OC Gay & Lesbian Center and OCEC Condemn Continued Bigotry of Boy Scouts of America, Call for Boycott

Santa Ana, CA, July 20, 2012 --(PR.com)-- On July 17, the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) announced the reaffirmation of its policy excluding lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people from membership and leadership positions. After a two-year confidential review, BSA said “open and avowed homosexuals” have no place in the national organization. The BSA had a historic opportunity to end its open and explicit bigotry, but instead of taking the path of inclusion, the organization chose to continue to side with bigots and homophobes.

The Gay & Lesbian Community Services Center of Orange County (The Center OC) and Orange County Equality Coalition (OCEC) condemn the Boy Scouts’ decision in the strongest terms. The decision to continue this homophobic policy is a decision steeped in bigotry and discrimination. The Center OC and OCEC call for all corporations and local governments to immediately end any association with Boy Scouts of America. The Center OC and OCEC also urge parents to consider the message sent to their sons when they allow them to participate in Boy Scouts of America.

“The Scouts spent two years carefully reviewing their policy,” said Kevin O’Grady, executive director of the Center OC. “This wasn’t a rushed decision made in the glare of public scrutiny. After two years of consideration, BSA decided to continue its bigotry and homophobia. This decision puts them out of step with the rest of the nation and leaves them in league with other avowed homophobes.”

“It's disheartening to believe that a national, well-recognized organization still desires to discriminate. The Boy Scouts are on the wrong side of history and hopefully their supporters will stand up against this decision,” said Rosanne Faul, OCEC’s co-chair.

The Boy Scout’s policy stands in stark contrast to Girl Scouts of the USA, which promotes an open and affirming policy. “The Boy Scouts’ decision aligns them with injustice,” said Brian Stoddart, chair of The Center OC board. “Businesses that continue to support the bigotry of BSA will send a clear message to fair-minded Americans that they are aligned with injustice as well.”