It’s that time of year again when you get annoyed by the sight of bell-ringers representing an organization that hates you. Yes, it’s the annual appearance of the Salvation Army, and they’re hoping to trick you into thinking that they’ve turned over a new leaf. Well, they haven’t.
The S.A. has a page on their site right now called “Debunking the Myth of LGBT Discrimination,” which is all about how awesome they are and always have been to gays. “The Salvation Army believes that all people are equal, regardless of sexual orientation or any other factor, including race, gender and ethnicity,” the page says. They point out that they serve, hire, and happily accept money from LGBT people.
Yeah, that’s great. Here are some facts that they conveniently omit:
- It says right on their site: “Marriage is by definition heterosexual in nature. Scripture speaks only of marriage between a man and a woman and allows no same-sex unions that involve sexual intercourse.”
- Also: “Scripture forbids sexual intimacy between members of the same sex. The Salvation Army believes, therefore, that Christians whose sexual orientation is primarily or exclusively same-sex are called upon to embrace celibacy as a way of life. There is no scriptural support for same-sex unions as equal to, or as an alternative to, heterosexual marriage.”
- The Salvation Army refused to provide health benefits to domestic partners, explaining, “we now confirm adherence to biblical principles concerning marriage and the family.”
- The organization refers people to abusive ex-gay ministries.
- The Southern and Central regions exclude LGBTs from their nondiscrimination policies.
- They threatened to pull out of New York rather than offer benefits to LGBT employees.
So if you’re wondering whether it’s okay to support the Salvation Army, let us make it clear for you:
IT IS NEVER OKAY TO SUPPORT THE SALVATION ARMY.
There are plenty of other organizations that need your money. Here’s a list. If you see Salvation Army employees, report them.
Alan in IL
Re: your “Here’s a List.” link. Number 2 on that list in Illinois is “Americans For Truth About Homosexuality” – Peter LaBarbera’s virulently homophobic group. They make the Salvation Army look almost gay-friendly by comparison.
andy_d
I stuffed “queer dollar” bill in their kettles. Here’s a link: http://www.angelfire.com/rock/sluttyrockstar/queerdollars.html
Dixie Rect
Ok, so I shouldn’t fall for this PR spin, but I should fall for the HIV Equal (=) PR spin, right Queerty?
2eo
@Dixie Rect: You’re not clever enough, you fall for any PR spin.
I suggest a pint of drain cleaner, it’s the cure for all your problems, guaranteed.
AuntieChrist
There are AIDS food banks and LGBT youth centers that can always use a helping hand… From volunteers to money and clothes… You can make a difference in your own back yard…Believe it or not it actually feels better that bitching at or trying to read someone in a comments section…
E Markus
This came up last year. Thanks for the reminder.
The republican liars will say anything. The best thing to do is shine light on their criminal acts.
HirsuteOne
To whom should we report the Salvation Army employees?
acidhearts
I would recommend you check the links you are using as sources, as the first one is for salvation army India (not international) and published in 1998.
The second one is only approved for the U.S.A. and is the about of a branch in Florida (again not international).
the third is a news article from 2001.
The organization has spoken out about the fourth link, which they had had to ‘anti-gay treatments’ and have had removed from their site.
The fifth article talks about a man who speaks out about what had happened to him and his boyfriend 20 years ago. The rest of this article is quite well written, but it has nothing to do with gays pulling out of New York.
The last article is well done that aids to back up your points, which is awesome and is what all of these articles should be doing, instead of making me feel like you under-researched.
Yes they should be removing pages like this from their site, but having someone go through their site with a fine-tooth comb is probably a lot more difficult than you’d think.
As well I’d recommend not reporting their employees. Many of the bell ringers are volunteers and don’t know the views of the company, as well they may not share them word-for-word.
I know I seem like a nitpicker, but this is an argument I do back on the side of the lgbtqa* side wholeheartedly, and I don’t want to see it fall into the dirt because our side’s information is a decade old.
hotshot70
I have become so suspicious of all these people asking for money. How do we know the money goes where they say? I would rather donate direct to the person in need. I usually take a coin (penny, dime, quarter, etc), paint it with markers all the colors of the rainbow and put it in. One side rainbow, other a pink triangle. Then there is no fear of counterfeiting (like the queerdollar mention above) and it costs you very little.
MK Ultra
It’s very hypocritical for the Salvation Army church and other far right churches to make homosexuality this unbelievable sin that they can exploit while committing so many immoral acts against humanity behind the scenes and not so behind the scenes. It shows that morals and values have nothing to do with it.
They care about money, greed, and power only.
Their malevolent abuse of LGBT, their predatory behavior on the poor, their manipulation of the public’s goodwill…SMH
Billysees
@AuntieChrist:
” You can make a difference in your own back yard… ”
I think so too. It makes better sense, almost like you can see the results around you.
I feel better about giving to those in my own back yard.
Dakotahgeo
I quit supporting the faux christian church, Salvation Army cesspool years ago. Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, forever. Salvation Army, the same yesterday, today… forever. Big FAIL.
darkanser
I’ll remember that next time I walk into Wal-Mart.
2eo
@acidhearts: Information at only a decade old is vastly better than SA’s “information” that’s over 900 years old.
Gans
@Alan in IL: Peter LaBarbera’s “Studies” are consistently found to be disproven and prejudicial, yet he still cites these debunked studies, many created by the Author.
I can’t stand those clanging bells. There are many great organisations that do not promote bigotry, as the Salvation Army have consistently done for too long. It is as far away from the teachings of Jesus, and covering it with lies further supports that they are not Christian.
Dixie Rect
@2eo: Thanks for the ridiculous analysis, a ss hole!
guest4ever
How low can a movement sink… to attack the Salvation Army for standing with God?
America is nearing the breaking point on this issue.
Cam
All of their PR is bullshit.
The Salvation Army threatened to pull their soup kitchens out of New York after the council passed a domestic partner benefits law.
So they hate gays FAR more than they care about helping anybody.
Cam
@guest4ever: said… “How low can a movement sink… to attack the Salvation Army for standing with God?
America is nearing the breaking point on this issue.
_________________
No, actually it’s the other way around. The Salvation Army isn’t “Standing with God” and you of course are in violation of the Bible to claim to know all of God’s thoughts.
What the Salvation Army is doing is saying that hate is more important to them than love and charity. They hate gays so much that they were threatening to pull out all of their soup kitchens rather than have to deal with a domestic partner benefits law.
And as for American nearing the breaking point. Sorry but you’ve already lost. the last election saw every single pro-gay law pass and every anti-gay law fail. American has left bigots like you behind.
2eo
@Cam: Can I also add that when the last of you bible thumping fuckers is dead I’m gonna personally recycle every bible into GAY PROPAGANDA.
Cam
@2eo: Yes, I believe that is page 23 of “The Gay Agenda” :::Haunting Music and lightning strikes:::
LOL
AuntieChrist
@Cam: God’s thoughts and human thoughts are the same as god is a construct of man…People just have it in reverse…
krystalkleer
don’t like it? FINE!…do somethin’ about it…don’t bitch about it? open up a purple bucket across the street from them and make sure ALL the donations go to the LGBT charities and NOT yer bank account…PERIOD!
http://getoffmydress.blogspot.com/2013/12/textnsextnperplexnoh-my.html
Longtime
@acidhearts: I agree with you. The SA still has a ways to go, but they’ve come a long way. I think Queerty’s broasdside attack is unfair.
Jaroslaw
@Cam: @Cam: CAM – I think we have about a 98% agreement on the topics here, but it is always treacherous territory with comments like “they hate Gays more than helping…..” Or words like “always” and “never”. I certainly have not donated to them in a long long time, but I do know they have helped millions who had nowhere else to turn.
xamthor
and PLEASE, show a little class in your protesting. Don’t take it out on the little guys ringing the bell. THey don’t make the policy. They don’t even count the money. Direct your objections to the big guns, the CEO’s. There is no honor in attacking the elderly, disabled ringers who are shivering on the sidewalk.
Billysees
@Jaroslaw:
Reasonable comment.
Especially — “…I do know they have helped millions who had nowhere else to turn. ”
I think they’ll become more kindhearted towards all LGBT’s as time goes on.
Here’s a quote from Wikipedia about a good intention that didn’t materialize —
” The Salvation Army Western Territory approved a plan in October 2001 to start offering domestic-partnership benefits to gay employees.
In November 2001 The Salvation Army nationwide rescinded the Western Territory’s decision with an announcement that it would only provide benefits coverage for different-sex spouses and dependent children of its employees. “