After receiving harsh criticism from the LGBT community for partnering with the Salvation Army to help collect donations and provide Christmas gifts for five needy children, a donut shop in Portland, Maine, was forced to end its charitable campaign.
LGBT activists voiced their outrage against The Holy Donut for taking part in the Christian charity’s gift drive to provide gifts for a local family, CBN News reported. The shop’s owners gave a free donut to customers who donated presents and winter clothes to the struggling family.
Attack after attack
Accusers from Portland’s LGBT community made highly contended claims that the Salvation Army had discriminated in the past against locals who identify as LGBT.
“They proselytize to the people in their programs, [and] they reject LGBT people from their shelters,” an pro-LGBT commenter wrote on The Holy Donut’s Facebook page, according to the Press Herald. “They have tried to scrub their image, but still discriminate.”
Threats to rally the community in a boycott of the local donut shop were also made.
“People are going to boycott The Holy Donut because of YOUR choices,” another LGBT activist commented. “Do you see what we’re getting at? You’re supporting an establishment that doesn’t support your customers, so your customers will stop supporting you.”
One claim made the inference that joining the Salvation Army’s Christmas drive denoted rejection of the LGBT community.
“In case you forgot, a solid 70 percent of your clientele is part of the LGBTQ community,” a separate LGBT advocate asserted in a comment. “You’re making a silent statement that you’re completely fine with their choices.”
Addressing LGBT’s false rumors
Refuting accusations that it had a history of exhibiting an anti-homosexual agenda, the Salvation Army is determined to set the record straight and keep LGBT activists from spreading lies.
“There is an effort to continue the misinformation and this seems to be pushed most heavily during the red kettle season – it is difficult to fight a phantom,” the statement addressing the LGBT on Salvation Army’s Northern Division website reads. We need your help in ending these rumors. They can persuade people not to give, which in turn diminishes our resources and our ability to serve people in crisis. Please share what you know about The Salvation Army – that we serve anywhere there is need, without discrimination.”
The statement addressed the numerous unsubstantiated attacks.
“[We are fighting] false accusations claiming that The Salvation Army discriminates against the LGBT community and pays lobbyists to fight against their interests,” the statement continues. “The Salvation Army is open and inclusive to all people. Anyone who comes through our doors will receive help based on their need and our capacity to assist.”
The group reminded the community about its core beliefs and purpose – which is to bless and serve the entire community.
“We annually serve around 30 million Americans from a variety of backgrounds – we do not pick and choose who we serve based on religion, sexual orientation or any other factor,” the Christian charity informed. “This promise to serve goes to the core of our beliefs as laid out in our organizational Mission Statement: ‘The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.’”
It was impressed that the Salvation Army’s longstanding policy is to help – not attack.
“Any instance of discrimination is in direct opposition to our core beliefs and is against all of our policies,” the Christian group stressed. “It is not The Salvation Army’s practice to spend funds on lobbying. The Salvation Army is apolitical and concentrates its resources on providing relief and compassionate care to those in crisis. Any advocacy is done in regard to the services we provide and educating legislators on how government actions will impact those we serve. The Salvation Army embraces employees of many different faiths and orientations and abides by all applicable anti-discrimination laws in its hiring.”
The Salvation army was addressing a past allegation touted by local LGBT activists.
“The Salvation Army has often come under fire from the LGBT community,” the Press-Herald noted. “In 2012, a Burlington, Vermont, woman said she was fired by The Salvation Army for being bisexual.”
Giving in to the pressure
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