This Christmas season I'm stopping a 39 year tradition in support of my friends

[Omaha Steve]

My first born was closed adopted out at birth in Jan 1973. I saw her once through a glass window. She was born at a Salvation Army facility. Because of that I could never pass up a kettle since then without putting something in. It was a connection for me to the daughter I never met until Dec. 2007. And the Salvation Army treated dad so well during WWII in the Pacific.

I can't continue the tradition because of the Salvation Army's continuing discrimination against LGBTs. The food bank and a few others will be getting more from this house this year and every Christmas season to come.

Peace on Earth!

Omaha Steve

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/16/anti-gay-companies_n_4110344.html

7 Companies That Don't Support Gay Rights

4. The Salvation Army
If those ringing bells every holiday season weren't enough to make you not want to donate, this will.
You'd think as a charitable organization The Salvation Army would be all about charity. However, that's not exactly the case.

"The Salvation Army has a history of active discrimination against gays and lesbians. While you might think you're helping the hungry and homeless by dropping a few dollars in the bright red buckets, not everyone can share in the donations," Bil Browning notes on The Bilerico Project. "The organization also has a record of actively lobbying governments worldwide for anti-gay policies — including an attempt to make consensual gay sex illegal."

If that doesn't make you feel uneasy, then how about the fact that they believe gays need to be put to death?

FULL details at link.

And: LGBT group boycotts organization claiming discrimination: http://www.wnem.com/story/23985916/lgbt-group-boycotts-organization-claming-discrimination

Posted: Nov 15, 2013 11:07 PM CST Updated: Nov 15, 2013 11:30 PM CST
By Andrew Keller, Multimedia Journalist

FLINT, MI (WNEM) -

The familiar ring we hear at stores throughout the holiday season often triggers the spirit to give.

"I donate because I would like for the children to have a Christmas," Valleria Rich said.

But it isn't a merry sound for everyone.

"I don't donate to Salvation Army because they are against gay rights," Linda Peters said.

FULL story at link.

http://www.hrc.org/

[JustAnotherGen]

1. I stopped several years ago

and glad you got to connect with your first born again.

[Jamastiene]

2. Thank you.

There are plenty of other good places to donate that will help people too.

[eqfan592]

3. I stopped as well, for the same reason.

As well as some personal, anecdotal reasons regarding their treatment of non believers.

[William769]

4. I understand why you supported them in the past.

But in the here & now I also understand you decision.

I applaud your decision as right & just. Keeping the pressure on them to do the right thing is never the wrong thing to do.

[peacebird]

5. We stopped several years ago also. We donate to the local food bank and free clinic instead.

[LostOne4Ever]

6. Wasn't there a campaign a few years back

to get the SA to change their ways? IIRC it involved dropping in slips of paper saying that you wanted to support the SA but couldn't because of the organizations on homosexuality and the money will be donated to another organization instead.

[xfundy]

8. Perhaps we should give them the fake $10 or $20 bills

the fundies leave as tips, with just the corners sticking out, containing a fundamentalist message all about hell, and a loving god, once they're unfolded.

I'd love to print up some with the same message about how they're ignoring Jesus' teachings when they fuck over the poor, etc.

[Lancero]

13. Lovely idea..

I'm thinking of getting a few stacks of them and doing this.

[Thor_MN]

19. Make them $11s or $23

One can't be accused of forging a bill that does not exist.

[xfundy]

7. I tell them why I don't donate.

Because they hate gays and lesbians and anyone not just like them. Man, some of their faces get really twisted up and contorted in hate when I say that. I wish they'd get stuck that way, it would be more accurate from day to day.

They even got some young army boys/ROTC kids to ring the bells, and the reaction is the same, but not as practiced or as frightful.

They ring the bells for at least a month, some bring musical instruments or boom boxes. They go out of their way to patronize and call out those who don't "donate" to their hateful cause.

Screw them. I've never directly confronted one but I haven't seen one yet this month. One called me an asshole last year for ignoring him. I hope he comes back this year.

[duhneece]

14. That's the best way to handle that.

I TRY to always let folks (especially those actually making decisions (rarely the ones we actually see working)-

[BeeBee]

9. Thank you. I have never put anything into their kettles and never will. n/t

[KG]

10. that incessant bell ringing doesn't improve my mood either...

[progressoid]

17. No kidding.

I'm not a big shopper to begin with, but that bell makes it worse. I just want to turn around and go home.

[gopiscrap]

11. thank you for posting this!!!

[AmBlue]

12. Here's more about Salvation Army from St. Pete Times:

http://www.tampabay.com/news/religion/salvation-army-is-part-church-part-charity-part-business/1158156

After I read this article, I stopped donating. What you've posted today makes me even more sure I don't want to donate to them

[47of74]

15. I don't either anymore.

Mainly because of their anti gay positions. I donate to more worthwhile causes.

[47of74]

25. PS: such as Planned Parenthood

[Lex]

16. Some people put a folded up note in the kettle

to be read later saying something like 'this could've been a donation but for your discrimination of LGBT folks.' Whatever gets the point across.

[ReRe]

18. I used to support them...

... in several ways. I never heard them proselytize in my presence and never heard them say anything about LGBTs. However, I do know they now proselytize and they are anti-LGBT, two things which I highly support. So they don't get my donation dime at Christmas time anymore. What I do now is grab a few tags from the donation tree at my local Kroger store, and spoil each one of them rotten. Also, you can donate $25-$50 for Christmas dinners for individual families.

[lonestarnot]

20. Is it them or Salvation Army that pays their disabled workers 22 fucking cents a fucking hour?

[Ed Suspicious]

21. This is all well and good, and maybe I missed it, but I wish the articles provided an alternative

source toward which we can send our donations. The bottom line is more people will now go without as a consequence of their stance and our reticence to donate. That is sad.

[eqfan592]

22. I give to more money to the Red Cross instead of the Salvation Army, as well as donate more...

...through my work, which always picks out a good charity around the holidays for us to donate to. I'm sure most folks who stopped giving to the salvation army have done similar things.

[Omaha Steve]

23. I sure got a lot of email over this post

Thank you.

OS

[Omaha Steve]

24. Not as controversial as I thought it would be