Carly Rae Jepsen Cancels Boy Scouts of America Concert to Support Gay Community

USMagazine, Tuesday, March 5, 2013, 8:30am (PST)

Carly Rae Jepsen has joined the group Train in pulling out of July's Boy Scouts of America Jamboree concert in West Virginia, the "Call Me Maybe" singer announced via Twitter on Tuesday, March 5. Citing the organization's refusal to allow openly gay or transgender candidates to join, Jepsen explained her decision in a series of tweets.

"As an artist who believes in equality for all people, I will not be participating in the Boy Scouts of America Jamboree this summer," the 27-year-old Canadian pop star wrote. "I always have and will continue to support the LGBT community on a global level and stay informed on the ever changing landscape in the ongoing battle for gay rights in this country and across the globe."

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The "Tonight I'm Getting Over You" singer -- who is currently on the road with Justin Bieber -- was subsequently praised by GLAAD's vice president of communications, Rich Ferraro.

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"No fair-minded media outlet, corporation or celebrity will want to partner with the BSA as long as the organization puts discrimination and anti-gay bias before the needs of young people," Ferraro told Us Weekly in a statement. "GLAAD will continue to call for partners of the BSA to speak out against the anti-gay ban until the BSA puts Scouting first and adopts a national non-discrimination policy. Carly Rae Jepsen and Train's decisions not only send the right message to the BSA, but remind LGBT young people that they are supported and accepted."

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Train, known for hits like "Drops of Jupiter" and "Hey, Soul Sister," said they would participate in the Jamboree event if the organization changed its policy to be more inclusive.

"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," band members Pat Monahan, Jimmy Stafford and Scott Underwood said in a statement March 4. "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."

This article originally appeared on Usmagazine.com: Carly Rae Jepsen Cancels Boy Scouts of America Concert to Support Gay Community