An online mob of LGBT agitators assailed a doughnut shop in Portland, Maine that teamed up with the Salvation Army to provide assistance to needy children, alleging that the charitable organization is anti-gay.

The Holy Donut organized a gift drive to provide local families in need with Christmas presents, and awarded participating customers with a gift of free doughnuts.

The doughnut shop ran afoul of LGBT advocates when they enlisted the help of the Salvation Army, a nonprofit Christian ministry known for its charitable aid to the indigent, homeless, and those suffering from addictions. The Salvation Army assisted the doughnut makers in finding needy children and families, which infuriated LGBT lobbyists who accuse the Salvation Army of being anti-gay and discriminating against the LGBT community.

Organizers of the online protest encouraged people to give the doughnut shop poor ratings on review sites to discourage prospective customers from patronizing the establishment, to undermine the shop’s financial base.

The online mob threatened a boycott unless the doughnut shop renounced its partnership with the Salvation Army.

“They proselytize to the people in their programs, they reject LGBT people from their shelters,” one irate protester wrote. “They have tried to scrub their image, but still discriminate.”

“In case you forgot, a solid 70 percent of your clientele is part of the LGBTQ community,” another protester wrote. “You’re making a silent statement that you’re completely fine with their choices.”

In the face of the harassment, the Holy Donut, owned by Leigh Kellis, backtracked, insisting that they were just trying to live out the Christmas spirit and denying a formal association with the Salvation Army.

“We do not support the Salvation Army or consider them our ‘partner’ for this project, they simply linked us to a needy family,” the store owners wrote on their Facebook page. “We have nothing to gain here, we just wanted to help a family in need.”

The owners went so far as to apologize for having worked together with the Salvation Army.

“We take this opportunity to sincerely apologize to anyone that we have offended,” the proprietors wrote. “We are an organization which prides itself on our track record of kindness and acceptance of everyone.”

Others, however, wrote comments in support of the doughnut shop and denounced the attacks from the LGBT lobby.

“Going after a doughnut shop because they don’t like their politics is exactly why people voted for Trump,” one commentator wrote online.

“Keep up the good work, doing what is right it spite of the haters. Do not let the turkeys get you down,” wrote another.

“We cannot let a group of hate mongers tell us what we can think or say. I have just written a larger than my normal check to the Salvation Army. Merry Christmas!” another added.

One particularly poignant comment came from a gay man who decried the actions of the LGBT activists.

“I’m a GAY man myself and I’m sick of seeing you cry babies go after hard working business owners with your self absorbed, do this or else attitude!” he wrote. “Continue on this route and you will have undone what it took decades to accomplish! Bunch of morons!!”

For its part, the Salvation Army has vigorously denied accusations of being anti-gay, reaffirming its policy of non-discrimination and openness to all.

“The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian church,” their website reads. “Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.”

Perhaps references to the Bible and open association with Jesus Christ are sufficient motivation to bring down the wrath of LGBT activists.

And when better than in the Christmas season.

Follow Thomas D. Williams on Twitter Follow @tdwilliamsrome