For years, rumors The Salvation Army held an anti-gay stance were never really believed. Until recently, they tried time and time again to deny their views against the GLBTQ community.

Recent findings, however further indicate The Salvation Army truly is an anti-gay charitable organization.

In a recent interview, Salvation Army Major George Hood claimed the rumors were all based on lies spread on the internet. But, as ThinkProgress points out, individuals within the company, including Hood himself have gone on record, speaking against the gay and lesbian community.

Points specifically attacked by the Salvation Army over the years include hiring gay people to work for them and homo homosexuality altogether.

Here’s an example of wording used on the Australian Salvation Army official website in June 2012 as shared by Boston.com:

“[Homosexual activity is] as rebellion against God’s plan for the created order… Homosexual practice, however, is, in the light of Scripture, clearly unacceptable. Such activity is chosen behaviour and is thus a matter of the will. It is therefore able to be directed or restrained in the same way heterosexual urges are controlled. Homosexual practice would render any person ineligible for full membership (soldiership) in the [Salvation] Army.”

Major Andrew Craibe, of the same Australian chapter, went on record, stating gays ‘deserve to die’. Of course, this was later followed-up by an ‘apology’ where his statements were called ‘miscommunications’.

Sources: Boston.com, ThinkProgress, Salvation Army

What do you think? Does this sound like the Salvation Army feels love towards the gay and lesbian community and all the anti-gay views are just internet rumors? Or does the Salvation Army hold some pretty harsh anti-gay views?