On Monday, Queer Eye star and licensed psychotherapist and social worker Karamo Brown shared that he was working with the Salvation Army. But he's not the first celeb to partner with the controversial company.
He joins the likes of other big-name stars, like Becky G, Meghan Trainor, Carrie Underwood, Destiny's Child, Chris Rock, Kelly Clarkson, and Kim Kardashian, among others, who have worked with the Salvation Army in the past.
Karamo soon started facing backlash after posting his partnership with the org: "Karamo continues to be so disappointing," one person wrote.
Karamo continues to be so disappointing.
"Can his PR team do any research before he co-signs an organization with known anti-LGBTQ views?" one person tweeted.
Can his PR team do any research before he co-signs an organization with known Anti-LGBTQ views. @Karamo https://t.co/35V4j0r49X
Here's why that backlash is warranted.
The Salvation Army does, in fact, have a long history of anti-LGBTQ controversies and allegations dating back to the '80s, according to Vox, Huffington Post, and Advocate.
But more recently, in 2012, a case worker for a Vermont Salvation Army branch alleged that she was fired after her supervisor learned she was bisexual.
That same year — in an attempt to deny that the Salvation Army was anti-LGBTQ — spokesperson George Hood said, "A relationship between same-sex individuals is a personal choice that people have the right to make. But from a church viewpoint, we see that going against the will of God."
Sexual orientation is not a choice, and it is not against the will of God. Period.
In 2017, The Salvation Army branch in Brooklyn reportedly rejected transgender people at their substance abuse centers, according to ThinkProgress.
Still, “The Salvation Army provides all of our services, including but not limited to: food, shelter and support of survivors of human trafficking; according to one’s gender identity,” said SA rep Laura Krueger in 2017.
The Salvation Army has continued to emphasize that it is not anti-LGBTQ, but because of its past and recent controversies, a lot of people have a hard time believing them.
The salvation army forced a trans homeless woman to freeze to death bc they kicked her out of a shelter bc she was trans. Do not give them shit. https://t.co/eN7amZSRq5
FUCK THE SALVATION ARMY THREAD
As a reminder, as someone who was homeless: Salvation Army makes you pray for your meals. They make you sit up and beg like a dog. They hate queer people. They hate trans people. They are a lie of an organization. Support groups like Outside In instead. https://t.co/mlBNOwgoTy