At one point, the Boy Scouts of America’s 2013 National Scouting Jamboree seemed like it would offer an incredible concert featuring Train and Carly Rae Jepsen. Now, thanks to the organization’s policies on homosexuals, there’s a distinct possibility the event may offer neither. Jepsen announced today that she can’t in good conscience perform for a group that refuses to embrace equality and will be taking “Call Me Maybe” elsewhere.
Her decision comes on the heels of Train making a similar vow for similar reasons. According to USA Today, the band has promised to hold the date and will follow through on the gig if the Boy Scouts change course and decide to start admitting gay members/ troop leaders, but for the time being, that seems like a little bit of a longshot. Jepsen, on the other hand, has made no promises to reserve her time and will assumedly move forward.
The Boy Scouts of America are one of the last large organizations in the United States to have official policies about homosexuals. As the country has collectively liberalized and started tolerating or even better, accepting the gay community, the Scouts have dug in their heels and forced out anyone discovered to be a homosexual. It’s unlikely these performance cancellations will do anything to change the policy, but hopefully, they’ll at least nudge the organization into a less bigoted and more inclusive position.
