A Missouri Eagle Scout claims he was booted from a Boy Scout camp after he came out as gay.
According to the New York Daily News, Eric Jones, 19, was kicked out of the Boy Scouts after he told the camp's director that he was gay. Jones had been working at the camp.
Jones' story comes alongside news that Boy Scouts of America has re-affirmed its ban on gay scouts, after a two-year review of the policy.
"The vast majority of the parents of youth we serve value their right to address issues of same-sex orientation within their family, with spiritual advisers, and at the appropriate time and in the right setting," said Bob Mazzuca, chief scout executive of Boy Scouts of America in a statement. "While a majority of our membership agrees with our policy, we fully understand that no single policy will accommodate the many diverse views among our membership or society."
Jones told Windy City Times that he knew about the policy and was scared of the repercussions of coming out.
"Without this policy, they probably would have let me stay," Jones said.
But asked to clarify what camp he was at and who removed him, Jones declined to say.
The alleged incident has made national headlines and will be featured "Second Class Citizens," an upcoming documentary about discrimination against LGBT people.
