(NBC NEWS) -- Carly Rae Jepsen and Train fans who also happen to be Boy Scouts:
Don't count on seeing them perform at the upcoming Jamboree in July.
Both artists have pulled out of the 2013 National Scout Jamboree,
an annual conclave that attracts over 50,000 participants, over the
Scouts' position on including gay, lesbian and transgender members and
leaders. Train and Jepsen had originally been slated as headliners for
the West Virginia event.
"As an artist who believes in equality
for all people, I will not be participating in the Boy Scouts of
America Jamboree this summer," Jepsen tweeted Tuesday morning.
Train members wrote on their blog
last Friday, "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."
Over 63,000 people signed a petition at Change.org
asking Jepsen to reconsider playing the event, while a collection of
140 petitions urging the Boy Scouts to end their ban has garnered 1.6
million signatures.
The Boy Scouts of America said in February
that it needed "time for a more deliberate review" of its policy
banning gay Scouts and leaders, delaying a final decision on the
controversial membership guidelines that have dogged the private youth
organization in recent years.
Regarding the latest turn of events, spokesperson Deron Smith
of the BSA told NBCNews.com, "We appreciate everyone's right to express
an opinion and remain focused on delivering a great Jamboree program
for our Scouts."
Miranda Leitsinger contributed to this report.
NBC News