CEO of AT&T to the BSA: I Want You To Change Your Policy

Details: Category: LGBT Issues; Published on Thursday, 14 June 2012 14:28; Written by Lara Landis; Hits: 418

The Boy Scouts of America does not allow LGBT members or leaders. Jennifer Tyrell found this out the hard way. She was removed from her role as Leader of her son's Cub Scout pack. The story attracted National attention, but Tyrell has a new and surprising high-profile ally. The CEO of AT&T has voiced his support for a change of the BSA's policies on LGBT members and leaders.

Several high-profile officials have urged the organization to change its stance on these issues, but representatives from the Boy Scouts of America have only issued a statement saying that it has no intention of changing its current policies.

Randell Stephenson, the current CEO of AT&T is also a member of the board of the directors for the Boy Scouts. His company is ranked highly by the HRC as being a good place for LGBT individuals to work. In the Change.org petition, he says that if he has been successful in directing AT&T to becoming an LGBT friendly company, he should be able to use his position on the Board of the Boy Scouts of America to persuade the organization to change its policies.

The BSA has strong ties with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with over half of its members coming from Mormon churches. The Mormon Church is noted for its anti-LGBT stance and played a key role in the passage of California's Proposition 8.

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AT&T CEO on Change.org