NO Gays No Burritos } Chipotle Mex Grill

  

Chipotle Mexican Grill pulled its support from the Boy Scouts of America's "Scout-O-Rama" in Utah over the organization’s no-gays policy.

 

No gays? No burritos.

Chipotle Mexican Grill withdrew its sponsorship of the Boy Scouts of America's "Scout-O-Rama" in Utah because of the organization's gay ban.

The fast-food chain aroused criticism for betraying its own anti-discrimination stance after signing up to provide $4,200 worth of coupons for the May 4 event outside Salt Lake City.

 "It was never our intention for this to be… some kind of an endorsement of broader Boy Scout policies," company spokesman Chris Arnold told The Associated Press.

Advocates cited Chipotle's policy of not supporting groups that discriminate based on sexual orientation, such as the Boy Scouts of America.

Arnold admitted to Think Progress.org — who first reported the sponsorship's termination — that the "decision is not consistent with our own values, and we have used this opportunity to reinforce those values with the team that makes those decisions for us."

Once the partnership reached Chipotle's leadership, Arnold said, they decided to back out.

"Ultimately, we decided that the right thing to do was to remain consistent with our policy and terminate the sponsorship," he said.

Chipotle is not alone in withdrawing support from the Boy Scouts and "Scout-O-Rama." The Scouts' Great Salt Lake Council, one of the largest in the country, makes money through sponsorships but did not come close to its projected fundraising goal this year, reported The Salt Lake Tribune.

"In the past we have received as much as $70,000 from these sponsorships, with a small portion of that going to subsidize the show costs," an email to hundreds of Scout leaders reads.

"This year, because of the economy and some controversy surrounding the national organization, our sponsorships are down to just $8,000."

Rick Barnes, executive of the Great Salt Lake Council, said that he understands Chipotle's decision to back out of their partnership.

"If that's what they need to, we respect that," he said. "The show will go on."

The Boy Scouts national executive board is considering the removal of its no-gay policy. The proposal was announced in late January and a vote over the decision is scheduled for May.

mwalsh@nydailynews.com