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Should we donate to and/or shop at the Salvation Army sites?

As someone who supports equal rights for all individuals, it pains me to see organizations engage in blatant bigotry like the Salvation Army has done. I know there is a push for people to submit slips of paper into those kettles this holiday season instead of money as a means to get a point across.

Here's my question(s) though...Is it really worth it to withhold those bits of change for those who might need it because of this bigotry? I donate blood and am on the bone marrow registry, even though they engage in the bigoted act of not accepting donations from homosexual & bisexual men. But I figured I can do good by both being a donor and speaking out about ending this discrimination. Is the Salvation Army issue that much different? Can't we both give our bits of change and shop at their stores as well as drop in those papers and speak out against their bigotry? Is that too much of a mixed message?

BastIsisKali asked in Whatever 6 months ago | Report

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2 Answers

  • 12849517g_small
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    The key issue here is alternatives. With donation registries, the issues is whether to be on them - or not at all. But with charity, there are other alternatives out there besides Salvation Army - eg. Goodwill if you're looking for thrift stores, or local food bank or homeless agency (Northwest Harvest and Urban Rest Stop are two that try to give to annually). So it's not about denying people help; rather it's about denying Salvation Army the leverage of your donation - and letting some other group put it to as good or better use instead.

    Musely answered in Whatever 6 months ago | Report
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  • 0prr6_small
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    The discrimination against gay blood is based on trying to keep the blood supply safe. This hardly meets the definition of "bigotry" The red cross does not discriminate against those who need blood or those who seek employment only those who are donating.

    Giving money to the SA is supporting discrimination in employment. There are lots of great charities to give money to that do the same type of work. Goodwill is a great place to shop and Value Village, while a for-profit company, does give money to goodwill.

    Kip Waddle answered in Whatever 6 months ago | Report
    2 comments by keshmeshi and Emily Steed…
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