(CNN) — “Call Me Maybe” singer Carly Rae Jepsen is the latest act to drop out of the Boy Scouts of America’s upcoming Jamboree because of the organization’s ban on openly gay members.
The Canadian entertainer announced her decision on Tuesday, saying in a statement posted to her Twitter account that she’s pulled out of the event “as an artist who believes in equality for all people.”
“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,” she said.
Jepsen shared the Jamboree bill with the group Train, who announced last Friday that they, too, weren’t going to perform because of the Boy Scouts of America’s policy.
“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,” the group said in a statement on March 1. “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.”
Their remarks came after gay Eagle Scout and former Boy Scouts camp leader Derek Nance launched a Change.org petition calling on the two acts to “speak out against the Boy Scouts of America’s anti-gay policy and agree to step down” as the headlining acts.
The Boy Scouts of America’s 2013 National Scout Jamboree is described as a 10-day “big celebration of scouting.” In addition to stadium shows, 50,000 scouts, volunteers and staff members gather to take part in outdoor activities, its website says.
The director of public relations for Boy Scouts of America, Deron Smith, told CNN in a statement that they “appreciate everyone’s right to express an opinion,” and that the organization will “remain focused on delivering a great Jamboree program for our Scouts.”
