2 • The Rainbow Times • TheRainbowTimesMass.com
December 6, 2018 - January 9, 2019
Salvation Army makes headlines again for alleged LGBTQ mistreatment By: Nicole Lashomb*/TRT Editor-in-Chief
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n late November, the Salvation Army’s (SA) treatment of the LGBTQ community came under fire, once again, after a viral post (https://is.gd/Zf3zDF) exposed horrific practices against its members. The post alleged that the organization has separated same-sex families in shelters, participates in conversion therapy practices and so on. Although the SA has denied the recent claims, it has had a long history of similar reports surfacing for decades. Since ongoing claims of anti-LGBTQ treatment, the non-profit has dedicated an entire section of their website to LGBTQ issues and attempts to take the offense in explaining how they serve this community. However, they fail to explain how they “serve” it with competence, affirmation, empathy and understanding. According to a report (https://is.gd/Zf3zDF) published by WISCTV News 3, Madison, Wis., OutReach LGBT Community Center Executive Director Steve Starkey, who has also worked with the Salvation Army for years at that store, claims that he hasn’t had any issues with the local chapter. But, he admits that in more conservative areas, there could be serious issues relating to the LGBTQ community. "I think that every Salvation Army chapter is different," he said to WISC-TV News 3. "They each have their own leader and their own culture in that particular facility. There may be places that are more conservative or have different leadership where LGBT clients aren't treated well or they are discriminated against." When different chapters are involved, especially those in conservative areas, what
is the Salvation Army’s stance regarding how the LGBTQ community is treated? What is the protocol when a same-sex family comes into a shelter or when a same-sex parent comes in with a child? As an evangelical organization, do they participate in conversion therapy or in therapy that disaffirms LGBTQ identity? The questions are ongoing and the organization has done little to refute the claims of discrimination, other than to say that they do not discriminate against the same community and instead serve everyone. But, what does that actually mean?
THEY CONTINUALLY GO INTO A DEFENSIVE MODE EVERY TIME AN ANTI-LGBTQ ALLEGATION HAS BEEN MADE. ... UNTIL ALL OF THIS CAN BE PUT TO REST FOR GOOD, MY HOLIDAY DONATIONS WILL BE ALLOCATED ELSEWHERE. IN GOOD CONSCIENCE, THEY HAVE TO BE. According to SalvationArmyUSA.org (https://is.gd/5gbSBu), “Almost one-third of transgender people have been rejected from an emergency shelter. The Salvation Army created a dorm in Las Vegas to offer safety and shelter to this group, which is statistically more vulnerable to assault.” While this statistic may be true, the organization cites one chapter in one city— which is a city far more progressive than much of the rest of the country—where transgender people can go to be safe while staying in an emergency shelter. The trans-
You’re light, even if you experience the blues By: Paul P. Jesep*/TRT Columnist
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FAITH
any experience loneliness and isolation (https://is.gd/yLPQ1C), especially this time of year. Sometimes unhealthy self-medication is used like drugs, food, or alcohol. Members of the LGBTQ community can feel particularly vulnerable this time of year (https://is.gd/pvksJU). In general, loneliness in the LGBTQ community has been described as an epidemic (https://is.gd/xiOxj5). Just because an individual has friends, acquaintances, and is a social butterfly, doesn’t always mean he or she is in a good place emotionally or spiritually. One can feel despair on a sunny day. Feelings of isolation can be prevalent at a social event with long-time friends. As the links in this month’s column suggest, there are multiple resources to combat emotional and spiritual pressures. Fortunately some focus on the LGBTQ community (https://is.gd/MVJWTc). There are several feelings, however, too often overlooked in the discussion of loneliness. They include kindness, empathy, and expe-
gender community can be found in every city in every state. What is the organization’s common practice and employee training to ensure that some of the most vulnerable among us are safe in all of shelters across America, not just in Las Vegas? The Salvation Army’s site also reads (https://is.gd/5gbSBu), “LGBTQ youth contemplate suicide at almost three times the rate of heterosexual youth.” They state that with their “presence in every zip code in the nation,” they are “committed to providing spiritual and emotional care to those in need regardless of race, gender, ethnic-
rience or perspective. The Dalai Lama (https://is.gd/v9Lfwv) teaches, “We can let the circumstances of our lives harden us so that we become increasingly resentful and afraid, or we can let them soften us, and make us kinder.” The passage of time gives us perspective. Everyone is dealing with some personal challenge. Rather than focus on your situation, shift attention to someone else. Make another person smile. Say thanks to the maintenance person in your building for the work he or she does. Bake cookies for the breakroom at work. Tell a colleague they did a good job when the boss doesn’t. Give a small piece of chocolate to a coworker who looks like they’re having a tough day. Find an opportunity to tell someone he or she is valued or valuable. Try directing some of the energy fueled by fear, anxiety, or frustration into something positive. Positive social engagement is one option. Encourage others. This includes individuals we may not necessarily like. This is not to suggest we shouldn’t disRead the rest of this story at: TheRainbowTimesMass.com
provided “spiritual and emotional care” widely varies based on belief and affirmation of LGBTQ existence and understanding. Perhaps the most disconcerting effort from the organization regarding their attempt to prove LGBTQ inclusion was when three statistics (https://is.gd/5gbSBu) were used on the on the LGBTQ page of the national website as a prompt to donate to the organization. One of those stats read … “Almost one-third of homeless transgender people have been rejected from an emergency shelter. When a transgender person seeks help from us, we serve them in the same manner as any other person seeking assistance. A donation to The Salvation Army can provide three nights of shelter. Donate now.” On that very page (https://is.gd/5gbSBu) is also where they explained that their Las Vegas shelter was the only one (or at least the only one cited by the organization) equipped to meet the needs of the trans community.
See Salvation Army on Page 11
ity, sexual orientation or gender identity.” As a Christian Evangelical organization, do they affirm and support LGBTQ identity or seek to change it? Personally, I would be very concerned to send an LGBTQ person to the organization without knowing exactly what their practices are in these situations. Clearly, how an LGBTQ youth is
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