A holiday post sure to cause division

[Deleted]

What are your thoughts on Salvation Army bell ringers?

[bonquiqui]

No skittles for them

[pixelpassion]

I'll donate if I have cash on me

ETA: Now that I know about their anti-gay sentiments via this thread, I probably won't donate to them anymore

[hungrycaterpillar]

I think that I enjoy seeing them at the holiday season. I don't give every time I see them but I try to as often as I can, even if it's just some spare change at the bottom of my purse. I have never had an unfriendly or bad experience with one - just usually someone doing something nice to give back.

[speckledfrog]

Dec 14, 2013 13:29:43 GMT -5 @pnkbride said:

I have no issue with them. I think the Salvation Army is a good organization.

Time to fake your death!   

[whitemerlot]

I don't donate to them because of their anti gay stance. I will say that the actual people ringing the bell are often very friendly and one even helped me with my stroller at the mall. I felt guilty not donating then.

[TC]

My H is now more passionate about not supporting them than I was after I explained why, which cracks me up.

[balletofangels]

We were walking past them today and I had spare change in my pocket. I told DH, in a somewhat obnoxiously loud voice, "I'd put my change in there if they didn't hate the gays."

[hungrycaterpillar]

I am very out of the loop on current events and had no idea that it was an organization with an anti-gay stance. This certainly is disheartening.

[LeggsBenedict]

I do not give to them.

[birdistheword]

I will not donate due to their anti-gay stance.

[pinkeggs]

Dec 14, 2013 13:37:12 GMT -5 hungrycaterpillar said:

I am very out of the loop on current events and had no idea that it was an anti-gay organization. This certainly is disheartening.

Yeah, they are pretty open about it. If memory serves, they do not let homosexual couples share a bed/room in their shelters.

There are a lot of good charities to support around the holidays, so I go elsewhere.

[rugbywife]

I used to do kettles for them, for a friend who asked. In recent years I haven't signed up because of the stories I had heard related to homophobia and the organization. While it doesn't surprise me it also isn't something I can support. My friend did just post an article on FB about how what has been said isn't entirely true. I skimmed it.

[zoidberg]

I feel guilty passing them because those people are willing to stand out in the cold to collect for charity, but I cannot support the SA.

[speckledfrog]

I gave to them this year because I wanted to see W put money in the kettle and I forgot that it supports the Salvation Army.

[my4girls]

The bells annoy me

I don't donate because of their antigay stance. But the bells REALLY annoy me

[Deleted]

I prefer not to donate and I hate that they are always right outside our grocery store judging me for walking by without donating.

I always say merry Christmas, though.

[speckledfrog]

Dec 14, 2013 13:46:11 GMT -5 mofongo said:

Dec 14, 2013 13:36:31 GMT -5 balletofangels said:

We were walking past them today and I had spare change in my pocket. I told DH, in a somewhat obnoxiously loud voice, "I'd put my change in there if they didn't hate the gays."

Another ML intervention.

Someone get the cape!

[pugz]

It sucks because they do good work and help lots of ppl, but their anti gay stance is a dealbreaker. They make families with same sex partners split up at their shelters instead of letting them all room together like other families. Not okay.

[pantsparty]

Dec 14, 2013 13:40:06 GMT -5 speckledfrog said:

I gave to them this year because I wanted to see W put money in the kettle and I forgot that it supports the Salvation Army.

Time to fake your death!

[flex]

I prefer the bell ringers over those creepos in the middle part of malls who chase you down to hawk their wares. RAGE!

[Deleted]

I don't give to them because of their policies. My kid isn't old enough to ask yet, so we model charitable giving in other ways. Not sure what I'll do if she asks.

[Jermys]

We don't donate and have explained why to Edith. She gets it. I have nothing against the actual bell ringers though.

[rex]

I have not seen a single one this year.

I would not give to them.

[rugbywife]

Dec 14, 2013 13:44:39 GMT -5 @amoosed said:

I prefer not to donate and I hate that they are always right outside our grocery store judging me for walking by without donating.

I always say merry Christmas, though.

Nobody judges you for not donating, I say this as someone who has stood there for 4 hours. Honestly, no judgement, you give if you want, if you don't want to, don't. 

[lovetx]

Dec 14, 2013 13:42:40 GMT -5 @josiemarcus said:

Dec 14, 2013 13:36:31 GMT -5 balletofangels said:

We were walking past them today and I had spare change in my pocket. I told DH, in a somewhat obnoxiously loud voice, "I'd put my change in there if they didn't hate the gays."

That is obnoxious.

Exactly what I thought as well.

[whiskeyandwine]

Not an organization that I support, but I think passing along your views sanctimoniously to the bell ringers is rude. My guess is a lot of those people don't fully know and or care about the anti-gay stance of the SA and are instead just trying to help get some donations for the poor/struggling. Shaming them for that takes a special kind of assyness, IMO. Just smile and walk by, FFS.

[balletofangels]

Dec 14, 2013 14:23:55 GMT -5 lovetx said:

Dec 14, 2013 13:42:40 GMT -5 @josiemarcus said:

That is obnoxious.

Exactly what I thought as well.

Homophobia is pretty damn obnoxious too.

ETA: To clarify, no bell ringers were insulted in my obnoxiousness. We'd already passed into the vestibule of the store. I'm quite sure the only person annoyed was my husband and he knew what he was setting himself up for when he married me.

[eb777888]

I did until I found out about their anti-gay stance. I do think Toledo makes a good point, though. Hmmmmm.

[whiskeyandwine]

Dec 14, 2013 14:36:11 GMT -5 balletofangels said:

Dec 14, 2013 14:23:55 GMT -5 lovetx said:

Exactly what I thought as well.

Homophobia is pretty damn obnoxious too.

Well. Aren't you just delightful.