(credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

ATLANTA (AP) — The UPS Foundation says it will no longer give grants to the Boy Scouts of America as long as the group excludes gays and lesbians from being scouts or scout leaders. The group is based in Irving.

The philanthropic arm of the Atlanta-based shipping giant made the change Thursday after an online petition protesting the foundation’s annual grants to the Boy Scouts attracted more than 80,000 signatures. The UPS Foundation gave $150,000 to the Boy Scouts in 2010. It wasn’t clear how much they gave the group last year.

UPS spokeswoman Kristen Petrella says groups applying for the grants will have to adhere to the same standards UPS does. The company says it does not discriminate against anyone based on race, religion, disability or sexual orientation.

The UPS Foundation distributed $45.3 million in grants last year.

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