On its website, the Salvation Army has posted, “For years, Facebook posts, forwarded emails and rumors have been leading some people to believe that The Salvation Army does not serve members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community. These accusations simply aren’t true.
“Since its founding nearly 150 years ago, The Salvation Army has lived out its mission: To meet human needs in His name, without discrimination. People who come to the Army for assistance will be served according to their need and our capacity to help—regardless of race, gender, ethnicity or sexual orientation.”
In addition, the Army includes testimony from people such as Jacquelynn Massengill, a Salvation Army volunteer and former transitional housing resident who describes herself as “I called (Harbor Light) and told them everything—that I was on a fixed income, disabled, transgendered (sic) and trying to get away from my ex. It wasn’t even an hour later that they called back and said they’d hold a spot for me. … A year and a half later, I was back on my feet.”
TWO Executive Director Wayne Besen lauded the Army “for what appears to be positive steps in the right direction, assuming the changes they are trumpeting are genuine.” However, he has discovered that the organization refers clients to as least two “ex-gay” ministries (Harvest USA and Pure Life Ministries). Besen added, “It is inexcusable—even cruel—for The Salvation Army to refer vulnerable addicts to abusive programs that will further diminish their self-respect and self-esteem. Pure Life and Harvest USA promote junk science and witch doctor practices that place the mental health and well being of LGBT clients at-risk.”
However, the Army removed the “ex-gay” resources shortly after this was noted, according to a separate TWO release. After Truth Wins Out Associate Director Evan Hurst brought the matter to the Army’s attention, the organization responded with a letter that reads, in part, “We have removed the page of referrals for sexual addiction centers. Truthfully this was an old page that had been archived but was reposted when we launched our new website last month. We apologize for our oversight and any confusion this may have caused. The Salvation Army does not consider homosexual orientation a sin.”
—Andrew Davis