In the News: Boy Scout leader has membership revoked due to sexual orientation

from WTOV 9, Ohio.

On Tuesday night protesters gathered in front of a Bridgeport church to let their local Boy Scout leaders know how they felt about a controversial decision.

The controversy began just last week when a Tiger Scout leader had her membership revoked due to her sexual orientation.

Jennifer Tyrrell said she was the den leader for Pack 109's Tiger Scouts for a year before her orientation became an issue.

...On Thursday night parents and members of her pack joined together outside of the Bridgeport Church of God, where scout meetings are held, to show their support and let leaders know they do not approve of the decision.

There is no wiggle room. Regardless of how capable you may be, the Boy Scouts of America has a strict policy when it comes to sexual orientation and membership.

"We do not grant membership to individuals who are opened or avowed homosexuals," said Bob Drury. Drury is the scout executive for the Ohio River Valley.

...Tyrrell said her biggest concern is the boys. "My biggest concern is that the children will think that I abandoned them because they don't understand."

Tyrrell said she doesn't feel that this is a good lesson for the boys, but leaders said there isn't anything they can do. They claim they would never have allowed her to become a den leader had they known of her sexual orientation a year ago.

Even though they revoked her membership, local leaders said it in no way reflects how well she did with the children or how effective she was as a leader. They said it is solely based on her sexual orientation.

Watch video:

Read the full article and watch the video from WTOV9.
Read more In the News.