The Salvation Army and the LGBT Community

buy Lyrica online canada When do we start to forgive?

Personal anecdote time: I was abused as a small child. I’ve held a grudge for the last twenty-five years, and it has only began to heal in the last two years. So I’m not great at the forgiveness thing. (And forgiveness can be hard.)

As we move into the holiday season, the Salvation Army’s historically anti-queer stance is resurfacing as it does every year.

Recently, my local LGBT-publication ran an article about the Salvation Army.

In 2012 pop star Darren Hayes called for a boycott of the Salvation Army worldwide over their perceived anti-gay bias. In response, a radio show in Melbourne interviewed Major Andrew Craibe, a Salvation Army Media Relations Director based in Australia, to ask him about those accusations. Craibe’s response to the questions were damning and seemed to indicate that he, and the Salvation Army, believed that gays should be punished with death.

But the article isn’t about that.

Lost in the din was the Salvation Army’s own response to the controversy, and it’s one that seems to perfectly reflect [Dane County Salvation Army Coordinator Major Loren] Carter’s views and those of the staff who work in Dane County: “Members do not believe, and would never endorse, a view that homosexual activity should result in any form of physical punishment. The Salvationist Handbook of Doctrine does not state that practicing homosexuals should be put to death and, in fact, urges all Salvationists to act with acceptance, love and respect to all people. The Salvation Army teaches that every person is of infinite value, and each life a gift from God to be cherished, nurtured and preserved.”

According to the article, they work directly with our local LGBT community center to help the queer population; they are hurting for money because of the highly publicized stance against queer people; our local Salvation Army branch is good for queers. To say that the article has caused anger in the queer community is an understatement.

On a larger scale, the anti-queer language has been scrubbed from the Salvation Army’s international website. They even have a subheading on their website about the Salvation Army and the LGBT community. Up to a year ago, they linked to ex-gay therapy organizations—they don’t anymore. On the other hand, their advisory board includes folks like Elizabeth B. Koch and the Executive Vice President of Community Affairs for Chick-fil-A, Rodney Bullard.

So let’s say that Salvation Army is changing. The tides of society are turning, and Salvation Army, realizing that they were being left behind, is trying to catch up. I also want to acknowledge that there are homeless populations who want a place to sleep at night, food, presents for their kids at Christmas, and that that makes this a very complicated thing.

When does the queer community forgive? How do we start?

Personally, I want to see concrete action. I don’t only want to see an inoffensive website—I want to see work towards queer inclusively. I want to hear that queer individuals that reach out to them for help are met with knowledge and an open heart.

And honestly, that might not be enough for some of us. I give money to organizations in my community and despite the Salvation Army’s work highlighted in my local publication, they won’t be one of them. What about you? How do you forgive? Can the Salvation Army redeem itself?

FEATURE PHOTO CREDIT: SALVATION ARMY USA WEST via PHOTOPIN cc