Ten Camp Staffers Quit in Sympathy With Fired Gay Scout

Tim Griffin

Ten employees at a Boy Scout camp in Northern California have quit in outrage over the firing of a gay staffer.

Tim Griffin, 22, an Eagle Scout and seasonal staff member at Camp Winton in Amador County, was let go Friday, and 10 of the camp’s 30 employees resigned in support, The Sacramento Bee reports.

Officials with the Golden Empire Council of the Boy Scouts of America say Griffin was fired not because he is gay, but because violated dress codes by wearing nail polish and an earring, for which he received repeated warnings. His supporters, however, say Griffin’s homosexuality was clearly the reason for his dismissal.

“It was absolutely about his sexual orientation, no question about it,” said Graham Littlejohn, one of the staffers who quit.

Griffin was the longest-serving employee at the camp, having worked there every summer since 2004. He told the Bee he believes the national BSA’s recent decision to reaffirm its policy barring gay scouts and leaders definitely played a role in his firing. He said he is weighing his options for legal action.