Lockheed Martin Cuts Off Money to Antigay Boy Scouts

Aerospace company Lockheed Martin announced on Thursday they were severing donations to the Boy Scouts of America because of the organization's ban on openly gay Scout leaders.

"Lockheed Martin is committed to building strong partnerships with nonprofit organizations that value diversity and align with our policies," company spokesman Gordon Johndroe told Buzzfeed. "While we applaud the mission of the Boy Scouts and the good things they do in our communities, their policies that discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation and religious affiliation conflict with Lockheed Martin policies." It's not clear how much money Lockheed was giving the Boy Scouts.

Other companies, including UPS, Intel and Caterpillar, have already cut donations to the Boy Scouts. The Texas-based organization rescinded its ban on openly gay Scouts in May but holds on to a ban on out leaders.

Scouts for Equality founder Zach Wahls heralded Lockheed's decision, seeing it as a clear message to incoming BSA board director Robert Gates, the former secretary of defense instrumental in dismantling "don't ask, don't tell."