In the last week, we have received many calls and emails to our offices, as well as comments on our Facebook page and through Twitter, about The Salvation Army and LGBTQ discrimination.

There are two issues about which most people are generally concerned. These include:

  • First, a photo-shopped image of two Salvation Army kettle workers below a kettle sign that reads: “Gays Not Allowed.”



  • Second, comments from a 2012 radio interview in which a Salvation Army officer agreed with the comment that “gays should be put to death.”


The kettle workers photo is a complete and utter fabrication. It is false witness. And those volunteers don't deserve to be icons of hate.

The radio comments, however, are of greater concern. It is important to note that the Army around the world immediately rejected those comments and made public statements against them. We stand by the rejection of those comments still. We sincerely apologize to the LGBTQ community and to our clients, employees, donors and volunteers for the offence caused by this misrepresentation of the Army's views.

Here are links to a few of the responses from The Salvation Army in Australia, Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and Ireland. These were all posted publicly in June 2012, and stand today.

For more than 130 years, The Salvation Army has had the privilege of serving vulnerable people in over 400 communities across Canada. Last year, we helped over 1.8 million people. Many of the people assisted were from the LGBTQ community. And we employ individuals from the LGBTQ community.

We take allegations of discrimination very seriously. If you are aware of a situation where a person has been the target of discrimination, please let us know because this is contrary to our mission.

Our mission is to “share the love of Jesus Christ, meet human needs and be a transforming influence in the communities of our world.” We do this without discrimination. All of our social and community services are equally available. We respond solely based on people's needs and our capability to serve.

Comment

On Tuesday, November 14, 2017, Ambrielle-Lyn McQuaker said:

The Salvation Army, just as many other organizations worldwide, does amazing work to help people who are less fortunate. The Salvation Army of today, it's staff and it's members, do NOT and should NOT have to verbally separate themselves from practices a few decades ago. What was practiced in the 1980s is completely different from today. No organization should be judged by their past, Salvation Army has made great strides in its mission to serve everyone. Don't judge an entire organization by the beliefs of a few. I attended a youth group run by the Salvation Army Stratford Ontario with pastors Tammy and Jason Sabourin, for a few wonderful years. Everything within the youth group and church wide, was open, accepting and there were openly LGBTQ members who were treated as family.

 

On Monday, October 14, 2013, Dave said:

Here is just one example of how the Salvation Army does not discriminate.
http://salvationarmynorth.org/about-us/what-we-believe/debunking-the-lgbt-discrimintation-lie/

A different territory but the message is the same.

On Friday, September 27, 2013, Concerned said:

I also find this apology hard to believe. Show us officials whom are from the LGBTQ community then if you employ them?
You have a right to believe what you believe, however just be honest in your beliefs.

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