3 Doors Down Playing Controversial Boy Scouts Concert

Back in March Train and Carly Rae Jepsen canceled their appearances at the Boy Scouts National Jamboree’s featured concert. Now, two months after the organization voted to change its policy excluding gays, 3 Doors Down has signed on to play the event.

Saturday’s show takes place at the Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve in Mount Hope, W.Va., which opened this week and includes a stadium along with zip lines, a whitewater-rafting circuit and a 120-foot tree house.

“We are excited to have 3 Doors Down perform for these young men and women, volunteers and visitors experiencing this amazing Jamboree in West Virginia,” BSA national spokesman Deron Smith told the Associated Press.

Photo: AP Photo

NHL All-Star Game, Raleigh, N.C.

When Train backed out of the gig in March, the band said that when it had booked the show, it wasn’t “aware of any policy barring openly gay people from participation within the organization.”

The statement on the band’s website went on to say, “Train strongly opposes any kind of policy that questions the equality of any American citizen. We have always seen the BSA as a great and noble organization. We look forward to participating in the Jamboree this summer, as long as they make the right decision before then.”

Jepsen sent out a tweet in March announcing her cancellation. She wrote, “As an artist who believes in equality for all people, I will not be participating in the Boy Scouts of America Jamboree this summer.”

The BSA’s National Council voted in May to allow gay boys to join the organization, with the new policy taking effect in January. Gay adults are still banned from participating as leaders.