It was just this week Dan Cathy, the head of Chick-fil-A, was insisting “really inaccurate information” was branding him and his company a supporter of anti-gay causes. “We have a whole spectrum of team members that work with us who are part of the gay and lesbian community,” argued Cathy. “They know as employees of Chick-fil-A that they are welcomed, they are embraced, and they are part of the Chick-fil-A family. So to be identified with some sort of hate group that has a political agenda — that is not Chick-fil-A at all.” Actually, it is: Chick-fil-A’s charitable unit WinShape Foundation donated some $1.1 million to anti-gay groups in 2003-08, and likely much more cash since then. Lucky recipients of WinShape’s good will include the Alliance Defense Fund ($5k) and National Christian Foundation ($631k), which itself funnels cash to groups like Focus on the Family, Family Life, and the Family Research Council. [photo via]
bad meat
Don’t Believe Chick-fil-A’s Lying Chief Dan Cathy: The Restaurant Chain Does, Inarguably, Support Anti-Gay Groups
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Harbo
I’m just licky. I’ve never eaten at Chick-fil-A and have no intention in strting now. I’ll stick with Carl’s Jr. and Taco Bell.
Harbo
I’m just licky. I’ve never eaten at Chick-fil-A and have no intention in starting now. I’ll stick with Carl’s Jr. and Taco Bell.
Jamie_from_CA
I’m a gay man, and I still eat at Chick-fil-A. While I personally disagree with Chick-fil-A’s corporate donations, I go to Chick-fil-A because I like their chicken sandwiches (Men’s Health magazine rates Chick-fil-A as one of the healthiest fast food restaurant chains in the country).
Oh, and their customer service is AMAZING. Here in Southern California, the difference between Chick-fil-A & other fast food restaurants (Carl’s Jr, Taco Bell, McDonald’s, etc) is like day & night. During all of my visits to Chick-fil-A, the people who worked at all of their locations were well groomed, efficient, spoke clear English, and always had a smile on their face.
At McDonald’s & Taco Bell? You’ll be lucky if the employees speak clear English, their hygiene is questionable, and they’ll scowl when you ask for extra ketchup or hot sauce.
And don’t get me started on the “gay-owned” restaurants in West Hollywood (WeHo), where the prices are sky-high, the food is mediocre, and the fabulously gay employee with the attitude acts like you’re doing HIM a favor by spending your money there.
I’m really excited about about the new Chick-fil-A opening this Summer near WeHo in Hollywood, CA — at the corner of Sunset Boulevard & Highland. 🙂
Jamie_from_CA
Chick-fil-A’s coming to the “gayborhood”…….When it opens this Summer, it will be only 1 to 2 blocks away from the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center…….interesting….
http://www.facebook.com/thehollywoodcfa
http://laist.com/2010/12/09/chick-fil-a_is_going_hollywood.php
Dandy Dan
@Jamie_from_CA: OMG, you are such a sell out, and for what? Tasty chicken, with a side hate! Just kidding, I also like their waffle fries with a side of guilt! But only if the guilt tastes like ketchup and the fries are fresh.
SteveC
There’s an expression for gays who eat at Chick-Fil-A (because they taste good) and gays like Ricky Martin who prostitute themselves out to groups like Target who actively seek to destroy their civil and human rights.
The expression is ‘Uncle Tom’.
Seriously – grow a pair.
Eat where you like I suppose but don’t start whining when you’re fired for being gay. You’ve funded that homophobia after all.
Jimmy Fury
@SteveC: And there’s an expression for anyone who thinks “uncle tom” means “member of a minority who actively works against the minorities best interest.”
Illiterate.
Seriously, read the book.
Jimmy Fury
and of course my caffeine deprived brain uses the plural instead of the possessive while I’m calling someone illiterate.
greenmanTN
Call it by whatever term you prefer, but in my book spending money at a place that is then going to use that money to oppose your rights is called “really fucking stupid.”
Cam
@Jamie_from_CA:
Jamie isn’t gay…he’s a Chick Cil A Trolll
You can tell the trolls because they always start out with
“As a gay man” or “I’m a gay man” or “I think, that as a lesiban” etc….
Gay men know that they are gay men, they don’t have to announce it. Nice try there troll.
DJ
Chic-Fil-A is too amazing to pass up. Sorry. Who cares they’re giving to anti-gay groups? America is going to become more accepting of us everyday no matter what.Especially as the younger generation starts taking over. Ya’ll act like they’re drastically hurting the gay marriage cause.
Jerry
@DJ: Every dollar you spend with a group that actively works against our community is a stamp of approval for their hate.
Jeffree
@Cam: Amen to your comment about trolls often needing to start with the “As a __”. It’s annoying that they think that gives them any credibility, and THEN they post only one that one particular thread or issue.
I won’t name names, but a guy I work for has posted on here a few times about a technical topic he’s an expert in. He’s straight, he’s absolutely an ally, and has never felt the need to out himself as a str8 guy, or pretended to be gay.
There are several people who frequently post on here who have never mentioned (to my knowledge) their gender or orientation, but who write thoughful, interesting comments, so who really should care as long as they add to the discussion.
Back to the topic: Nope, I will not eat at Chick-fil-A.
[email protected]
Organizations like focus on the family should not be classified as “anti-gay.” They differ from members of the gay community in that they oppose FEDERALLY recognized same-sex marriages (I am in favor of same sex marriage by the way). However, this is merelt political; they do not seek to exclude gay people from our country or its infrastructure. Refusing to eat there is like neglecting a delicious barbecue joint because its owners support ross perot, but are happy to serve you like everyone else, even if you voted for clinton.
Ken Howard
Readers are encouraged to educate themselves. Chick-Fil-A donates to anti-gay groups that have been designated as hate groups by the Southern Poverty Law Center for their actions spreading LIES about the LGBT community. These groups not only oppose equal marriage civil rights under the law, they oppose ALL forms of legal protections for same-sex couples, all forms of domestic partner benefits, and they oppose school anti-bullying programs and hate crimes laws — it’s NOT just about “gay marriage” oppostion. Readers are encouraged to see all the expose’ articles on Facebook fan pages, such as “Boycott Hollywood Chick-Fil-A” and “Boycott Chick-Fil-A”, for a DETAILED account of their anti-gay funding activities, as well as their questionable/discriminatory hiring practices, and other creepy actions that make Chick-Fil-A NOT a place any fair-minded American would want to support!
Bookgal1977
I’d like to find a list somewhere of chains that support LGBT causes and marriage. I’m never setting foot into a Chick Fill A, but I would like to know where I can eat that would be spending my money for progress rather than bigotry.