Boy Scouts Defend Discriminatory Policy as Ousted Lesbian Den Mother Appears on CNN: VIDEO

Jennifer Tyrrell, the Ohio den mother discmissed by the Boy Scouts for being a lesbian, appeared on CNN today to speak with Kyra Phillips.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

In related news, the Boy Scouts is standing by its discriminatory policy, LZ Granderson reports:

Needing answers, I reached out to the Boy Scouts and Deron Smith, the organization's director of public relations, sent me an official statement that in part read:

"Our focus is on delivering the nation's foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training. Our mission does not include teaching young people about sex or sexual orientation, and we do not believe it is Scouting's role to introduce this topic in our youth development program."

Fair enough. So I asked Smith via e-mail if the group had received complaints that Tyrrell was attempting to turn the Scouts into an unofficial sex ed camp.

He didn't answer that question.

Meanwhile, parents in Tyrrell's PAck 109 are defending her:

Said fellow parent Robert Dunn:

"I'm not a city person. I'm just a backwoods hick, and I don't think anybody around here have an issue with homosexuals. She did a wonderful job, and what they did to her was just horrible. When I told my son Jen was kicked out because she is gay, he didn't know what was wrong because he thought gay meant happy. He's just devastated."

Said parent Patty Morgan:

"It has been brought to my attention that BSA is now saying that the boys were being taught about sex and other inappropriate subject matter. Those accusations are not true at all. I have three children in Scouts. My youngest Jordan, was a Tiger scout with Jen. Jen has been a great leader in our scouting family. I trust her with my children completely. It is sad that she must be defended against false accusations like these!"

More reactions at GLAAD.

Watch Tyrrell's CNN appearance, AFTER THE JUMP...

Gay Den Mother Removed by Boy Scouts Demands End to Discrimination in Moving GLAAD Speech: VIDEO

Jennifer Tyrrell, the Ohio den mother who was removed by the Boy Scouts two weeks ago after the local district council learned she was gay, gave a powerful and emotional speech at the GLAAD Awards in Los Angeles over the weekend with her partner Alicia Burns, and her children by her side.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

Tyrrell, whose trip to Los Angeles was her first time on a plane, said that "we couldn't imagine that we would be here."

Of the Boy Scouts' rejection, she said:

"There was an outcry from the parents who were beside themselves about this and the total disregard that I have to tell my 7-year-old son that his mother can no longer participate in his scouting adventures. Cruz wasn't raised to discriminate. He doesn't understand. I taught all my scouts, just accept people for who they are. I hope that my story will help other kids and parents stand for these values."

Added a tearful Tyrrell:

"One of my parents texted me a few days ago and said, 'I want to thank you for bringing awareness to my prejudice. I'm ashamed of the way I used to feel about gay people.' And I thought to myself, 'if that's the only person that I have changed, then that's huge.'

A petition on Change.org has more than 118,000 (as of this posting) signatures demanding Tyrrell be reinstated. Josh Hutcherson, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Glee’s Max Adler and Grant Gustin were among the celebrities who showed support for the petition, which asks the BSA to end their long-held policy that forbids lesbian, gay bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth and gay LGBT leaders from participating in scouting.

Organizations including the Girl Scouts of America, the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, as well as the 4H Club all welcome LGBT kids as well as LGBT adult leaders.

Watch Tyrrell's speech, AFTER THE JUMP...