As the Board of Directors for the Boy Scouts of America begin a three-day meeting that will determine where the group officially stands with regards to gay Scouts and Scout Leaders, they'll have 1.4 million voices to contend with.

According to GLAAD, "four Scout leaders whose petitions on Change.org sparked a national movement to end the Boy Scouts of America’s anti-gay policy, delivered more than 1.4 million signatures from their combined petitions to the Boy Scouts headquarters today.

More after the jump.

A local California Boy Scouts chapter has defied national leadership to approve the Eagle Scouts application of openly gay scout Ryan Andresen.

Ryan Andresen, the Boy Scout who was denied his Eagle Scout award and dismissed from the Boy Scouts of America after coming out as gay, is getting some high profile support. 

Senator Barbara Boxer, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, and 32 California state legislators are all imploring the BSA to give Andresen the award that he's earned and end their discriminatory stance against gays. 

See what they have to say after the jump!

Updated Friday, 2:00 p.m. PST

Ellen DeGeneres made good on her promise to host Ryan Andresen, the teen that was dismissed from the Boy Scouts after completing Eagle Scout requirements once it was revealed that he was gay. 

While Ellen couldn't give Andresen the Eagle Scout award that he'd rightfully earned, she gave him something else that will positively impact his future. 

Watch after the jump.