PORTLAND, Ore. – A Portland gay rights activist is urging his neighbors to boycott the Boy Scout Christmas tree recycling program.
Richard Kuhns distributed fliers through his neighborhood and started an online petition against the Presbyterian Church of Laurelhurst, which sponsors the local troop that recycles trees as a fundraiser.
Boy Scouts of America issued a statement Thursday saying disagreement on gay rights does not mean disrespect and that its youth program is not the appropriate forum to discuss sexuality.
Church Pastor Greg Ikehara-Martin told KGW it opposes homophobia and the troop is not a homophobic group. Scout Troop 22 plans to collect Christmas trees Saturday in the Laurelhurst neighborhood for recycling.
