Timeline 2012 - 2013: America Asks the Boy Scouts to Become Inclusive

Tuesday, April 10: Ohio mom Jennifer Tyrrell is removed as den leader of her son's Cub pack simply for being gay.

Tuesday, April 17: GLAAD joins Ohio mom Jennifer Tyrrell to call for her reinstatement and an end to the 's discriminatory ban on gay scouts and LGBT leaders. http://www.glaad.org/releases/glaad-joins-ohio-mom-jennifer-tyrrell-calling-boy-scouts-america- enddiscriminatory-rules

Tuesday, April 17: Supporters of Ohio mom Jennifer Tyrrell march in peaceful protest calling for her reinstatement as a leader in her son's Boy Scouts troop after she was removed because she it gay. http://www.glaad.org/blog/ohio-boy-scouts-chapter-removes-gay-mom-protest-happening-today

Thursday, April 19: Michelangelo Signorile reports that James Beard Foundation president Susan Ungaro will return an award she accepted from the BSA after learning of its discriminatory policy banning gay scouts and LGBT leaders. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michelangelo- signorile/james- beardfoundation-pr_b_1439135.html

Saturday, April 21: A Change.org petition supporting Ohio mom Jennifer Tyrrell and calling for an end to the BSA's discriminatory ban on gay scouts and LGBT leaders reaches more than 100,000 signatures. http://www.glaad.org/blog/more-100000-people-support-gay-mom-ousted-boy-scouts

Jennifer and her family speak onstage at the GLAAD Media Awards in . Celebrities including Josh Hutcherson (The Hunger Games), Benicio del Toro, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Lisa Vanderpump sign her Change.org petition. http://www.glaad.org/releases/cher-presents-award-chaz-bono-benicio- deltoro-presents-josh-hutcherson-23rd-annual-glaad

Tuesday, April 24: CNN's LZ Granderson breaks news that the Boy Scouts of America will reaffirm its discriminatory policy that led to the ousting of Ohio mom Jennifer Tyrrell as of her son's Boy Scouts troop because she's gay. Several members of Jennifer's troop speak to CNN.com in support of Jennifer. BSA leaders refuse to meet with Tyrrell. http://www.glaad.org/blog/boy-scouts- reaffirmdiscriminatory-policy-refuse-meeting-jennifer-tyrrell

Wednesday, April 25: Ohio mom Jennifer Tyrrell and her 7-year-old son Cruz speak to on CNN Newsroom. http://www.glaad.org/blog/ousted-boy-scouts-leader-jennifer-tyrrell-and-son- areinterviewed-

Thursday, April 26: GLAAD releases video footage and reports that Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney said in a 1994 debate that he supports an end to the BSA's discriminatory ban on gay scouts and LGBT leaders. http://www.glaad.org/blog/republican-presidential-candidate-mitt-romney- gaypeople-should-be-able-serve-boy-scouts

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Thursday, April 26: MSNBC's Thomas Roberts speaks to ousted Ohio mom Jennifer Tyrrell, joined by her son Cruz, and GLAAD president Herndon Graddick about the call for an end to the BSA's discriminatory ban on gay scouts and LGBT leaders. http://www.glaad.org/blog/ousted-boy-scout- mommsnbc

Friday, April 27: David J. Sims, board member of the BSA's Ohio River Valley Council announces his resignation in support of Ohio mom Jennifer Tyrrell who was ousted from her son's Boy Scouts troop because she is gay. http://www.glaad.org/blog/boy-scouts-america-board-member-resigns-support- gayohio-mom

Monday, May 7: GLAAD launches a Mother's Day campaign urging celebrities and others to support Ohio mom Jennifer Tyrrell and call for equality in the Boy Scouts. http://www.glaad.org/mothersday

Tuesday, May 8: The L.A. Times reports that lawmakers dismissed a resolution honoring the BSA and instead passed one calling for the organization to end its discriminatory ban on gay scouts and LGBT leaders. http://www.glaad.org/blog/california-legislators-urge-scouts-be-more-inclusive

Friday, May 11: Celebrities including Julianne Moore, Max Adler (), Fran Drescher, Perez Hilton, Lisa Lampanelli, Micah Jesse, Jane Leeves, Sean Maher, Kelly Osbourne, Darryl Stephens and Rita Wilson send Mothers' Day support to Ohio mom Jennifer Tyrrell. http://www.glaad.org/blog/more- celebstweet-out-support-ousted-boy-scout-mom-jennifer-tyrrell

Tuesday, May 29: Singer and star of the CW's Vampire Diaries Kat Graham dedicates her performance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show to ousted Ohio mom Jennifer Tyrrell. http://www.glaad.org/releases/katgraham-shows-support-gay-mom-ousted-boy-scouts-leader- %E2%80%9C-ellen-degeneresshow%E2%80%9D

Wednesday, May 30: Eagle Scout Zach Wahls delivers more than 275,000 signatures to the BSA's national annual meeting calling for the organization to end its discriminatory policy. Wahls meets with BSA officials at the national annual meeting where he is told that a resolution is under review. http://www.glaad.org/releases/eagle-scout-delivers-275000-signatures-boy-scouts-america-calling- endanti-gay

Wednesday, May 30: MSNBC's Thomas Roberts speaks to Eagle Scout Zach Wahls about delivering 275,000 signatures from a Change.org petition to the BSA calling for the organization to reinstate Ohio mom Jennifer Tyrrell and end its discriminatory ban on gay scouts and LGBT leaders. http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/06/06/12086046-boy-scouts-review-controversial-anti-gay-policy

Sunday, June 3: Ohio mom Jennifer Tyrrell is joined on stage at the GLAAD Media Awards in San Francisco by local scouts and leaders. http://www.glaad.org/blog/greys-anatomy-days-our-lives- facebookamong-recipients-glaadawards-san-francisco

Wednesday, June 6: Sources confirm that the BSA will consider new policy to be voted on in 2013 allowing local Scout troops to decide whether or not to accept gay scouts and LGBT leaders. http://www.glaad.org/blog/boy-scouts-america-officials-propose-allowing-local-troops-accept-gay- youthand-leaders-after

Thursday, June 7: Ohio mom Jennifer Tyrrell appears on CNN's Starting Point with Soledad O'Brien to speak about the BSA's announcement that it will consider ending its discriminatory ban on gay scouts and LGBT leaders. http://www.glaad.org/blog/pushing-boy-scouts-toward-inclusiveness

Thursday, June 7: Eagle Scout Zach Wahls speaks to MSNBC's Thomas Roberts about his launch of and about the announcement by the BSA that it will consider ending its discriminatory ban on gay scouts and LGBT leaders. http://www.glaad.org/blog/pushing-boy-scouts-towardinclusiveness

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Tuesday, June 12: CNBC reports that Ernst & Young CEO and current BSA Board Member James Turley issued a statement supporting an end to the anti-gay ban. http://www.glaad.org/blog/ceo- ernstyoung-and-boy-scouts-board-member-james-turley-supports-ending-ban-gay-scouts

Monday, June 18: MSNBC's Thomas Roberts speaks to former Eagle Scout Naka Nathaniel, who renounced his rank in opposition to the BSA's discriminatory ban on gay scouts and LGBT leaders. http://www.glaad.org/blog/video-eagle-scout-renounces-rank- opposition-anti-gay-ban

Monday, June 18: The Daily News exclusively reports that TV icon George Takei will march in the NYC Pride parade with Ohio mom Jennifer Tyrrell in a show of support for ending the BSA's discriminatory ban on gay scouts and LGBT leaders. http://www.glaad.org/blog/george-takeitake-stand- against-scouts-anti-gay-ban-glaadjennifer-tyrrell-nyc-pride

Thursday, June 28: Jennifer's Change.org petition reaches over 300,000 signatures. http://www.glaad.org/blog/over- 300000-americans-support-end-boy-scouts-americasban-gay- americans

Tuesday, July 17: BSA breaks news of a "two year long review" and reaffirms policy. Zach Wahls and others question the "11 person committee" that the BSA claims met for two years. http://www.advocate.com/commentary/2012/07/19/zach-wahls- says-secret-boy-scouts-committeewill-not-stop-us

Tuesday, July 17: Bryan Fischer of the anti-gay American Family Association reports that the head of the Boy Scouts called him to let him know they would not be ending the ban. http://www.goodasyou.org/good_as_you/2012/07/noted-peddler-of-extremism-the-boy-scoutscalled-me- about-gay-policy.html

Wednesday, July 18: AT&T CEO and current Board Member of BSA Randall Stephenson announces opposition to the ban via CNBC after a Change.org petition calls on him to do so. http://www.glaad.org/blog/corporate-america-giants-support--equality-cnbc-reports

Wednesday, July 18: Ohio mom Jennifer Tyrrell delivered more than 300,000 petition signatures and met with Boy Scout officials at the Boy Scouts' headquarters in Dallas. http://www.glaad.org/blog/photosjennifer-tyrrell-delivers-300k-signatures-boy-scouts-calling-end-anti-gay- ban

Wednesday, July 18: Scouts for Equality founder and Eagle Scout Zach Wahls launches a Change.org petition calling on the BSA to let its Executive Board vote on a resolution that would end the ban once and for all. http://www.glaad.org/blog/timeline-boy-scouts-long-history-discrimination

Wednesday, July 18: The Star Tribune reports that 's largest council, the , will remain welcome to gay members. http://www.startribune.com/local/162817346.html

Wednesday, July 18: Eagle Scout and Scouts for Equality founder Zach Wahls speaks to Soledad O'Brien on CNN's Starting Point and Lawrence O'Donnell on MSNBC's Last Word following the BSA's decision to reaffirm its discriminatory policy. http://www.glaad.org/blog/video-momentum-builds- moreamericans-demand-change-boy-scouts

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Wednesday, July 18: TV icon George Takei takes to his blog criticizing the BSA's discriminatory ban on gay scouts and LGBT leaders. http://www.glaad.org/blog/george-takei-secret-boy-scouts- committeehogwash

Thursday, July 19: In a Dallas Morning News op-ed, GLAAD president Herndon Graddick and HRC president Chad Griffin call for the BSA to end its discriminatory ban on gay scouts and LGBT leaders, saying the BSA is on the wrong side of history. http://www.glaad.org/blog/glaad-and-hrc-presidents- boyscouts-wrong-side-history

Thursday, July 19: Girl Scouts of the USA publishes a statement affirming the organization's inclusive policy allowing all girls regardless of sexual orientation. http://blog.girlscouts.org/2012/07/inclusion- pastpresent-and-future.html

Thursday, July 19: Camp Fire USA president Cathy Tisdale writes a piece for calling out the BSA for its discriminatory policy and affirming that Camp Fire is open to all youth and families. http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2012/07/19/why-do-the-boy-scouts-exclude-gays/it- paysto-be-inclusive

Friday, July 20: Martin Cizmar, the arts and culture editor of Portland Oregon's Williamette Weekly, returns his Eagle Scout medal to the BSA. http://www.glaad.org/blog/after-boy-scouts-maintain-ban- zachwahls-and-other-eagle-scouts-keep-pressure

Friday, July 20: A spokesperson for Washington Republican gubernatorial candidate Rob McKenna says that the candidate, who is the state attorney general and an Eagle Scout, disagrees with the Boy Scouts' recent decision to maintain its ban on gay scouts and LGBT leaders. http://www.glaad.org/blog/washington-republican-gubernatorial-candidate-speaks-out-against-boy- scoutsanti-gay-policies

Friday, July 20: Major League Soccer announces it will not renew its contract with Boy Scouts. http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/1110/major-league-soccer/2012/07/20/3254748/major-league- soccerwill-not-renew-partnership-with-boy

Friday, July 20: LGBT advocate and QNotes editor Matt Comer tells HLN that he was ousted from the Boy Scouts in 2000 at 14-years-old for being openly gay. http://www.hlntv.com/article/2012/07/19/boyscouts-ban-gay-members-controversy

Monday, July 23: More Eagle Scouts begin returning their medals to the BSA. Boingboing begins compiling some. http://boingboing.net/2012/07/23/eagle-scouts-stand-up-to-the-b.html

Tuesday, July 24: BSA comments to Yahoo! News on the number of Eagle Scouts returning medals. http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/eagle-scouts-return-medals-over-organization-anti-gay- 184508093.html

Wednesday, July 25: Ten staffers at a Sacramento, California Boy Scouts camp resign in a show of support for fellow staffer and Eagle Scout Tim Griffin, who was fired last week because he's gay. Griffin had served at the camp for eight years. http://www.glaad.org/blog/ten-scouts-resign-show-support- firedgay-staffer

Wednesday, July 25: TIME speculates if Bill Gates will return his Eagle Scout medal. http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/07/25/eagle-scouts-return-badges-in-protest-of-gay-ban/

Wednesday, July 25: NPR speaks to an Eagle Scout who sent back his badge to call for an end to the BSA's discriminatory ban on gay scouts and LGBT leaders. http://www.npr.org/2012/07/25/157371035/eagle-scout-returns-badge-in-protest

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Thursday, July 26: Troop 729 in New York City, among others, confirms that they "cross out a promise to abide by the BSA's ban. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390443343704577551162306364148.html

The BSA said it currently is working with the Northern Star Council to "clarify" its policy. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390443343704577551162306364148.html

Thursday, July 26: Scouts and community members of Troop 348 in Pittsburgh launch a Change.org petition to reject the ban on gay scouts. http://www.change.org/petitions/troop-348-pittsburgh-pa- laurelhighlands-council-reject-the-boy-scouts-of-america-s-anti-gay-policy

Sunday, July 29: The USA Today editorial board calls for an end to the BSA's discriminatory ban on gay scouts and LGBT leaders. http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/story/2012-07-29/Boy- Scouts-anti-gay- policy/56579714/1

Wednesday, August 1: WBLZ reports that Dr. Mark Varnum of Bangor, Maine is returning his Eagle Scout badge and other medals he received as a Boy Scout to protest the BSA's discriminatory ban on gay scouts and LGBT leaders. http://www.wlbz2.com/news/article/209207/3/Scouts-stance-on- gaysprompts-man-to-give-back-medals

Friday, August 3: The Statehouse Bureau reports that New Jersey State Sen. Raymond Lesniak turned down an award from a North Jersey Boy Scouts group because of the BSA's discriminatory ban on gay scouts and LGBT leaders. http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/08/sen_ray_lesniak_turns_down_awa.html

Saturday, August 4: The Associated Press reports that a spokesperson for Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney affirmed that the nominee stands by his previous statements from 1994 supporting an end to the BSA's discriminatory policy banning gay scouts and LGBT leaders. http://www.glaad.org/blog/mitt-romney-stands-1994-statement-supporting-end-boy-scouts-ban- gayamericans

Sunday, August 5: Associated Press reports on the growing number of Eagle Scouts returning their badges to the BSA to protest its discriminatory ban on gay scouts and LGBT leaders. http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/eagle-scouts-return-medals-gay-ban-firm-16933078

Wednesday, August 8: Think Progress reports that both two local Boy Scouts groups, the Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN-based Northern Star Council and Boston Minutemen Council, have reaffirmed their stance against the BSA's discriminatory ban on gay scouts and LGBT leaders. http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2012/08/08/658401/second-boy-scout-council-stands-up-to-bsa-refuses- todiscriminate/

Wednesday, August 8: In a statement to the Washington Blade, a White House spokesperson said that President Obama "opposes discrimination in all forms, and as such opposes [the Boy Scouts of America's] policy that discriminates on basis of sexual orientation." http://www.glaad.org/blog/presidentobama-announces-opposition-boy-scouts-ban-gay-scouts-and-scout- leaders

Thursday, August 9: Eagle Scout Aaron Becker writes in the Daily Beast about why he's renouncing his rank, and how the Boy Scouts taught him it's the right thing to do. http://www.glaad.org/blog/obamaopposes-boy-scouts-anti-gay-policies-and-another-eagle-scout-returns- his-medal

Monday, August 13: CNN reports that more than 100 Eagle Scouts have returned their badges to BSA, calling for an end to its discriminatory ban on gay scouts and LGBT leaders. http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/08/13/protesting-scouts-renounce-eagle-awards/

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Wednesday, August 15: Ousted Eagle Scout Tim Griffin delivers more than 70,000 signatures from a Change.org petition urging the Golden Empire Boy Scouts Council to reinstate him and reject the BSA's discriminatory ban on gay scouts and LGBT leaders. http://blogs.sfweekly.com/thesnitch/2012/08/tim_griffin_eagle_scout.php

Monday, August 20: The Courier-Journal reports that Kentucky dad Greg Bourke was ousted as a leader of his son's Boy Scouts troop because he is gay. http://www.glaad.org/news/boy-scouts-force- outgay-leader-louisville

Tuesday, August 21: Connecticut council announces it is not following the ban and receives funding from local United Way as a result. http://www.ct.com/news/advocates/latest-news/nm-ht34ncboyscouts- 20120814,0,6853848.story

Tuesday, August 28: Pennsylvania chapter of the United Way pulls funding from local troop, citing the ban. http://www.whptv.com/news/local/story/Local-United-Way-will-no-longer-fund-Boy- Scouts/Wf3rQEFfHE6sb-XHplP-sQ.cspx

Thursday, August 30: The Press-Enterprise reports that Redlands, California Pack 24 will hold a meeting to adopt inclusive policy allowing all youth and families to participate and to speak against the BSA's discriminatory policy. http://www.glaad.org/blog/local-california-boy-scouts-troop-open-all- boysand-families

Friday, September 14: NBC 10 Philadelphia reports that Cameron Kline and his father, both Eagle Scouts, are returning their Eagle badges to the BSA to call for an end to its discriminatory ban on gay scouts and LGBT leaders. http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Gay-Eagle- Scout-Returns- Medalto-Boy-Scouts-of-America--169520966.html

Monday, September 17: USA Today reports that an LGBT-affirming church in Delaware is parting ways with a local Boy Scouts troop over its adherence to the BSA's discriminatory ban on gay scouts and LGBT leaders. http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012/09/17/del- church-scout-troop-part-ways- ongay-ban/57794568/1

Monday, September 17: WHAS-11 reports that Kentucky dad Greg Bourke, who was ousted as a leader in his son's Boy Scouts troop because he is gay, launched a petition on Change.org calling for the of Louisville to stand against the BSA's discriminatory policy. http://www.whas11.com/news/local/Boy-scout--170065036.html

Tuesday, September 18: The American Independent uncovers records showing corporate donations to the BSA, sparking advocates to call for an end to funding while the BSA upholds its discriminatory ban on gay scouts and LGBT leaders. http://americanindependent.com/217335/corporations-giving-big-moneyto- boy-scouts-despite-anti-gay-policy

Thursday, September 20: GLAAD joins Eagle Scout and Scouts for Equality founder Zach Wahls to launch petition urging Intel to stop donating funds to the BSA until it ends its discriminatory ban on gay scouts and LGBT youth. http://www.glaad.org/releases/intel-donates-700k-boy-scouts-glaad-zach- wahlscall-action

Friday, September 21: The Intel Foundation announces it will no longer donate to the Boy Scouts of America less than 48 hours after Eagle Scout and Scouts for Equality founder Zach Wahls launched a petition calling for the company to stop funding the BSA's discriminatory practices. http://www.glaad.org/blog/intel-will-not-fund-boy-scouts-america-until-ban-gay-scouts-and-scout-leaders- ends/

Monday, September 24: Pack 12 in Framingham, MA announces it will not enforce the ban. http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/multimedia/x1531247667/Framingham-pack-protests-Boy- Scoutshomosexuality-ban

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Wednesdsay, September 26: Cleveland United Way pulls funding from local troop. http://www.ideastream.org/news/feature/49169

Saturday, September 29: In Gainesville, Florida, a group of Eagle Scouts and their families march in the Gainesville Pride Parade and Festival as Scouts for Equality in support of the Inclusive Network. http://www.glaad.org/blog/eagle-scouts-march-gainesville-pride-parade

Tuesday, October 2: Scouts for Equality founder and Eagle Scout Zach Wahls launches a Change.org petition urging UPS to stop funding the BSA in light of the organization's discriminatory ban on gay scouts and LGBT leaders. http://www.glaad.org/blog/join-zach-wahls-telling-ups-stop-funding-anti-gay-boyscouts

Thursday, October 4: KGO-TV reports that Moraga, California teenager Ryan Andresen was denied the Eagle Scout rank after as gay. http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local/east_bay&id=8836340

Thursday, October 4: BSA spokesperson Deron Smith tells Yahoo! News that California Boy Scout Ryan Andresen was denied the Eagle rank after he disagreed with organization's "religious principles." http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/boy-scout-denied- eagle-award-coming-193454949.html

Friday, October 5: California mom Karen Andresen issues a statement saying that BSA spokesperson Deron Smith lied about her son Ryan disagreeing with the Boy Scout's religious principles, and that Ryan was denied the Eagle Scout rank after coming out as gay. http://www.glaad.org/blog/california-momspeaks-out-after- boy-scouts-america-bully-her-son

Wednesday, October 10: The Ellen DeGeneres Show welcomes gay teen Ryan Andresen to discuss his ousting form the Boy Scouts under its ban on gay scouts and leaders. Ellen gifts Ryan $20,000 for his education. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=IGrz6TJk3dA

Thursday, October 11: A Beverly Massachusetts Cub Scouts pack publicly rejects the BSA's discriminatory ban on gay scouts and LGBT leaders. http://www.glaad.org/blog/unprecedented- pressureboy-scouts-lift-gay-ban-continues-growing-jennifer-tyrrell-eagle-scout

Ohio mom Jennifer Tyrrrel sends a letter to her local Ohio River Valley Boy Scouts Council, urging the council to reject the BSA's anti-gay policy. The letter was signed by 16 scout troops and councils around the country that have already rejected the discriminatory ban. http://www.glaad.org/blog/read-ohio-boy- scout-mom-jennifer-tyrrells-letter-local-scout-council

Wednesday, October 17: U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer writes a letter to ousted gay Boy Scout Ryan Andresen, supporting his work to end anti-gay discrimination in the BSA. https://www.box.com/s/rdv1hcm0yfgrpenorxlg

Wednesday, October 24: Gay teen Ryan Andresen speaks to CNN's after delivering more than 400,000 Change.org petition signatures calling for his reinstatement in Boy Scouts to the Mt. Diablo-Silverado Boy Scout Council in Pleasant Hill, California. http://www.glaad.org/blog/gay-boy- scoutdelivers-400000-petitions-and-speaks-out-anderson-cooper-360

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Wednesday, October 24: A Conservative Jewish day school in East Orange, New Jersey announces it will not renew its Boy Scout charter because of the national Scouting organization's discriminatory ban on gay scouts and leaders. http://www.glaad.org/blog/nj-school-drops-boy-scouts-charter-over- egregiousanti-gay-ban

Monday, November 12: The UPS Foundation announces it will no longer fund the Boy Scouts of America while group upholds its ban on gay scouts and leaders. http://www.glaad.org/blog/boy- scoutsamerica-no-longer-eligible-grant-funding-ups-foundation

Monday, November 12: California Lt. Gov. and former scout Gavin Newsom writes to the Mt. Diablo- Silverado Boy Scouts Council and the BSA in support of ousted scout Ryan Andresen and against the national Scouting organization's ban on gay scouts and scout leaders. http://www.gavinnewsom.com/press/lt-gov-newsom-sen-boxer-and-32-state-legislators-rally-behind- gayscout-denied-eagle-award

Saturday, November 17: Pink News reports that synagogues and other Jewish organizations across the US withdraw support for the BSA because of its discriminatory ban on gay scouts and leaders. http://www.glaad.org/news/synagogues-terminate-relationship-boy-scouts-america-over- homophobicpolicies

Friday, November 30: Gay teen Ryan Andresen is scheduled to be recognized by the California State Assembly after he was expelled from his local troop and denied the Eagle Scout rank. http://www.glaad.org/blog/gay-boy-scout-ryan-andresen-be-honored-california-assembly

Tuesday, December 4: Scouts for Equality founder Zach Wahls launches a Change.org petition calling on Verizon to stop funding the Boy Scouts of America until it ends its discriminatory ban on gay scouts and LGBT leaders. http://www.glaad.org/blog/zach-wahls-verizon-stop-funding-boy-scouts-anti- gaypolicies

Wednesday, December 5: The Merck Foundation announces it will suspend all funding for the Boy Scouts of America until the group ends its discriminatory ban on gay scouts and LGBT leaders. http://www.glaad.org/blog/merck-foundation-suspends-funding-boy-scouts-america-until-ban-gay- scoutsand-leaders-ends/

Monday, December 10: The Merck Foundation becomes the latest corporate leader to speak out against the Boy Scouts of America’s ban on gay scouts and scout leaders. http://www.glaad.org/blog/merck- foundation-suspends-funding-boy-scouts-america-until-ban-gay-scouts-and-leaders-ends

Tuesday, January 2: Parenting Magazine names Jennifer Tyrrell one of the Best Parents of 2012. http://www.glaad.org/blog/parenting-magazine-names-ohio-mom-jennifer-tyrrell-among-best-parents-2012

Friday, January 11: Executives at the Boy Scouts of America feign ‘tight control’ of the organization, despite mounting pressure from within their own ranks to end the group’s anti-gay policies. http://www.glaad.org/blog/boy-scout-brass-feign-tight-control-backlash-continues

Thursday, January 17: Mataguay Scout Ranch program director Derek Nance comes out in an It Gets Better video posted on YouTube and speaks out against the Boy Scouts’ anti-gay policies. http://www.glaad.org/blog/boy-scout-camp-leader-speaks-out-against-anti-gay-policies-while-coming-out-

Wednesday, January 23: GLAAD joins Scouts for Equality and 20 year-old Eagle Scout Will Oliver to call on the National Geographic Channel to denounce the Boy Scouts of America's (BSA) ban on gay scouts and scout leaders. http://www.glaad.org/blog/national-geographic-channel-denounce-boy-scouts- americas-anti-gay-policy

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Friday, January 25: The National Capital Area Council (NCAC) of the Boy Scouts threatens to remove a Maryland Cub Scout pack for posting a statement on its website saying it won’t discriminate against gay members. http://www.glaad.org/action/milestones-glaads-boy-scouts-america-campaign

Saturday, January 26: Pack 422 says it was forced to remove a non-discrimination statement from its website after the National Capital Area Council (NCAC) of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) threatened to revoke the Pack's charter. http://www.glaad.org/blog/cub-scouts-pack-removes-gay-inclusive-policy-after- threats-bsa

Monday, January 28: News broke that the Boy Scouts of America is "actively considering" an end to the policy that bans gay scouts and leaders following a campaign by GLAAD, Scouts for Equality and others. http://www.glaad.org/blog/breaking-boy-scouts-america-looks-toward-equality-considers-lifting-ban

Monday, February 4: Senators Sherrod Brown and Jeff Merkley, both of whom are Eagle Scouts, sent a letter to the Boy Scouts of America urging the organization to "to adopt inclusive membership and leadership policies that will allow for all Americans to participate in the Boy Scouts." http://www.glaad.org/blog/us-senators-boy-scouts-adopt-inclusive-membership-and-leadership-policies

Ousted Boy Scout mom Jennifer Tyrrell, gay Eagle Scout Will Oliver, gay former Scoutmaster Greg Bourke, and Eric Andresen, father of a gay Scout denied his Eagle Award, deliver the more than 1.4 million signatures gathered at Change.org on behalf of ending the Boy Scouts' ban on gay scouts and leaders. http://www.glaad.org/blog/boy-scouts-receive-14-million-signatures-urging-end-discrimination

Clergy from the Presbyterian Church call on the Boy Scouts of America to end their ban on gay scouts and leaders. http://www.glaad.org/blog/presbyterian-clergy-call-end-ban-gay-scouts

United Methodist Church leaders join the chorus of people and organizations calling for the Boy Scouts to drop its ban on gay scouts and leaders. http://www.glaad.org/blog/united-methodist-church-leaders-call- boy-scouts-drop-ban-gay-scouts

Friday, February 8: Quinnipiac University releases a poll indicating that a majority of Americans believe that the Boy Scouts of America should drop their ban on openly gay members. http://www.glaad.org/blog/majority-americans-support-ending-ban-openly-gay-bsa-members

Monday, March 04: National Geographic meets with GLAAD and Eagle Scout Will Oliver to review a 120,000 signature Change.org petition denouncing their involvement with the BSA. National Geographic airs a disclaimer before their show Are You Tougher Than a Boy Scout? disassociating themselves from the BSA's policies. http://www.glaad.org/blog/national-geographic-channel-meets-glaad-eagle-scout- agrees-publish-guest-article

Tuesday, March 05: Carly Rae Jepsen and Train make the decision not to participate in their planned performances at the 2013 National Scout until the anti-gay ban has been lifted. http://www.glaad.org/blog/video-carly-rae-jepsen-bill-gates-speak-out-against-boy-scouts-anti-gay-ban

Monday, March 11: The BSA begins surveying its pack leaders on their opinions of the anti-gay ban. http://www.glaad.org/blog/boy-scouts-america-surveying-its-pack-leaders-about-gay-ban

Thursday, March 14: Microsoft founder and billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates speaks out against the Boy Scouts discriminatory policies. http://www.glaad.org/blog/video-carly-rae-jepsen-bill-gates-speak-out- against-boy-scouts-anti-gay-ban

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Thursday, March 14: Jennifer Tyrell tells CNN that the BSA already know that gay scouts and leaders should be included. http://www.glaad.org/blog/jennifer-tyrrell-tells-cnn-boy-scouts-already-know-gay- scouts-and-leaders-should-be-included

Saturday, March 16: Madonna, dressed in a Boy Scout uniform, speaks out with Jennifer Tyrrell against the Boy Scout's anti-gay ban at the 24th annual GLAAD Media Awards in New York. http://www.glaad.org/blog/video-ohio-mom-jennifer-tyrrell-madonna-speak-out-against-scouts-ban- glaadawards

Wednesday, March 20: The Mt. Diablo Silverado Council of the BSA was the first in America to urge the BSA to remove its anti-gay ban after 81% of its members call for equality. http://www.glaad.org/blog/scout-council-denounces-anti-gay-ban-after-81-members-call-equality

Tuesday, March 26: Popular television comedy bases an episode around the BSA's anti-gay ban and shows a fictionalized version of -life events gay members have endured due to the Boy Scouts anti-gay policy. http://www.glaad.org/blog/recap-find-out-how-things-turn-out-david-and-bryan-new- normals-boys-scouts-ban-episode

Sunday, April 14: Openly gay brothers Lucien and Pascal Tessier begin a Change.org petition urging the BSA to drop their anti-gay ban and allow Scouts like Pascal a chance at their Eagle Scout awards. http://www.glaad.org/blog/brothers-petitioning-bsa-lift-ban-so-both-can-be-eagle-scouts

Wednesday, April 17: Greg Bourke, a Kentucky father who was ousted from the Boy Scouts for being gay, delivers a petition with more than 64,000 signatures to the United Way asking them to suspend their sponsorship of the BSA until they lift their anti-gay ban. www.glaad.org/blog/ousted-gay-boy-scout-leader- deliver-64000-petition-signatures-united-way

Saturday, April 20: Several faith leaders, including representatives from the Unitarian Universalist Association, The United Church of Christ, and ReconcilingWorks: Lutherans for Full Participation, issue statement of disappointment at the BSA's continued support for discriminatory practices. http://www.glaad.org/blog/faith-leaders-express-disappointment-continued-ban-gay-boy-scout-leaders

Sunday, April 21: Executive Director of Scouts for Equality Zach Wahls appears on a CNN discussion of the Boy Scouts anti-gay ban. http://www.glaad.org/blog/zach-wahls-appears-cnn-debate-against-boy- scouts-anti-gay-policies

Tuesday, April 23: David Meshulam, president of the for the BSA, announces his and several other South California BSA Councils' support for dropping the anti-gay ban. http://www.glaad.org/blog/la-boy-scouts-support-adult-gay-members

Thursday, April 25: The LDS Church announces that it's official endorsement of the BSA's recent proposal to change their anti-gay policies and allow gay youth members, but not adults, to join the organization. http://www.glaad.org/blog/mormon-church-endorses-scouts-plans-include-gay-youth-not- adults

Friday, April 26: Filmmaker and Eagle Scout Todd Bieber, with help from LGBT adults and fellow filmmakers from The Onion and The Late Show, helped a troop of Scouts earn their Cinematography Merit Badge by working with them to produce a short film entitled "Attack of the Evil Mutant Scouts." http://www.glaad.org/blog/video-filmmaker-todd-bieber-helps-scouts-create-and-film-earn-merit-badges- teaches-acceptance

Thursday, May 9: A Washington Post-ABC News poll found that "63 percent of Americans support allowing gay scouts to join, and the public opposes the plan to continue to ban gay adults from Boy Scout

10 leadership by a 56 to 39 percent margin." http://www.glaad.org/blog/majority-americans-support-lifting- ban-gay-boy-scouts-adult-leaders

Friday, May 10: Scouts for Equality held a national day of action across the country, in dozens of cities, to urge the Boy Scouts to end its ban on gay Scouts and adult members. The events were held by local Scout councils to encourage the national BSA representatives to back the proposed policy change allowing gay youth, but not adults, to finally join the Scouts. http://www.glaad.org/blog/video-scouts- equality-rallies-include-all-boy-scouts

Saturday, May 11: Eric Andresen, whose 18-year-old son Ryan was denied the rank of Eagle Scout because he's gay, spoke out in support of his son against the Boy Scouts of America's ban on gay members at the 24th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in San Francisco. http://www.glaad.org/blog/video- parents-speak-out-against-boy-scouts-ban-glaadawards-sf

Tuesday, May 14: The God Bless America Fund, which owns the rights and royalties to the famous song of the same name, announced its decision to withhold funding from the Greater New York Councils of the BSA due to the organization's ban on gay youth and leaders. http://www.glaad.org/blog/god-bless- america-fund-witholding-donations-boy-scouts

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES List of current Change.org petitions: http://www.change.org/campaigns/boyscouts Scouts for Equality's site, which counts Eagle Scouts who have returned medals: http://www.scoutsforequality.com/

GLAAD Resources: http://glaad.org/scouts

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