We’ve never been fans of Chick-fil-A’s weirdly sugary tasting chicken, but their newest move is going to be leaving a better taste in the mouths of LGBT peeps who’ve been boycotting the fast food joint.
After coming under fire the past few years for repeatedly donating to anti-LGBT causes and becoming a bit of a darling of the far-right loonies in the process, Chick-fil-A has apparently reversed course on their giving policies.
Think Progress did a little investigating into Chick-fil-A’s publicly available tax documents, and found that they have dramatically reduced the amount of donations they’ve given to anti-LGBT organizations, almost by 100 percent.
Between 2010 and 2011, Chick-fil-A’s corporate foundations increased their grants to anti-LGBT groups like the Marriage & Family Foundation and the National Christian Foundation, from $1.9 million to more than $3.6 million. Neither of these organizations received a penny in 2012, according to the foundations’ 2012 Form 990s, publicly available tax documents filed by non-profit organizations. The foundations’ overall spending was roughly even, meaning more of its efforts were focused on its own programs. But the drop from $3,623,938 to $25,390 in anti-LGBT donations represented a reduction of more than 99.2 percent.
The news is promising, but could be attributed more to corporate stinginess than anything else. Think Progress also notes that Chick-fil-A scaled back nearly all of its outside giving, so the anti-LGBT organizations were casualties of that. Still, we’d like to think that companies are finally realizing that giving to organizations that push hate is bad for business.
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And we’ve always preferred the spicy Wendy’s chicken sandwich anyways.
Red_Dragon_888
Looks like somebody hired Marty from “House of Lies” to clean up the mess that chicken place put itself into when they showed their feelings for the LGBT community and their supporters. But my feeling is that chicken place will eventually go back home to roost and regardless, the haters will continue hating.
Matt_R
Not long ago, I read that the CEO of Chick-Fil-A had made his donations to anti-LGBT hate groups less transparent. He appeared to be giving less, when in fact he was giving about twice as much. How do we know that he isn’t doing the same thing again?
I’m encouraged that this information is from a Think Progress investigation and not from Chick-Fil-A itself. Still, the investigators could have been misled. For the time being, I’ll continue to take my dollars elsewhere.
Joetx
As long as Chick-fil-A continues to give even a penny to anti-gay organizations, I will continue to boycott them.
flybob
Actually, I remember when Wendy’s pulled their advertising from the “Ellen” show years ago because when her character came out of the closet, her show “no longer represented the core values of the Wendy’s customer.” Haven’t spent a dime there since.
jckfmsincty
Eat more beef.
hyhybt
“Sugary-tasting?”
@flybob: A lot has changed since the 90’s. Would the Wendy’s of today, or even halfway between now and then, do the same?
Caleb in SC
I think it is apparent that Dan Cathy, CEO, couldn’t care less about money. He already closes on Sunday because doing business on Sunday conflicts with his religious beliefs. At least he is consistent and acts in accordance with his values. Nevertheless, it will be a cold day in hell before I eat there again.
Harley
I haven’t bought a drop of gas from Exxon since Exxon Valdez decimated prince William sound in Alaska and my boycott of sick-fil-a will last just as long.
Cam
Perhaps the headline should have said “Chick Fil Et” still donates money to anti-gay organizations.
Additionally, it’s privately held, much of their activity doesn’t have to be publicly revealed.
And lastly, they own their corporate headquarters, and they share that office space with an anti-gay organization
gwydion
Fast food is poison anyway but… I sincerely miss eating the chic-fil-a sandwich. Wendy’s Spicy Chicken sandwich is fuggin NASTY, PASTY, pretend chicken. EW.
That aside. I haven’t spent a dime at chick-fil-a in years, nor do I buy Exxon/Mobil gas. Unfortunately, neither of my fist-pumping attempts at changing the minds of these corporations will do any good. It only makes me feel better.
IvanPH
No self-respecting queen would eat in any fast food chain anyway.
MikeE
@Caleb in SC: He apparently doesn’t hold to those convictions 100%, since Chick-Fil-A still serves bacon.
Again, a fine example of neo-christians cherry-picking which parts of the bible they want to follow.
Caleb in SC
@MikeE: Lol! You are correct, Sir! How about this one? Whenever you see someone with a Biblical phrase tattooed on their body, ask about Leviticus 19:28. They are baffled.
BJ McFrisky
@MikeE: Christians aren’t supposed to eat bacon?
NG22
I’ve never even tasted Chick fil A because I live in New York, where it really isn’t a thing. I’m curious as to how it tastes, but I’m glad I’ve never spent a dime there. Not sure if I ever will.
MikeE
@BJ McFrisky: People who use the old testament to support their views aren’t supposed to eat pork products. It’s either the entire old testament, or none of it. It should never be “only the parts I like”.
BJ McFrisky
@MikeE: I believe you’re confusing Christian BS with Islamic, Jewish, and Hindu BS. Not that the facts matter to “activists” like yourself—you’ll believe whatever fits your agenda.
C’est la vie.
SpunkyBunks
@NG22: NG22, it’s nothing to write home about. For some reason, Chick Fil A has a monopoly on having stores located on college campuses. That’s how I was originally exposed to them. Their chicken sandwich is nothing but a lame breaded chicken patty (microwaved) on a bun with lettuce and pickle. That’s it! Oh, and some waffle fries, which you can get anywhere.
For some reason, girls love it. If you ever encounter one in the burbs, the drive-thrus are always packed with suburbanite soccer mommies and their kids. That’s who their main customer is. Straight men probably want a big greasy hamburger instead.
hyhybt
@SpunkyBunks: If you’ve had them, you know they’re not patties, they’re fried, and they only have butter and pickles on them.
Cam
@BJ McFrisky:
And ONCE AGAIN BJ lies when it has to do with defending an anti-gay bigot.
There are multiple passages in the Bible against the eating of Pork, here are two of them. And BJ, you knew that of course, but since you constantly lie whenever there is a chance to defend an anti-gay bigot, why should I be surprised.
And the pig, because it has a cloven hoof that is completely split, but will not regurgitate its cud; it is unclean for you. You shall not eat of their flesh, and you shall not touch their carcasses; they are unclean for you.
—Leviticus 11:7-8
And the pig, because it has a split hoof, but does not chew the cud; it is unclean for you. You shall neither eat of their flesh nor touch their carcass.
—Deuteronomy 14:8