I wrote about the Salvation Army in 2010 and 2011, but this issue is now more important than ever with the rights of LGBTQ people being threatened under a Trump administration.
Here's why we need to pass on by those bell ringers and their red buckets during the holiday season:
Anti-LGBTQ: The Salvation Army is trying to repair its tarnished reputation on the issue (check out their Web site), but the facts lie in the leaked documents: their theology teaches that scripture forbids same-sex intimacy, they have no anti-discrimination policy, all of its officers must be celibate (gay or straight), and they still believe that marriage is only between one man and one woman. They deny that discrimination has occurred in the past, but no PR campaign can erase the history of its refusal to willingly embrace and welcome LGBTQ people.
Anti-women's equality: When Salvation Army officers get married, they are relegated to a much lower status and not given the same opportunities for advancement. Further, the organization gives a joint paycheck in the husband's name only. Essentially, the woman's pay comes in the form of the husband receiving 40% more in his pay because of his marriage. Citing a "ministerial exception," the Salvation Army gets out of following the Equal Pay Act.
The Salvation Army also is anti-abortion, but they do make exceptions for rape, danger to the mother, and fetal abnormalities that would hinder a baby's survival at birth. They do support birth control. (Hardcore Catholic groups actually bash The Salvation Army for not being staunch-enough abortion opponents and also for supporting birth control.)
Anti-immigrants: Not too long ago, children were asked about their parents' immigration status or their religion before receiving services. After a lawsuit in New York, they pledged to stop this discrimination in 2014.
Anti-secular or nonbelievers: Although they are officially an "equal opportunity employer," they are still allowed to discriminate against their employees who no longer attend their church. So although the Salvation Army does good work, this is a religious charity. You should know where your money is going.
So they've been forced, by law, to change with the times and not discriminate officially. That should make you feel better about where your money is going, right? ;)
Here's why we need to pass on by those bell ringers and their red buckets during the holiday season:
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| Print out this dollar and put it into the red bucket instead! |
Anti-women's equality: When Salvation Army officers get married, they are relegated to a much lower status and not given the same opportunities for advancement. Further, the organization gives a joint paycheck in the husband's name only. Essentially, the woman's pay comes in the form of the husband receiving 40% more in his pay because of his marriage. Citing a "ministerial exception," the Salvation Army gets out of following the Equal Pay Act.
The Salvation Army also is anti-abortion, but they do make exceptions for rape, danger to the mother, and fetal abnormalities that would hinder a baby's survival at birth. They do support birth control. (Hardcore Catholic groups actually bash The Salvation Army for not being staunch-enough abortion opponents and also for supporting birth control.)
Anti-immigrants: Not too long ago, children were asked about their parents' immigration status or their religion before receiving services. After a lawsuit in New York, they pledged to stop this discrimination in 2014.
Anti-secular or nonbelievers: Although they are officially an "equal opportunity employer," they are still allowed to discriminate against their employees who no longer attend their church. So although the Salvation Army does good work, this is a religious charity. You should know where your money is going.
So they've been forced, by law, to change with the times and not discriminate officially. That should make you feel better about where your money is going, right? ;)
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