Gay-rights activists drop protest notes in charity's kettles

NEW YORK -- The Salvation Army's red kettles, an abiding symbol of holiday good will, are at the center of a battle over gay rights this Christmas season.

Complaining of bias by the Christian charity, some gay-rights supporters are dropping protest notes in the kettles instead of cash. In response, conservative groups are urging extra donations as a show of solidarity.

The protest campaign started in Flint, Mich. -- but has since spread to many states -- after the Salvation Army's national leadership last month rescinded a decision by its 13-state Western branch to offer health benefits to domestic partners of gay and lesbian employees.

"It seemed so mean," said Mary Scholl, mother of a gay man, who started the campaign along with her colleagues in the Flint branch of Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians and Gays.

Since then, Scholl said, she has received scores of messages from across the country, some supportive, others hostile. "I've had 100 e-mails from people telling me I'm going to hell," she said.

Its Internet site of Scholl's organization shows supporters how to make copies of the protest notes, which vaguely resemble $5 bills.

"I would have donated $5," the note says. "But the Salvation Army's decision to discriminate against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered employees prevents my donation now and in the future."

Only one question

At the Salvation Army's national headquarters in Alexandria, Va., officials say the protest appears to have caused little financial damage. They make no apologies for a policy that limits family health benefits to married couples and their dependent children.

"We're a Christian organization -- we don't provide those benefits for heterosexual couples that aren't married," said Lt. Col. Tom Jones, the Salvation Army's community relations secretary.

The charity does not ask its employees, nor those who seek its services, about their sexual orientation, Jones said.

"The only question we ask is, 'Do you need our help?'" he said.