Charity case: Anti-gay bigotry at the Salvation Army
By Mustang Bobby
This is the time of year when you start seeing those folks standing
outside stores and shopping malls with the Salvation Army kettles,
ringing their little bells, asking you to put in some money. It's a
tradition going back decades, and they do it to help those less
fortunate. The Salvation Army also has collected and distributed a lot
of funds and help during the recent natural disasters such as Hurricane
Sandy, and they do provide help for the less fortunate. That's very
noble of them, and I am sure that there are a lot of people who are
grateful for their assistance.
But remember one thing: the Salvation Army is not a charity. It is an evangelical church, and despite protests to the contrary, they are anti-gay and promote discrimination in their hiring practices against LGBT people. No, they do not discriminate against people who avail themselves of their services or receive help from them, but if you want to work for them, you can't be gay.
Far be it from me to tell you who to give your money to in terms of charitable giving; that is strictly between you and your purse. If you want to support the Salvation Army in what they do, please do. But remember that it comes with a little bit of a price.
As for me, when I see those people standing outside the mall or a store, I smile and walk right on by. I do not wish to embarrass them by giving them any money that might be tainted by being earned by someone who would chew away at their theological fabric. That would be very uncharitable.
(For more on the Salvation Army's history on LGBT people, check out Americablog.)
(Cross-posted at Bark Bark Woof Woof.)
But remember one thing: the Salvation Army is not a charity. It is an evangelical church, and despite protests to the contrary, they are anti-gay and promote discrimination in their hiring practices against LGBT people. No, they do not discriminate against people who avail themselves of their services or receive help from them, but if you want to work for them, you can't be gay.
Far be it from me to tell you who to give your money to in terms of charitable giving; that is strictly between you and your purse. If you want to support the Salvation Army in what they do, please do. But remember that it comes with a little bit of a price.
As for me, when I see those people standing outside the mall or a store, I smile and walk right on by. I do not wish to embarrass them by giving them any money that might be tainted by being earned by someone who would chew away at their theological fabric. That would be very uncharitable.
(For more on the Salvation Army's history on LGBT people, check out Americablog.)
(Cross-posted at Bark Bark Woof Woof.)
Labels: anti-gay bigotry, charity, Christianity, Salvation Army
posted by Michael J.W. Stickings at
4:00 PM
6 Comments:
People are so short sighted. You are only not helping people who need help by doing that, and there are a ton of "gay" charitys who only provide services to gay people.
By
Anonymous, at 12:31 PM
There are also a ton of charities that only provide services to the blind, youth in minority groups, persons with disabilities, amputies, veterans, natural disaster victims of a particular region. So your point is?
By
Anonymous, at 1:09 PM
Point is people whine and cry when they can't get everything handed to them when the reality is they are Hippocrates. The salation army is a good organization that helps alot of people, they don't help gay people, gay organizations only help gay people and not straight ones as well. One of the biggest problems we have in this country are people who whine and cry and feel as if they are entitled to handouts. Who cares if you arnt going to donate to them, go donate to a gay organization that discriminates against straight people then and stop bitching
By
Anonymous, at 11:17 PM
I'm pretty sure gay organizations don't discriminate against straight people... Why would they? They simply support and include LGBTQ-identified people. Why can't all charities be inclusive? I thought that was the idea of charity... inclusivity.... defending those who are discriminated against, etc. How many straight people are discriminated against for being straight?? I'm pretty sure no one wants handouts for being gay or blind or deaf or black,etc... so why not just be inclusive? Done.
By
silent_cynic, at 12:42 AM
My mother passed away this past August. I wanted to donate to the Salvation Army in her name as she always spoke well of the organization. Realizing now that they are anti-gay, I have decided to give to a more inclusive charity like the Covenant House. That the S.A. may actually turn away a gay homeless person is something that I can not abide.
By
Clarabella25, at 12:15 PM
Anonymous at 11:17 pm: "Point is people whine and cry when they can't get everything handed to them when the reality is they are Hippocrates."
I doubt that the ancient Greek physician had everything handed to him. And you are woefully misinformed about what they do and don't do. They will not turn away LGBT people who seek their services; they just won't hire them to work for them.
As I noted in the post, the Salvation Army is not a charitable organization. It is an evangelical church. There is a difference both in terms of mission and the tax code. If you feel comfortable giving to them, then go right ahead, but don't for a minute think that they are on the same footing as a place like Camillus House or the Red Cross.
Since you have stated that there are gay organizations that turn away non-gays, please prove it. Name one.
By
Mustang Bobby, at 11:34 AM
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