If you asked me to name some musicians who seem like serious people with strong personal convictions, I'm not sure my first guesses would have included Carly Rae Jepsen. Maybe it's the 10,000 "Call Me Maybe" parodies I've seen, but I guess I thought of her as a fairly frivolous, flash-in-the-pan artist unlikely to cause controversy. Which is why it's a little surprising to hear she's dropped out of the Boy Scouts National Jamboree this year -- in protest of the organization’s ban on gay Scouts and gay Scout leaders.
Her decision came after a Change.org petition asked her to reconsider headlining the event, and I find it fairly impressive that she did so. Wherever you land on the issue of the Boy Scouts' policies, I think it's inspiring to hear about an artist who's willing to take a stand for something she believes in. Even though this move may hurt her popularity.
The Change.org petition was started by gay Eagle Scout Derek Nance, and it reads 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.
Four days and 62,000 signatures later, both Train and Jepsen had dropped out of the performance.
Jepsen took to Twitter this morning to explain her actions:
As an artist who believes in equality for all people, I will not be participating in the Boy Scouts of America Jamboree this summer. 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.
I think it's a pretty brave move for her considering that she's not super well-established as a musician yet. She's had a couple of Grammy nominations, but she's only got two albums under her belt -- and there are plenty of people who only associate her with that one specific earworm. (Or, thanks to this crazy mashup, possibly have her confused with Nine Inch Nails.)
Good for her for having the balls to put her beliefs before profits, and show she's more than just a catchy YouTube fad.
What do you think of Carly Rae Jepsen's decision to drop out of the Boy Scout Jamboree?
Image via Carly Rae Jepsen
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Comments 13
Isnt their motto - Be Prepared. I find this humorous as even I have seen the Maybe video.
WTG. If more 'celebrities' withdrew their support publicly for organizations that promote inequality, it would send a pretty clear message. I hope that they can't find suitable replacement acts - by default, CRJ and Train are basically putting it out there that any artist that does play at their Jamboree DOES support the policies of the scouts (where it may have been a non issue without all this publicity)
I think it's inspiring to hear about an artist who's willing to take a stand for something she believes in. Even though this move may hurt her popularity.
Would it still be inspiring if her stand was the opposite, and she told the people at Change.org that she thought the Boy Scouts had the right to make the decision and stand that they do and she'll be playing for them?
redK8blueSt8: Yes! I mean, ultimately I'd feel the same way: that it takes guts to step into a controversial topic, especially when your success hinges on your popularity.
Frankly, I think it's ridiculous that she's dropping out. The Jamboree isn't until July. The BSA has said that they will make a decision regarding gay members/leaders in May at their National Meeting. So what is she going to do if they say that they're going to open up membership? NOW they're ok, so she's going to go to them and say, "Oh, sorry, my bad! I wanna perform!" No, thank you.
Honestly, people on BOTH sides of the issue are making WAY too much of this. Boy Scouts is SO much more than sexuality. It is outsiders who are bringing it down to only that. I've been involved in the movement for close to 20 years, both on the volunteer and the professional level. Do you know how many times I've had occasion to ask someone - be they scout or leader - about their sexual orientation? ZERO. Absolutely NONE. Not one. single. time has that issue come up.
It is activists and people like Jalaz ("hate group"? Really? You put the BSA on the same level with the KKK and Westboro? Please. Over-dramatic much?), who have preconceived notions about the organization who are pushing this.