Merck & Co. has ended all of its funding to the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) because of the organization’s refusal to allow gay and lesbian scouts and leaders. The decision was praised by gay-rights organizations, including GLAAD and Scouts for Equality, which have avidly petitioned corporations to take a stand against the ban.
The announcement, made by Merck Foundation Executive Vice President Brian Grill, is an affirmation of the company’s core value of inclusion. Merck & Co. is No. 16 in the 2012 Fair360, formerly DiversityInc Top 50.
“We cannot continue to provide support to an organization with a policy that is contrary to one of our core beliefs. We remain ready and willing to re-consider our funding position in the event that the BSA were to revise its policy,” Grill said in a statement. “We’re confident that this decision is aligned with our high ethical giving standards and strong core beliefs, and reinforces our long-standing commitment to policies that prevent against discrimination.”
