Singer Carly Rae Jepsen Cancels Boy Scouts' Jamboree Performance Over Gay Policies

Singer Carly Rae Jepsen took to Twitter this morning to take a public stand against the Boy Scouts of America's official position on homosexuality. Jepsen, who was scheduled to perform at the organization's National Scout Jamboree this summer, used the platform to officially back out of the event.

In a three messages, she highlighted her support for the gay community and said that she plans to stay engaged in the battle for homosexual rights.

Canadian singer Carly Rae Jepsen performs at the o2 Arena in east London, Monday, March 4, 2013. Credit: Joel Ryan/Invision/AP

"As an artist who believes in equality for all people, I will not be participating in the Boy Scouts of America Jamboree this summer," she wrote. "I always have and will continue to support the LGBT community on a global level."

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Jepsen's decision to cancel her appearance at the coveted Boy Scouts event comes after the band Train made the same choice a few days ago.

The cancellations are not random. They came, as ABC News reports, after gay Eagle Scout Derek Nance launched a petition calling on these celebrities to distance themselves from the Boy Scouts by canceling their performances at the event.

Carly Rae Jepsen arrives at the 55th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013, in Los Angeles. Credit: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP

His petition -- one that attracted tens of thousands of signatures -- read, in part:

My name is Derek Nance. I'm an Eagle Scout and a former Boy Scout camp leader. I'm also gay, and a fan of Carly Rae Jepsen (Call Me Maybe) and Train (Drops of Jupiter). That's why I was surprised to see that both Carly Rae and Train would be headlining the National Scout Jamboree this July, but hadn't yet spoken out against the Boy Scouts' policy banning gay youth and parents. As a talented artists with incredibly loyal LGBT fans around the globe, I hope they will speak out quickly, and urge the Boy Scouts to end its dangerous anti-gay policy.

After serving 10 years as a Boy Scout camp leader, I decided I couldn't lie about who I was any longer and came out as gay. Now, because of the Boy Scouts of America's hurtful anti-gay policy I'm no longer allowed to be part of an organization that has been an instrumental part of my life.

Nance's petition now proclaims victory in the wake of these artists' announcements. The Jamboree will unfold from July 15-24 in West Virginia.

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