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Anti-Gay Policy Hits Sally Ann Kettles
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff

(November 12, Flint Michigan) The Salvation Army will be getting green in their Christmas kettles this year.  But, it won't be the kind the bell ringers are hoping for.  

Mary Scholl, president of the Flint area PFLAG said her organization will distribute dollar bill-sized slips of green paper that take the Salvation Army to task for its bias against gay and lesbian employees.  

Scholl says she is angry with the charity's "backroom dealing" pushing the Bush administration to attempt  "to exempt religious organizations from obeying local and state anti-discrimination laws concerning (gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered) persons."

"We want the Salvation Army to know that we can no longer support an organization that discriminates against our loved ones,"  she said.

Major Ralph Bukiewicz, Genesee County commander of the Salvation Army, called the statement slanderous. He says the local Sally Ann does not discriminate, although it does not provide partner benefits to employees.  Last month, the Western Division of the Salvation Army broke with the national guidelines of the faith and said it would begin offering partnership benefits to employees. 

Scholl said she hopes other PFLAG groups support the protest.

On the front, the fake bills say "I would have donated five dollars, but the Salvation Army decision to discriminate against gays and lesbian employees prevents my donation now and in the future." On the back, PFLAG urges the Salvation Army to change its "discriminatory policy."