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Boy Scout camp leader speaks out against anti-gay policies while coming out on YouTube

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Mataguay Scout Ranch program director Derek Nance came out in an It Gets Better video posted on YouTube yesterday. In the video, Nance speaks out against the Boy Scouts of America’s anti-gay policies and says he knows “the time will come when LGBT Scouts can openly serve on summer camp staff and participate in the Scouting program, but for now the most important thing we can do is talk about the issue.”

Nance cites the story of gay Eagle Scout Tim Griffin, who was allegedly fired from his position at Camp Winton because of his orientation as his reason for making the video. Several camp employees resigned in solidarity after Griffin was fired from his position, and joined Griffin in delivering thousands of Change.org petitions to the Golden Empire Boy Scouts Council.

Since 2012, GLAAD has been working with Scouts for Equality to end the long history of discrimination against LGBT youth and parents. Individuals like Derek, Jennifer Tyrrell and 18 year-old Ryan Andresen have courageously told their stories to end these discriminatory policies. Read more about GLAAD’s work.

In his video, Nance said, “The only way we will change the Boy Scouts' discriminatory policies is if those of us who are on the front lines representing them to thousands of scouts every single summer start engaging in some open dialogue on this issue.” You can watch the video below:


 


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