psa

[summer_skin]

Originally posted by jamesinboots at psa

Via mickeym, please go check out lexicale's entry on the Salvation Army and why you should re-think tossing any change in their collection bins this year.

The Salvation Army is a church not a charity. They are an anti-gay religious group that openly discriminates in its hiring process and denies benefits to same-sex partners. They are also pro-life.

But more significantly, they use the money they get to pay lobbyists to pass anti-gay legislation.

Here is a list of legislative action that the Salvation Army has funded to deny homosexuals their rights, or even make homosexual sex a criminal act.

For every dollar you put in their bucket, some of it will be spent to oppress gay men and women and make the world a worse place.

Here is a PDF from their own website detailing their bigoted and ugly views on sexuality -- a view point that has contributed to the bullying of and suicide of gay teens in this country.

There is the argument that they do feed the hungry -- and they do -- but please keep this in mind.

In 2004, when NYC planned to require businesses to extend benefits to same-sex partners, the Salvation Army threatened to close all their soup kitchens and leave the city. To be clear: The Salvation Army would rather people starve to death than recognize the rights of gay people.

lexicale also linked to some great charities you could consider donating to instead of the Salvation Army:
Goodwill
The Red Cross
Doctors Without Borders
Habitat for Humanity
The Trevor Project

If you'd like to find a local charity, I'd suggest looking at places like Charity Navigator and Guide Star to find more information on non-profits.