Merck Foundation pulls funding from Boy Scouts due to sexual orientation policy

Earlier this year, the Boy Scouts of America reaffirmed its policy to “not grant membership to individuals who are open or avowed homosexuals.” In response, the Merck Foundation has suspended all funding to the Boy Scouts.

Merk stops funding Boy Scouts of America because of its rules on sexual orientation http://t.co/gxDNsITm

— Dan Landson (@danisintheair) December 8, 2012

From Merck’s Wednesday press release:

The BSA’s policy of exclusion based on sexual orientation directly conflicts with the Merck Foundation’s giving guidelines.  The Foundation re-evaluated funding for the BSA when the organization restated its policy that excludes members on the basis of sexual orientation.  Merck Foundation has notified the BSA of this decision.

The Merck Foundation joins Intel and UPS in cutting funding to the Boy Scouts.