Ohio mom Jennifer Tyrrell has been fighting to get the Boy Scouts of America to revoke its ban on LGBT members since she was kicked out as the leader of her son's pack. She spoke at the GLAAD Media Awards in New York City on Saturday to remind everyone that the fight is not over.
Check out her remarks below:
Check out other videos, including Madonna and Anderson Cooper at the GLAAD Media Awards, here.
"This isn't just about boy scouts this is about equality in all aspects of life. Boy scouts needs to realize that they're sending a dangerous message to children by telling them that they're not good enough. Together with GLAAD, I am making sure no parent ever has to look their child in the eye and say we're not good enough. You have no idea how much that hurts because Alicia and I are good enough and these kids, that we're raising, are amazing. Ask anyone."
Later in the evening, Madonna, who wore a Cub Scouts uniform for the event, also voiced her support for revoking the ban, saying in part, "I think they should change their stupid rules. Don't you?" In her own speech, Jennifer Tyrrell mentioned that Carly Rae Jepson and Train both pulled out of the Boy Scout Jamboree after GLAAD urged them to reconsider given the BSA's anti-LGBT policies. She especially thanked GLAAD for helping her share her story on outlets such as CNN and MSNBC.
For a complete list of GLAAD Media Awards winners, click here.
GLAAD first started calls for the Boy Scouts of America to end its ban on gay scouts and scout leaders in April 2012 after Jennifer Tyrrell, a mom and den leader from Ohio was removed from her 7-year-old’s Cub Scout Pack for being gay. Tyrrell’s Change.org petition has attracted more than 341,000 signatures in support of ending the Boy Scouts’ ban on gay Scouts and leaders.
GLAAD and Scouts for Equality have also called attention to other Americans who are continuing to be harmed by the anti-gay policy, including 18 year-old gay Scout Ryan Andresen, who was denied his Eagle award in October 2012 because he’s gay. Ryan’s mom later launched a Change.org petition calling on the BSA to give Ryan the award he has earned. That petition now boasts over 473,000 signatures.
Jen Tyrrell and her family joined hosts Lara Spencer, Josh Elliott and Sam Champion (Good Morning America);Jake Shears (Scissor Sisters); Borle, Andy Mientus, Krysta Rodriguez (Smash); Dan Stevens (Downton Abbey); Jenni "JWOWW" Farley, Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi (The Jersey Shore, Snooki & JWoww); Annie Clark, Cristine Prosperi (Degrassi); Straight But Not Narrow founder Avan Jogia; Milla Jovovich (Resident Evil); David France, Peter Staley (How to Survive a Plague); John Leguizamo (Ice Age, Moulin Rouge); Laverne Cox (Musical Chairs); GLAAD's Strategic Giving Officer Wilson Cruz (My So-Called Life); producing dream team Neil Meron and Craig Zadan and others at the GLAAD Media Awards in New York, which helps fund GLAAD's work to amplify stories from the LGBT community that build support for equality.
The 24th Annual GLAAD Media Awards series will continue in Los Angeles on April 20, 2013, and later in San Francisco on May 11, 2013. For a complete list of nominees, special guests and ticket information, click here.
The GLAAD Media Awards recognize and honor media for their fair, accurate and inclusive representations of the LGBT community and the issues that affect their lives.
The 24th Annual GLAAD Media Awards were presented nationally by Ketel One and Wells Fargo, and presented locally in New York by Delta Air Lines.
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