A legal dispute is unfolding between Scouting America and an LGBTQ-owned travel company over the use of the word “scout.” According to The Advocate, Scouting America filed a federal lawsuit in Texas late last month against Toro International LLC and Q Tours LLC, companies owned by Sam Castañeda Holdren. The organization claims trademark infringement tied to the brand name “Queer Scout” and a pink fox logo.
The Arizona-based travel company runs LGBTQ adult tours in Colombia, offering experiences like bar crawls and boat tours. Scouting America argues the brand’s name and animal imagery could confuse consumers and dilute its trademark. Holdren disagrees. He told The Advocate, “It’s really difficult to see how anyone could realistically confuse an LGBTQ tourism brand called Queer Scout with a youth scouting organization.” The dispute follows years of unsuccessful attempts to resolve the matter privately.
Holdren also questioned the timing, noting the lawsuit arrived soon after U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pressured Scouting America to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and shift membership policies to “biological sex at birth.” Holdren’s attorney, Jeremy Kapteyn, noted that over 100 federal trademark registrations are present in commerce that use the term ‘scout.’ So Scouting America’s claim to exclusive rights to the word limited. However, he mentioned that trademark disputes can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, giving large organizations a financial advantage. Still, Holdren says he plans to continue fighting the case.
