UPS may have one less customer now, but business is still booming for the waaambulance. Next stop: the Family Research Council, where Tony Perkins is throwing a tantrum of, dare I say, biblical proportions.
And what is our pal Tony so upset about, you ask? That damn UPS, being all liberal and progressive and politically correct. You'd think we lived in the twenty-first century or something, the way they carry on about non-discrimination and diversity and inclusion. Just disgusting!
Specifically, Perkins is outraged about the recent decision by UPS to end donations to the Boy Scouts of America. Pressured by grassroots activist organization Scouts for Equality, which was founded by Eagle Scout and gay ally Zach Wahls, UPS decided it was no longer in their best interest to donate to an organization that bars gay Scouts and Scouters from inclusion. According to their announcement:
The UPS Foundation seeks to support organizations that are in alignment with our focus areas, guidelines, and non-discrimination policy. UPS and The UPS Foundation do not discriminate against any person or organization with regard to categories protected by applicable law, as well as other categories protected by UPS and The UPS Foundation in our own policies. These include, but are not limited to race, gender, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran or military status, pregnancy, age and religion.
And Perkins, who apparently uses UPS to ship his hate,
is not amused.
Writing on the FRC website, Perkins rants about political correctness and the poor BSA (which totally isn't rolling in dough already) being targeted by the mean, nasty, librul UPS.
In this busy shipping season, UPS will have at least one less customer to worry about: FRC. After 11 years as our official carrier, FRC is suspending its contract with UPS for openly discriminating against the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). In November, company executives announced that they would no longer support organizations that refuse to bow to their politically correct view of homosexuality. Although Vice President Kristen Patrella insisted UPS's decision didn't specifically target the Scouts, theirs was the only group affected. UPS promised to end its charitable donations to the Scouts "until gay Scout leaders are welcome within the organization."
Oh, but it gets better. Apparently UPS is "strong-arming" the BSA and trying to force the organization into their "extreme agenda." Oh, and that BSA policy against homosexuality? It's all about "children's safety."
FRC tried to resolve the matter behind the scenes, even contacting Chairman and CEO Scott Davis with a letter of protest -- to which UPS promptly replied. Unfortunately, the company only reiterated its position that until the BSA puts a greater priority on the political agenda of LGBT activists than the protection of Scouts, they are not entitled to the same equality UPS claims to endorse. Apparently, the company isn't interested in true diversity but in strong-arming anyone who disagrees with their extreme agenda -- including a century-old youth development program, whose only crime is instilling character into millions of American boys. As for their longstanding policy on homosexuality, the Boy Scouts are doing what every parent would want them to: putting children's safety first.
Is there any evidence that gay people are more prone to molest children than heterosexuals? No, of course not. But that doesn't stop Perkins, in his tearful rage, from making the claim that the BSA is simply preventing child molestation with its discriminatory policy. He made a
similar claim in an FRC press release yesterday:
The Scouts' policy is also a matter of security. After hundreds of cases of child sex abuse plagued the organization, the Boy Scouts tried to create a membership criterion that reduces the risk to Scouts, and that protects the rights of their parents to be the first to discuss topics like sexual orientation with their children.
Linking gays with pedophilia...how novel.
And this, Mr. Perkins, is why your nasty organization has been listed as a hate group. You repeatedly and maliciously lie about gay people, link us to child abusers without one iota of evidence, and then whine when you're called hateful.
As for UPS, I'm sure they're not losing much sleep. What little business FRC gave them surely won't be missed. Hey, maybe the haters will start a whole "Dump UPS" campaign. You know, because Starbucks is just reeling from that "Dump Starbucks" bullshit.
Good luck, Tony. I think it's safe to say the shipping companies are moving our way, not yours. I look forward to your cries of defeat when you finally realize that you literally can't function without giving some gay-friendly company your business.