The LGBT community is pushing for a boycott of the Salvation Army. Despite the enormous good the organization does—providing food, shelter, foster care, disaster relief and HIV programs for 33 million people every year—many loud voices in the LGBT community view the Salvation Army’s position on homosexuality to be homophobic and discriminatory, rendering SA unworthy of donations.
Lisa Neff, a columnist for 354gay.com explained the boycott best:
“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.'”
All of the above is true, except for the classification as “discrimination.”
Yes, it is discrimination in the traditional sense of the word—to make a distinction and act accordingly—but not in the current usage of the word which is loaded with connotations of hatred and ignorance.
The Salvation Army is very clear about its position on homosexuality. Their website 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.”
The Salvation Army believes homosexual behavior is wrong and therefore chooses not to employ individuals participating in that behavior. They oppose legislation that threatens their ability to maintain this freedom to choose whom they will employ. There is not hatred involved in such a position. They have made a moral distinction and act according to it. Simply because one does not agree with the distinction, it does not make it “discriminatory.”
Furthermore, the Salvation Army does not discriminate according to sexual orientation in the distribution of any of their services. Heterosexual or homosexual, you are still welcomed to benefit from their incredible generosity.
Not enough.
Much of LGBT community is still outraged and pushing a boycott on the basis of homophobia. According to one article, supporting the Salvation Army is even morally wrong:
“And while there are dozens and dozens of organizations deserving of similar grand funding, the situation remains: Sal’s still helps feed and cloth millions of Americans in desperate need of help.
“For which they should be commended. But to excuse Sal’s faith-based homophobia, or to make the argument that they are somehow morally permitted to do wrong because they do so much right, is both a failed logic exercise and a failed moral one.”
This is just further evidence that the advancement of the LGBT agenda will always be accompanied by a reduction in the rights of those morally or religiously opposed to such behavior.
So if you have a little extra cash in your pocket this Christmas, think about throwing it in the red bucket to counteract the work of LGBT discrimination against the belief of others.