Salvation Army: Welcoming Charity or Conduits of Discrimination?

The Salvation Army has had an anti-LGBT reputation for decades. Stories of their discrimination fill our facebook feeds and have been a steady staple of the op-ed section. A quick internet search will bring up their request of the Bush administration to give them the go-ahead for discrimination while receiving government funds, or a story of two homeless men being turned away from a shelter due to their sexual orientation. One of these men, Bill Browning, became a blogger-activist, and urged people who support LGBT rights to donate to other charities such as the Red Cross or Doctors without Borders.

But that’s not all:

• An Australian radio interview exposed Salvation Army’s Territorial Media Relations Director for the Southern Territory in Victoria, Major Andrew Craibe’s views on exterminating homosexuals.
• Earlier this year, a transwoman was denied entry into a Salvation Army housing program and was asked very inappropriate and demeaning questions.
• Until last year, the Salvation Army included links to ex-gay conversion therapy on their website.
• Huffington Post listed out a full history of anti-LGBT actions taken by the Salvation Army, including shelter closures over same-sex benefits and the firing of LGBT employees that you can read here.

The Boycott of The Salvation Army has gone viral, with informative YouTube videos making waves on the internet:

A well-known campaign of three dollar bills has circulated in the LGBT community, and those who wish can donate these awareness dollars into the ubiquitous red buckets outside grocery stores.

The Salvation Army has attempted to make a 180 degree turn from their alleged discrimination, releasing the following statement in 2012:

“For years, Facebook posts, forwarded emails and rumors have been leading some people to believe that the Salvation Army does not serve members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. These accusations simply aren’t true.

“Since its founding nearly 150 years ago, the Salvation Army has lived out its mission: to meet human needs in His name, without discrimination. People who come to the army for assistance will be served according to their need and our capacity to help – regardless of race, gender, ethnicity or sexual orientation.

“Any instance of discrimination is in direct opposition to our core beliefs and is against all of our policies. The Salvation Army embraces employees of many different faiths and orientations and abides by all applicable anti-discrimination laws in its hiring.

“The Salvation Army is apolitical and concentrates its resources on providing relief and compassionate care to those in crisis. Any advocacy is done in regard to the services we provide and educating legislators on how government actions will impact those we serve.

“We need your help in debunking the myth of LGBTQ discrimination. It can persuade people not to give, which in turn diminishes our resources and our ability to serve people in crisis.”

Their website currently says the following:

“The Salvation Army has doctrine and beliefs that help guide members of the church in life and on a daily basis. Many people have questioned why The Salvation Army holds certain positions on issues such as homosexuality. This issue has created misunderstandings and confusion about The Salvation Army. This in turn has led many to think that the Salvation Army judges others and denies them services or employment. None of this is true.

“The Salvation Army believes that all people are equal, regardless of sexual orientation or any other factor, including race, gender and ethnicity. We firmly oppose the vilification and mistreatment of any member of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, just as we oppose the mistreatment of anyone. Any such incident is in clear opposition to all established Salvation Army policy.”

Despite these statements, many activists are calling for Salvation Army to change their stance on LGBT issues and treatment of individuals. They feel the organization does not go far enough on issues of acceptance and equal treatment.

So the question poses itself, do you trust the charity is really trying to change their image and practices, or are their past actions louder than their current words?