Media Advisory October 18, 2012 CONTACTS: Shareeza Bhola, Communications Manager, Change.org, (202) 684 2552, press@change.

org Tracie Morales, Communications Director, Office of Assemblymember Skinner, (510) 286-1400, Tracie.morales@asm.ca.gov

MEDIA ADVISORY BOY SCOUT DENIED EAGLE AWARD BECAUSE HES GAY TO DELIVER 400,000 SIGNATURES TO SAN FRANCISCO-AREA BOY SCOUT COUNCIL
Supporters in attendance include Assemblymember Nancy Skinner, who will honor Boy Scout Ryan Andresen for his courageous effort to call attention to intolerance and inequality. SAN FRANCISCO, CA Ryan Andresen, who was kicked out of the Boy Scouts and denied his Eagle Award days before his 18th birthday because hes gay, will deliver more than 400,000 petition signatures to the Mt. Diablo-Silverado Boy Scout Council on Thursday, October 18, 2012. Constituent Ryan Andresen, of Moraga, will be accompanied by family members, advocacy leaders, a fellow troop alum and Assemblymember Nancy Skinner. Skinner will present Ryan with a resolution honoring his courage to speak out about the Boy Scouts anti-gay policy. When: Thursday, October 18, 2012, 3:00pm PT Where: Mt. Diablo-Silverado Boy Scout Council, 800 Ellinwood Way, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 Who: Ryan Andresen, an 18-year-old Boy Scout denied his Eagle Award because hes gay, and his mother Karen Andresen, who started an online petition at Change.org signed by more than 400,000 people around the United States. Eric Andresen, Ryans father who has resigned from troop leadership, will also be in attendance. Ryans mother, Karen Andresen, started the petition on Change.org two weeks ago after learning that her son would be denied his Eagle Award -- despite 12 years of participation in the Boy Scouts -because hes gay. Ryan had completed all of the requirements for his Eagle Scout Award, including a capstone project where he worked with a local middle school to build a Tolerance Wall on their grounds to raise awareness about bullying.

But two weeks ago, just days before he turned 18, Scout leaders told Ryan that he could not receive his Eagle Award because hes gay. Ryan has since received a letter from the Mt. Diablo-Silverado Council informing him that he has been kicked out of the Boy Scouts altogether. Ryan will have copies of the letter on-hand at the petition delivery. My son has showed incredible courage in telling his story. Luckily, thousands of people are now standing up and supporting my son in hopes that Troop 212 will do the right thing, and give him his Eagle Scout Award. And Ill be right by Ryans side until we convince the Boy Scouts to stop this discrimination, said Karen Andresen. Journalists interested in setting up interviews should use the contact details at the top of the page. Live signature totals from Karen Andresens petition can be found here: http://www.change.org/ryanseagle ###