No gay change for the Salvation Army

[WillParkinson]

Neff: No gay change for the Salvation Army
By Lisa Neff, columnist, 365gay.com
12.21.2009 10:36am EST

“Did you sign up to ring the bell?” a good-hearted friend asked.

She realized even before I voiced my answer that I had not volunteered to ring the bell outside our local supermarket to raise money for the Salvation Army.
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And she regretted that she had volunteered to collect money for the Salvation Army, which has gone as far as lobbying the White House to obstruct efforts to treat gays and lesbians equally — as citizens and as employees.

Many, many good people — my friends and neighbors — ring the bell for the Salvation Army during December.

And many, many good people — my friends and neighbors — donate to the Salvation Army’s red kettles during December.

But I do not. I do not ring the bell for the Salvation Army. I do not donate to the Salvation Army, because the Salvation Army discriminates against gays and lesbians in employment, works to defeat civil rights measures that protect gays and lesbians and promotes position that gay relationships “do not conform to God’s will for society.”

http://www.365gay.com/opinion/neff-no-gay-change-for-the-salvation-army/

[racaulk]

1. No $$$ to the Salvation Army from me.

I prefer to donate to other organizations that do not have discriminatory policies. There are plenty of them.

K&R

[MineralMan]

2. I stopped all donations to the Salvation Army

when their policies became clear. I wrote to the local organization and told them so. Although they do some good things, I could no longer support them.

It took a very short time to find other organizations who did similar charitable things, and my donations go there now.

It's easy.

[Tansy_Gold]

3. I haven't given to them for years.

As soon as they started their anti-gay campaign, I stopped giving to them. And when put into a situation where I have to explain my actions, I am not shy about doing so.


TG

[MNBrewer]

4. I don't give to the Mormons, or Catholics or Methodists...

why would I give to the Salvationists? They're a religious denomination, for pete's sake. It's not even like they're really a charity. They're a sect that does charitable work.

[dencol]

5. I appreciate the link as I was so confused.

I remember attending Chicago Pride a few years ago, and the Salvation Army was handing out water, which was much appreciated. They didn't just randomly show up to the parade though; they have a large facility right next to Boystown. I assumed they changed their ways, but apparently not.

[Bear down under]

6. I haven't forgotten ..

....that when Parliament here in Sydney was debating basic homosexual law reform the Salvos turned up in force outsdie Parliament House to demonstrate against the reform. With placards proclaiming "God's Law", noisy music, speeches and all.

Yet they acted all surprised when the following weekend their people were told they were no longer welcome to solicit donations at the Oxford Street gay bars, whose patrons had been generous supporters.

My wallet remains closed to them even now, many years later. There are other charities that help the needy; why should I give my money to one with a history of spending it against me?

[SacredCow]

7. Absolutely not.

It's a no-brainer.

[foxfeet]

8. Not one lavender cent.

Ever.