The local Boy Scouts of America office released a statement Tuesday hoping to head off a new round of attention associated with the July firing of a gay camp staff member.
In the statement, officials reiterate their position that Tim Griffin was not fired because of his sexuality.
Griffin is expected to deliver, on Wednesday, nearly 80,000 signatures gathered on an online petition asked that the local Golden Empire Council reject the national "anti-gay policy and reinstate Tim Griffin."
Ten fellow summer camp staff members quit in solidarity after Griffin, who had worked at the camp for eight summers, was fired July 20.
Council officials said earlier that he was fired for insubordination and failure to dress appropriately for camp.
The petition asks local council officials to reject the national policy, which was reaffirmed in July.
"We love the Boy Scouts, but we can't support this policy. That's why we urge you to speak out against the ban on gay Scouts and leaders and adopt an inclusive policy like other troops, packs, councils, and lodges across the country have done -- so the Boy Scouts can maintain its relevancy, improve recruitment, and truly live by the principles it teaches its members," it reads.
The BSA statement expresses its intent to make no public statement on the matter, but that they will accept the petition from Griffin privately.
"Contrary to media reports, the Golden Empire Council did not remove this camp staff member because of his sexual orientation or the BSA's membership standards policy," the BSA statement reads.
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