Salvation Army anti-gay policy protested by locals

Originally printed 12/1/2011 (Issue 1948 - Between The Lines News)

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FARMINGTON HILLS -

Like most of us at the holidays, Susie Symons and John Glick have passed lots of Salvation Army bell ringers. But instead of feeling compelled to donate, they have wanted to confront the solicitors about their group's anti-gay policies. Now, the couple has devised a simple, respectful and non-confrontational way to protest the group's discriminatory corporate policies without attacking the freezing cold person who is stuck with the bell ringing job.

Instead of putting money into the kettle, they are putting slips of paper that read in part, "I refuse to give to the Salvation Army because of its expressly discriminatory policy towards gays and lesbians." Symons and Glick want others to join them in placing these paper protests into the Salvation Army kettles in hopes it will raise awareness within the group's management that they are insulting a large group of potential donors.

The Salvation Army website cites Christian dogma as justification for their anti-LGBT policies. This quote is from their website:

"Scripture forbids sexual intimacy between members of the same sex. The Salvation Army believes, therefore, that Christians whose sexual orientation is primarily or exclusively same-sex are called upon to embrace celibacy as a way of life. There is no scriptural support for same-sex unions as equal to, or as an alternative to, heterosexual marriage."

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