Boy Scouts were going to address the question of gay members in February, but they delayed the decision until an annual meeting in May where 1,400 members will be able to vote on the issue.

    The decision is controversial because the Boy Scouts of America receives funding from religious groups, many of which oppose homosexuality.

    tags:Gay Rights