In Brief

Zach Wahls Petitions UPS To Stop Funding Boy Scouts

Zach Wahls

IOWA CITY, IA -- LGBTQ Equality Rights Activist Zach Wahls, after successively lobbying the Intel Corporation to cease corporate contributions to the Boy Scouts of America last month, has set his sights on United Parcel Service.

Wahls noted, that in 2010, UPS gave nearly $167,000 to the Boy Scouts of America, despite the organization's policy banning gay Scouts and leaders from participating. On the corporate webpage, UPS touts its 100% rating on the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index. The company states:

"In today’s world, we understand that diversity encompasses more than race and gender. It extends to the full myriad of issues ranging from ethnicity to sexual orientation to physical ability. Inclusiveness, respect and cooperation are core values that help drive the way we do business with our customers and suppliers - and strengthen our bonds with a multi-cultural community of friends and neighbors."

Wahls wrote: "[The Boy Scouts' policy] is inconsistent with how UPS views workplace equality and it is inconsistent with the Scout Law, which demands bravery, loyalty and kindness. As an Eagle Scout, I applaud UPS' long history of support for the Boy Scouts of America.

The BSA has historically been a vital American institution critical in the development of our nation's future leaders. But on July 17, 2012, the BSA reaffirmed their discriminatory policy, stating in part: "…we do not grant membership to individuals who are open or avowed homosexuals…" And because of this policy, inspirational Scouts and Scout leaders -- Like Ohio Den Mother Jennifer Tyrrell and Kentucky Scoutmaster Greg Bourke -- continue to be fired from the Boy Scouts, just because they are gay.

UPS spokesperson Kristen Petrella told LGBTQNation regarding the BSA Executive Board's July decision, "[That] decision won't impact the [UPS] foundation’s decision to provide funding to BSA as we evaluate each funding request on an individual basis."

According to Wahls, UPS Foundation President Eduardo Martinez should "know all too well how senseless and out-of-touch the Boy Scouts' anti-gay policy is." 

Martinez also serves as Chair of the Corporate Development Council for the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts and is a board member for The Metro Atlanta YMCA. Both of which welcome and benefit from embracing gay youth and leaders in their programmes.