The Boy Scouts of America has filed a lawsuit against an LGBTQ-focused travel company called Queer Scout, arguing that the business’s name and branding infringe on the organization’s trademark and could mislead consumers.

The legal dispute centers on whether the travel company’s name and logo are too similar to the scouting organization’s brand identity. The two sides have reportedly attempted to resolve the disagreement for several years without success.

The travel company was founded by Sam Holdren, who said he initially sought to trademark the “Queer Scout” name in January 2024. The Boy Scouts opposed the trademark application, setting off a dispute that eventually escalated into a lawsuit.

Holdren has argued that his company operates in a completely different market from the youth organization and is clearly aimed at adult travelers. Holdren also suggested that political pressure surrounding the Boy Scouts’ policies on diversity and inclusion may have influenced the timing of the lawsuit. His comments referenced criticism from Pete Hegseth, who previously warned that federal funding could be cut if the organization did not abandon what he described as “radical woke ideology.” The Boy Scouts later moved to dismantle certain diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives around the same time the lawsuit was filed.

However, a spokesperson for the Boy Scouts rejected any connection between those developments and the legal action. Spokesman Scott Armstrong said the case is focused strictly on trademark protection.

According to Armstrong, the dispute is about safeguarding the organization’s intellectual property and preventing potential confusion among consumers who might mistakenly believe the travel company is affiliated with the long-running scouting organization.

Holdren said his attorney had offered to include additional language clarifying that Queer Scout’s services are intended for LGBTQ adults and have no connection to the youth organization. He said the Boy Scouts declined that proposal.

The founder maintains the case goes beyond a typical trademark disagreement, arguing it raises questions about whether smaller businesses can use language tied to identity and community without facing legal pressure from larger institutions.

The lawsuit now moves forward as the two sides seek a legal determination over whether the travel company’s name and branding infringe on the Boy Scouts’ longstanding trademarks tied to the scouting movement in the United States.