Male child Scout quango in California approves gay Scout Ryan Andresen'southward Eagle award awarding

News release from Change.org: SAN FRANCISCO, CA – The Mount Diablo-Silverado Boy Scout Quango has approved a gay Spotter's Hawkeye application later on more than 460,000 people joined his mother'due south campaign on Change.org, despite the Boy Scouts of America's anti-gay policy. Karen Andresen launched her campaign on Change.org urging the Boy Scouts to award her son, xviii-twelvemonth-old Ryan Andresen, the rank of Hawkeye Scout after Ryan's Scoutmaster refused to sign the Hawkeye application because of Ryan'south sexual orientation. On December 19, local Male child Watch leaders granted Ryan an official Eagle Board of Review, and submitted their recommendation of approving to the Mt. Diablo-Silverado Council on Dec. 31. Ryan's awarding for Eagle Scout, the Boy Scouts of America'southward highest rank, will at present be forwarded to the national arrangement for final approving. "I'one thousand just so incredibly happy for Ryan. He's worked so hard for this honor, and every bit a mother, it means the world to me to know that our local Scouting customs believes in him, also," said Karen Andresen, who launched the petition on Change.org. "Regardless of what the BSA's National Advancement Team decides to do with his awarding, this victory makes it all worth it, and gives me and then much hope for the future of the system." Bonnie Hazarabedian, the volunteer District Advancement Chair who headed Ryan Andresen's Eagle Board of Review, verified that Ryan'due south application had been canonical at the local commune and council levels, and issued the following statement: "Ryan did everything correct in this procedure, with respect and honesty, requesting an Eagle Lath of Review nether disputed circumstances when his Scoutmaster refused to sign the application. Post-obit BSA advocacy policies in such situations, we felt an Eagle Board of Review was justified. Every bit we do with all Hawkeye candidates, volunteer Picket leaders --- parents ourselves of current or former Scouts --- met with Ryan to review and discuss his scouting history and advocacy records, his Eagle Leadership Projection, and his spiritual beliefs and life goals. We are convinced that Ryan has demonstrated he deserves the rank of Eagle Scout." Blessing from the Hawkeye Board of Review overrides Ryan'southward Scoutmaster at Troop 212, Rainer Del Valle, who still hasn't contacted the Andresen family unit or issued a statement nearly his refusal to sign Ryan'due south Eagle awarding. Ryan had completed all of the requirements for his Hawkeye Sentry Award while still a member of BSA and before his 18th birthday, including a capstone project where he worked with a local middle school to build a permanent "Tolerance Wall" to raise sensation about bullying. "I want other gay Scouts to know, especially those who are hiding who they actually are, that this win is for yous. Give thanks you to anybody who joined my mom'south campaign. Your signatures made this possible," said Ryan Andresen. "Information technology'south been a wild and exhausting ride. I'one thousand really looking forrad to life getting back to normal, and to being able to focus on my final yr of high schoolhouse and completing my college applications." Karen Andresen's petition recruited more than 460,000 signatures and gained high-profile endorsements from California Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom, U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer, and 32 California land legislators. After sharing their story on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and Anderson Cooper 360, Ryan and his parents delivered more than 400,000 petition signatures to the Mount Diablo-Silverado Council, where they met with Scout leaders and offered to help the council stand up against the national anti-gay policy. In December, Ryan was recognized by Speaker John Perez at the opening session of the California State Assembly. Scouts for Equality founder Zach Wahls, who initially helped Karen launch her petition on Change.org, said he hopes this victory will embolden fifty-fifty more local Male child Watch councils to decline the Boy Scouts of America'due south "hurtful" anti-gay membership policy. "The Mount Diablo-Silverado Council joins a growing list of Boy Sentinel councils and charter organizations that are refusing to embrace the Male child Scouts of America's hurtful anti-gay membership policy," said Wahls. "The American Medical Clan, corporate and political leaders, and countless Scouting communities beyond the land have spoken out against the dangers of policies that exclude gay youth and leaders. It'southward time for the BSA to heed." "More than 50 additional Change.org petitions take been launched by Scouts and Scout leaders, urging local councils to do what Ryan'due south council did, and ignore the national anti-gay policy. Modify is coming, quango by council, community past community," added Wahls. Wahls, an Eagle Scout and son of two gay moms whose speech in support of spousal relationship equality was YouTube'south most watched political video in 2011, launched Scouts for Equality later on delivering virtually 300,000 Change.org petition signatures to the Male child Scouts of America on behalf of Jennifer Tyrrell, a lesbian mom and den leader from Ohio who was removed from her 7-year-quondam's Cub Scout Pack for existence gay. Together, Wahls and Tyrrell -- in conjunction with California Picket Ryan Andresen and Kentucky Scoutmaster Greg Bourke -- accept led Alter.org petition campaigns attracting more than one one thousand thousand signatures in support of ending the Boy Scouts' ban on gay Scouts and leaders. GLAAD -- which broke Tyrrell's story in April, sparking a national dialogue about discrimination in the Male child Scouts -- joined Wahls and Scouts for Equality in celebrating news of Ryan Andresen's Eagle awarding blessing. "Councils across the nation are rejecting the Boy Scouts' grossly discriminatory ban on gay scouts, echoing the support of fellow scouts, business leaders, and the American public," said GLAAD President Herndon Graddick. "How long can the BSA go on ignoring its own members and its core values of fairness, leadership and integrity? The growing number of councils welcoming gay scouts and leaders reminds BSA autocrats: change will come with you lot, or without you."