In the weeks following Sept. 11, America has rallied around its charities as they’ve sought to heal the wounds left from the attacks on New York and Washington.
It’s in the spirit of helping those that have helped us that the state Senate gave final approval Tuesday to a measure creating a state license plate to benefit the Red Cross and the Salvation Army. The special plate, which includes the slogan “Proud To Be American,” will cost $35, with $25 being split between the two organizations - a seemingly worthy cause.
But while we remember the events of Sept. 11, many people are also spending this week remembering - and trying to counter - a history of discrimination against them.
Thursday marks National Coming Out Day, a reminder to everyone of the discrimination faced by the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered community. The Salvation Army is among those groups that has sought to exclude, rather than accept a vast population of Americans.
Only a few months ago, the Salvation Army - the nation’s largest charity - made headlines when it pursued a deal with the White House to exempt government-funded religious groups from state and local anti-discrimination laws. In exchange, officials from the organization vowed to fight for President Bush’s faith-based initiative, which sought to give more taxpayers’ dollars to religious charitable work.
Such a move, had the White House taken the bait, would have essentially voided anti-discrimination protections in 12 Michigan cities, as well as countless other state and local ordinances across the nation.
Discrimination based on race, gender, ethnicity, disabilities and sexual orientation is an abominable practice that should not be tolerated among freedom-loving people. But because this is a free land, organizations such as the Salvation Army can choose to exclude gays or any other people from their ranks. Like the Boy Scouts, the Salvation Army can legally discriminate in hiring as long as it does not receive government money.
But the government should never support this practice by aiding these groups with taxpayer dollars. It’s an insult to the people - who are also taxpayers - being discriminated against.
It’s also an insult to our society.
If the state is determined to give money to charities that discriminate, the Legislature should finally take up Rep. Patricia Godchaux’s bill that would protect gays under Michigan’s Civil Rights Act. The moderate Birmingham Republican introduced the measure in April, but the GOP leadership has failed its duty to citizens in not giving the bill a fair hearing.
We’re proud to be American. We’re just not proud of the Americans who don’t know what that really means.
