It's that time of year again...and I'm dreading dealing with it!

[WillParkinson]

It's begging time at work. Well, they're not really begging, I guess. It's the annual let's give to United Way fundraising drive. Another year that I have to explain that I do not donate to groups that give money to groups that discriminate against gays and atheists (of which I belong to both camps).

Every year I have to explain it over and over. Ever year I get the rolling eyes and the sighs.

And yet I never donate. I won't give them the satisfaction.

For I am a stubborn gaytheist.

[Aeroette]

1. Good for you! Don't let them bully you. n/t

[WCGreen]

2. The United Way has lost it's way and has become a tool of the local corporations...

The last job I had with a large corporation wanted all of us to basically tithe through paycheck deductions.

I felt the same way that you do and refused to give money to the United Way.

My immediate boss would come in and announce that I was the only one in the department who wasn't participating in the fund drives.

I just kept saying I prefer to put my money to charities I care about and somehow that was considered selfish.

Well, I wondered out loud how much money did the corporate big wigs give, or did they feel it was okay because they got us to pay the corps "fair share" through employee deductions.

Needless to say, I was gone before long. That was the last time I would ever work for a large corp.

[Kurovski]

3. I'm always a fan of folks who speak up.

If people felt free to express their disbelief in religious myths, (and I speak here of actual religious people)we'd be better off. most just go along to get along.

And of course, the gay thing...well where would we be without religion?

The idea that boner-to-boner contact is some kind of an evil thing, yet killing your enemies in the name of God is a fabulous idea, is just flat-out psychotic.

[Freddie]

4. You can designate your contribution

To go to a particular charity--does not have to be on the list--and they *must* honor your request.
Not defending United Way but I used to be fairly involved with them at my ex-job. They don't like it when people designate their donations to groups outside of the local approved ones but they have no choice but to honor your request. This was explained to me when I designated mine to Lutheran Charities which was not "on the list." too bad!
I have not been involved with them for years and I don't like how they seem to be getting more right-leaning in the groups they favor (Boy Scouts) and shun (Planned Parenthood).

[Sienna86]

5. United Way still takes their cut

And their executives get big pay.