Gay Boy Scout From Moraga Delivers Petitions, Seeks Reinstatement
PLEASANT HILL (KCBS) – A former Boy Scout from Moraga is pushing forward to get reinstated to the Boy Scouts, after being kicked out of the organization for coming out as gay.
18-year-old Ryan Andresen and his family presented more than 400,000 signatures gathered in an online petition to the Mt. Diablo Silverado Council on Thursday, supporting his reinstatement.
Andresen said he was denied advancement to the rank of Eagle Scout simply because he told the truth about who he is.
KCBS' Chris Filippi Reports:
"It's been a pretty difficult month for me. After working so hard for so long, I was told that for being honest about who I am, I could no longer participate in the Boy Scouts and wouldn't be able to get my Eagle award. And that really hurts me," said Andresen.
His mother Karen said that other Boy Scout councils have decided not to enforce the ban on gay members and she wants the Mt. Diablo Council to follow suit.
"For all the good the Boy Scouts do, they're willing to undermine it and keep outstanding young people like Ryan out of scouting," she said.
The Boy Scouts issued a written statement which said that Andresen refused to subscribe to the organization's declaration of religious principal and standard on sexual orientation.
The organization also said that they do not proactively inquire about the sexual orientation of the group's members, employees and volunteers.
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