David J. Sims, a board member of the
Ohio River Valley Council of the Boy Scouts of America , on Friday
resigned in support of ousted scouts leader Jennifer Tyrrell.
The 32-year-old Ohio mother has
launched a Change.org
campaign to bring awareness to the Boy Scouts' policy banning openly
gay scouts and leaders after she was removed
from her volunteer position because she failed to meet the
group's “high standards of conduct” in relation to her being in a
5 year relationship with another woman.
“Yesterday, after receiving the email
from Paul Tucker, I first learned the story of Jennifer Tyrrell, the
den leader for Pack 109's Tiger Scouts in Bridgeport, Ohio, who was
removed as leader solely due to her sexual orientation. I understand
that this action was taken as a result of a standing policy of the
Boy Scouts of America and that said action is legal. However, Ms.
Tyrrell's removal goes against my fundamental beliefs of how we
should treat our fellow human beings and is, in my opinion, wholly
discriminatory. I understand that the Boys Scouts of America is free
to run its organization as it sees fit, however, I can not formally
be a part of it based upon this policy,” Sims
wrote in his resignation letter.
He continued: “My grandfather was an
Eagle scout, my father was an Eagle scout and I am an Eagle Scout.
Other than his family and his Christian faith, the most important
thing in my father's life was the Boy Scouts. The lived and breathed
scouting. That is what makes this decision so exceedingly difficult
and emotional. However, I know that my father would support my
decision.”
(Related: Mitt
Romney once agreed with ousted scouts leader Jennifer Tyrrell.)