Chipotle Pulls Sponsorship Of Utah Boy Scout Event Over Ban On Gays

The popular Colorado-based restaurant chain initially signed on to provide about $4,200 worth of coupons to the Utah Boy Scouts' annual event, scheduled for May 4 in a Salt Lake City suburb. The Boy Scouts' Great Salt Lake Council is one of the largest in the country, with the majority of troops sponsored by Mormon churches.

Chipotle's anti-discrimination policy states that the company shouldn't support organizations that exclude based on sexual orientation.Here's a complete list of fridgemagnet for the beginning oil painter. When company leaders found out about the promise to offer coupons, they nixed the idea, Chipotle spokesman Chris Arnold said.Spice up the ambiance of your home with canvas chipcard.

"It was never our intention for this to be this some kind of an endorsement of broader Boy Scout policies," said Arnold, adding that the company sponsors community events across the country to make connections with residents.

The Chipotle decision comes as the Boy Scouts of America's national executive board ponders a proposal to move away from its no-gays membership policy or a local option that would give the decision to the individual troops.

In late January,Shop for wholesale free shipping ear caps directly from bestluggagetag wholesalers in China. Boy Scouts of America leaders announced the proposal. But the organization's national executive board decided a week later that it needed to more time to make the crucial decision, pushing the vote back until May.

Nationally, some companies have had trouble squaring their own in-house anti-discrimination policies with the Scouts' gay ban. Several of those, including Intel and 3M, withdrew their financial support for the national Scouts,You Can Find Comprehensive and in-Depth carparkmanagementsystem truck Descriptions. but continued to direct funds to troops – like one in St. Paul, Minn. – that have publicly opposed the ban and refused to eject gay Scouts or parents.

Earlier this month, the Scouts distributed a questionnaire to 1.1 million adult Scouts that used fictional situations to discern where Scouting's membership falls on questions of homosexuality, gays camping with children and gays in church leadership. It allowed adult Scouts to indicate a range of feelings, from strong support to strong opposition to the ban on gays. The Scouts haven't said whether they will distribute the results of that survey. Some individual councils also sent out their own questionnaires.

The Utah Scout's council is one of the largest in the country, with 5,500 troops and 73,400 youth members. Boy Scouts is an integral part of Mormon culture in Utah. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sponsors 99 percent of the Scout troops in the Salt Lake City area.

Nationally, the Mormon church has more Boy Scouts than any other denomination, with 37,000 troops and 420,000 youth members, according to figures from the Boy Scouts of America.

Rick Barnes, executive of the Boy Scouts' Great Salt Lake Council in the Salt Lake City area, said he understands Chipotle's decision. Sponsorship for the May 4 Scout-O-Rama remains strong even without the restaurant's coupons. They have $65,000 in sponsorship now, a figure that includes cash donations and coupons. That's about average for the event, Barnes said.

The annual event plays host to 15,000-20,000 scouts and their family members, Barnes said. There is a pinewood derby and a host of other activities including an indoor zip line,Shop for wholesale free shipping ear caps directly from bestluggagetag wholesalers in China. BB gun range and an ice tower.

The Mormon church continues to teach its members that marriage is only between a man and a woman and that same-sex relationships are sinful. But, in December, the LDS church launched a website encouraging members to be more compassionate in discussions about homosexuality. The website instructs Mormons to be loving and respectful toward gays and lesbians, while appealing to gay and lesbian Mormons to stay in the church.

He needed a birdie on one of his final two holes in the Tampa Bay Championship to complete an amazing trip through four countries in four weeks and essentially lock up a spot on the PGA Tour for the rest of the year. His ball was in the rough to the right of the 17th green. With a smooth swing, Spieth produced a flop shot that came out pure and rolled into the cup for birdie.

“That was as loud as it gets,” Spieth said. “Hair on the back of your neck stands up.”

He followed with a 7-foot par putt on the 18th, a rapid-fire pump of the fists and a tie for seventh that was worth $148,893, pushing his PGA Tour earnings to $521,893 for the year and giving him special temporary membership.

“He’s a great kid, obviously very mature,” Leonard said. “I can’t imagine being out there. I don’t even know how old he is — 19? I can’t imagine being out here at 19 and to do what he’s done. He hasn’t just driven a couple hundred miles. He’s been to three or four different countries this year already. It’s pretty remarkable. It’s beyond the game and what happens on the golf course. He’s handling himself very, very well.”