On Intel's website, the company proudly displays a banner highlighting their 100% rating on the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index. Now, Scouts and Scout leaders across the country urge Intel to act on that rating and help end the Boy Scouts' anti-gay policy.

In 2010, Intel gave nearly $700,000 to the Boy Scouts of America, despite the organization's policy banning gay Scouts and leaders from participating. (1) This is in direct conflict with Intel Foundation's own funding criteria, which stipulates that Intel will not fund "Organizations that discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, veteran or disability status."

As an Eagle Scout, I applaud Intel's support for the Boy Scouts of America as a vital American institution critical in the development of our nation's future leaders. But on July 17, 2012, the Boy Scouts of America reaffirmed their discriminatory policy, stating in part: "…we do not grant membership to individuals who are open or avowed homosexuals…"

Until the Boy Scouts of America removes this hurtful policy that is inconsistent with its own principles, they do not deserve the financial backing of companies that strive for workplace equality -- especially innovators like Intel.

Intel's own Director of Diversity, Rosalind Hudnell, has said "Driving diversity isn’t rocket science. It’s harder. We are trying to do inside of our walls what society is still trying to do outside of our walls." This is an incredible testament to both Intel's innovation and its ability to do not just what is popular, but what is right.

We urge Intel to truly live by these words and use their influence to help end the Boy Scouts anti-gay policy.

Please join Scouts for Equality in calling on Intel to pull its contributions to the Boy Scouts of America until the Boy Scouts pull their discriminatory policy.

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1) http://americanindependent.com/217335/corporations-giving-big-money-to-boy-scouts-despite-anti-gay-policy