Earlier this year, the New York Times revealed Chick-fil-A has sponsored organizations that work against equal marriage rights for gays, and gay-rights activists are having a field day. Chick-fil-A is a popular fast food franchise with a total of 1,530 restaurants in 39 states in the U.S. Closed on Sundays, they are among the few large American companies that include conservative religion in its image.
Marriage has long been a focus of the chain, according to Dan T. Cathy, the company’s president. According to the Chick-fil-A website, the mission statement of the restaurant is “to glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted in us. To have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A.”
Chick-fil-A is known to sponsor both the Winshape Foundation and Focus On The Family, which are anti-gay organizations. While Winshape fights against gay marriage, Focus On The Family promotes the theory that gays and lesbians can change their sexual orientation and argues that homosexuality “violates God’s intentional design for gender and sexuality.”
Chick-fil-A’s famous chicken, nicknamed “Jesus chicken” by fans, may appear a small thing for creating a large fuss. However, lovers of both the chicken and gay marriage have been faced with a difficult moral decision: to eat or not to eat?
“It’s like I’m giving money directly to something I believe is wrong. I mean it’s good chicken, but still,” Jojo Harig, freshman, said. “Now I don’t want to eat there knowing they donate money to anti-gay groups.”
Harig believes in equal marriage rights for all and was surprised to hear about the donations and sponsorships. He assumed Chick-fil-A would not want to risk losing customers.
Some are stumped with the choice of eating Chick-fil-A after hearing about the donations.
“The Bible says marriage is a man and a woman,” Meghan Rintoul, sophomore, said. “I don’t support that gays should be married but I respect it, so I think it’s wrong to give money [working against it].”
However, others find the decision simple.
“Personally I think the food is good. I mean I’m only fifteen and it doesn’t exactly apply to me,” Jack Zeis, freshman, said.
A campaign entitled “Equality Matters” announced that Chick-fil-A is reported to have provided $1.1 million to organizations that deliver anti-Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) messages. Some of these messages include the promotion of reparative therapy that seek to “free” people of being gay.
Despite the criticism, the Southern-based restaurant is doing its best to stay strong.
“I don’t know the details on the subject,” Francisco Reynoso Marte, Chick-fil-A employee, said. “But I do know this: Chick-fil-A doesn’t target anyone.”
Joey • May 26, 2011 at 3:45 pm
I think that organizations that discriminate is wrong and should seriously reconsider their statements about the subjects, but Chick Fil A is just so good i can’t stop eating there because of which charities they donate to. Also, those charities don’t do many great things for America even though they may discriminate
Sam • May 23, 2011 at 12:30 pm
Fantastic article. Great angle and well written story. It’s important to inform people about where the money they spend goes and I would encourage people to strongly consider not eating Chic Fil A until they cease supporting the repression of others’ civil rights. Thanks for letting people know about Chic Fil A’s questionable donations.
Margaret • May 19, 2011 at 9:06 am
Dear Jane. Wow. You inspire me. Way to get this story. I’m never eating there again. Well I might, but I’ll be awfully mad while doing it, I tell you! You’re awesome.