Should gays fill the Salvation Army bucket?
- www.gaylife.about.com Monday December 21, 2009
For years I’ve walked by the Salvation Army headquarters on 14th Street in New York City. There is almost always a homeless person taking shelter on the stairs waiting for the doors to open and occasionally there are white dispatch trucks parked outside. I look up each time, because the Salvation Army has been one of the most visible aide organizations that I can remember.
In fact, The Salvation Army is one of the largest volunteer banks, raising nearly $2 billion in private funds each year. Most recognize the Army by their street soldier: santa-suited bell ringers that stand outside of Macy’s or the grocery store asking for loose change or stray dollars to support their mission.
But, for all the Salvation Army does for homelessness, disaster relief and international aide, they are public about their apprehension towards gays and lesbians. In fact, they discourage LGBT people from volunteering. Their web site reads:
“The Army regards the origins of a homosexual orientation as a mystery and does not regard a homosexual disposition as blameworthy in and of itself or rectifiable at will. Nevertheless, while we are not responsible for what we are, we are accountable for what we do; and homosexual conduct, like heterosexual conduct, is controllable and may be morally evaluated therefore in light of scriptural teaching.
“For this reason, such practices, if unrenounced, render a person ineligible for Salvation Army soldiership.”
365gay.com columnist Lisa Neff writes: “I’ll tell you that I used to contribute to the Salvation Army, though I was never enthusiastic about the organization’s missionary work.” Neff goes on to say, “I can find a charity more worthy of the stray dollar in my pocket.”
Should gays and lesbians give to charities that lobby against LGBT interests? And, how can a philanthropic organization offer human rights services in some areas and lobby against rights in others? Charitable gifts shouldn’t come with stipulations, but should our dollars be used against us?
Just because an organization does some good work does not mean you have to support it if they also do damage, for example by actively opposing gay rights like the Salvation Army does. It’s not hard to find another organization that does the same good work without being homophobic at the same time. It’s especially heinous for an organization like the Salvation Army that helps homeless people to promote homophobia, which contributes to the homelessness of gay, lesbian and transgender youth.
Give to the LGBT alternative to the Salvation Army: Housing Works
I spit in their cup. May their cup runneth over with spittle. May they be known as The Salivation Army. An army of foaming hypocrites.
Housing Works is a great suggestion. There is some lively discussion here.