16 Companies That Ended Sponsorship of Boy Scouts Over Gay Ban

The Boy Scouts of America in July 2015 changed a longstanding policy banning gay adults from leading troops, a stance that was costing them valuable sponsorships.

Initially, neither troops themselves nor troop leaders could be gay, but sponsors began bailing on the organization over their lack of inclusive policies.

The Boy Scouts changed the rules in 2013 to allow gay scouts to join, but at that point still held that those in leadership could not be gay. That changed in July 2015.

Vote Now: Do You Approve of Gay Marriage?

Here are some companies that canceled their funding while the bans were intact:

1. UPS
After announcing a new inclusion policy in 2012, the United Parcel Service was prohibited from funding the Boy Scouts. In 2010 alone, UPS had given $167,000 to the group.

2. United Way
United Way of Greater Cleveland ditched the club after the scouting organization reaffirmed its ban on gay scouts and leaders in 2012, breaking a 100-year relationship. The company had given almost $100,000 to Scoutreach, which works with inner-city youth, The Cleveland Plain Dealer reported.

3. Merck and Company
The company’s foundation announced in 2012 that it would no longer contribute the scouting group due to its discriminatory anti-gay policy. In 2011, Merck gave $30,000 to support the Transatlantic Council that serves young Americans overseas and the National Youth Leadership Training program.

4. Intel
According to Think Progress, the Intel Foundation halted funding for local Boys Scouts troops an council after the decision in 2012. This totaled to $700,000.

Tell Us: Should the States or the Federal Government Decide the Legality of Gay Marriage?

According to Scouting for All, the following companies also refused to provide further funds to the Boy Scouts of America:

5. IBM
6. Levi Strauss and Company
7. J.P. Morgan
8. American Airlines
9. Medtronic
10. Portland General Gas and Electric
11. Hewlett Packard
12. Textron
13. Fleet Bank
14. CVS/Pharmacy Stores
15. Carrier Corp.
16. General Mills

Vote Now: Was the Supreme Court Right to Strike Down the Defense of Marriage Act?

Related Stories:

• 5 Christian Alternatives to the Boy Scouts
  
• Pros and Cons of Christian Alternative to Boy Scouts