Recently released 2017 tax filings show that the Chick-fil-A Foundation donated more than $1.8 million to three groups with anti-LGBTQ policies, continuing the fast food restaurant’s long tradition of anti-queer giving despite claiming to have no political or social agenda.
Think Progress reports that the foundation gave “$1,653,416 to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, $6,000 to the Paul Anderson Youth Home, and $150,000 to the Salvation Army,” a slight increase from their donations to these groups from the previous year.
The Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ “sexual purity” guidelines forbid its collegiate athlete members from “homosexual acts;” Paul Anderson Youth Home for troubled youth says homosexuality is wrong, is caused by abuse and that same-sex marriage is “against Jesus Christ and His values;” and The Salvation Army has a history of opposing LGBTQ non-discrimination protections.
Chick-fil-A has since said that it will stop donating to the Paul Anderson Youth Home because it “does not meet Chick-fil-A’s commitment to creating a welcoming environment to all,” but it will continue donating to the two other groups, says Think Progress.
Related: Trump served greasy Chick-fil-A to guests in the White House because of course he did
Most recently, the Christian-owned fast food chain was banned from a New Jersey university campus. In response, the company released a statement saying, “We have no policy of discrimination against any group, and we do not have a political or social agenda,” but that’s bull.
While the company may not have explicit policies against LGBTQ employees and customers, it has long funded anti-LGBTQ groups.
The company publicly opposed same-sex marriage and donated millions to anti-LGBTQ groups before claiming in 2012 that it had “ceased donating to organizations that promote discrimination, specifically against LGBT civil rights.” But 2015 tax returns showed that its foundation had given more than $1.3 million to the above mentioned groups.
Chick-fil-A has a rating of zero in the Human Rights Campaign’s Buyers Guide because the company has no pro-LGBTQ workplace policies. In 2018, Chick-fil-A’s vocally anti-gay CEO Dan Cathy was quietly dropped as the keynote speaker at a conference for “inclusive economic development.”
Vince
You’re not going to find many Christian groups that are welcome for gay people. I’m more concerned with them giving money to hate groups looking to strip my civil rights away which there are plenty.
Proud to say I’ve never eaten there. I stay far away from religious people and that includes any businesses. I’ll never support that loony BS.
GourmetGuy
Vince, I’m absolutely with you 100%. Sadly and infuriatingly enough, the only way to pummel these bigots is to hit them in their moldy pocketbooks.
TomG
You expected something different ? It seems they no longer teach “Love thy neighbor as thyself” or “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”. It’s a new Christianity that does NOT follow traditional morality any longer.
Ultimo Patriarch
To be fair most western Xians are not the church of the antichrist heresy of a heresy of a heresy happy clapping types that infest the US. Most Anglicans, Lutherans, or Methodists don’t hate gay people quite as passionately.
DCguy
What a shock, a company owned by a bigot, that claimed it would stop supporting bigotry lied.
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
Here is everything Jesus Christ EVER said about Homosexuality:.
” ”
I hope that vile, abhorrent, noxious smcubag chokes on a chicken bone
justyouandi
Jesus was considered a rabbi, so it can be inferred He believed everything any rabbi of the day believed unless He said otherwise. Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, and Peter addressed issues that Jesus didn’t.
DCguy
@justyouandi
Except Jesus DID speak out against divorce and adultery and I don’t see evangelicals protesting to make either illegal. In other words, they aren’t religious, they’re just bigots and using the religion to excuse the opinions they already have without following any of the dictates they don’t like.
funpitt412
Could you please list the large fast food chains that the LGBT democrats still on the plantation are allowed to eat at?
batesmotel
I believe the gay friendly places are McDonalds as they sold pride fries, Burger King and Olive Garden are pro-gay.
DCguy
Oh look, another troll account trying to deflect from the fact that Chik Fil Et donates millions to groups seeking to take away LGBT’s civil rights, and to harm us, INCLUDING a group that was helping to fund the bill in Uganda to legalize killing gays.
We get it, you’re a troll account, your job is to try to deflect from these facts, but you’re caught, go tell the RNC to send smarter trolls.
screwtop
If you want to ask questions like that, I couldn’t care less if you DON’T eat!
Ninette
I’m not even gay and yet have a problem eating at places where people are so angry at others for their sexuality. When I go to a restaurant I want them to focus on their food and nothing else.
Davidparacka
Trump is making sure there are more and more of us democratic liberals, you can be sure of that. The Republican party is dying quickly! So keep on hatin, go for it!
ivanw222
@funpitt412, we can eat anywhere. We choose not to eat at Chick-fil-A.
funpitt412
At least you admit you are on the plantation.
DCguy
Awww, how adorable, the troll keeps using racist tropes and yet thinks it’s being clever. Hmmmm, must be why Republicans lost the House with a record number of votes.
Doug
I’ve never eaten at Chick-Fil-A, and never will.
ZUMMY
@funpitt412, anyone is free to eat anywhere they like, even “rugged individualists” such as yourself. Be best!
Mohammad
I’ve never ate here and don’t eat that junk anyway. It’s sad to hear this news in 2019, but in the current political climate we’re in, it doesn’t surprise me! Is Trump the culprit?
capturebeauty
I personally enjoy eating at Chick-fil-A. It saddens me who they donate money to. However, I am not sure whether or not a boycott would work. I would rather see LGBT customers who like Chick-fil-A to go in mass with pride shirts.
doshepherd
I am a Christian man who happens to also be a gay man. My faith has been a vital part of my life since before beginning school. I most definitely have experienced more indoctrinating misinterpretation of the Truths within the Bible than a very large part of society and Church.
My main stand concerning the Church is against its biased issues it declares wrong. I have long stated that, compared to percentages, the “1-in-10” people who are gay and the actual numbered total which might be summed, is far, far less than the extremely multiple-timesed Christians who have pre/extra-marital relations, incestual encounters, multiple marriages/remarriages, and condemning stances against others when they, themselves, are doing the same acts.
It is easy to condemn and send hoards of guilt toward others – because they take their eyes off their own persons. I am a “confessing Christian” – not because of what I have heard or have been taught. I am because of my **own** experience with my God and Creator. I continue to worship in church because I am there to express my love, devotion, thankfulness, and sincerity to the One who knows and understands and accepts me regardless of my wrong thoughts, words, and actions (that is “sin” as a whole).
It is because of the condemnation from the Church to the Gay community which causes *most* gay people to shudder and run to even **think** about entering a church. There are the few – very few – whose own relating to God is more meaningful than dealing with the persecution and bigotry from within the Church.
I want to believe that, one day -and soon I trust-, the Gay community will be the community that sets the true example for the Church and our Society to challenge and follow.
I end (and thank each of you for hearing me) with a Biblical passage I would like to see ALL gay communities carry on a banner during every Pride Gathering/March: “I have seen thine adulteries, and thy neighings, the lewdness of thy whoredom, and thine ABOMINATIONS (empasis mine) on the hills in the fields. Woe unto thee, O Jerusalem! wilt thou not be made clean? when shall it once be?” (Jeremiah 13:27, King James Version). [this is the translation people use to blare the word “abomination” in regards to God’s so-called horrified feeling/opinion of being gay.]
I dare say there are few, if ANY, people of faith who know this verse or believe theirs can also be an *abomination* to God. Thank you, again, for listening to my point of view/belief.
funpitt412
I like your idea. We should have a national gay pride Chick-fil-A day. Where LGBT people eat at a Chick-fil-A with a pride button or shirt on.
Davidparacka
Amen, doshepard!!!
DCguy
@capturebeauty
It’s cute when people say boycotts won’t work, because they already have. Target stopped donating and dumped the anti-gay CEO. Chik Fil Et was prevented from opening in multiple locations and have tried to hide their donations, multiple other companies have changed policies and Tucker Carlson has lost 70% of his advertisers in 1 year.
So by all means, keep handing money to people who want to harm you but don’t try to tar the rest of us with your baggage.
draven
Not a big fan of the chicken food. Doesn’t taste that good to me. They don’t give you enough fries for the portion. The chicken is not cook done enough to my liken. I like the chicken restaurants better.
paul dorian lord fredine
i don’t like chicken food either. all those little seeds get stuck in my teeth. as for the rest of your comment…wtf man do you know how to write a cogent sentence or use proper grammar (what is ‘cook done well enough’?)? and i’m not a fan of chicken restaurants. too damn many feathers. (chicken restaurants? really?)
Kangol
@paul dorian lord fredine, girl, are you really going to come on here reading someone else for grammatical errors when your own post isn’t pristine? No way, no ma’am.
draven’s comment was “The chicken is not cook done enough to my liken.” I.e., the homophobic Chik-Fil-A’s chicken is not cooked “done”–i.e., fully–enough for his liking. Chik-Fil-A is essentially a chicken joint, i.e., a restaurant that primarily serves chicken. Hence its name.
Gary Q VV
Corporate America that’s dishing out anti-Queer funding and rhetoric must be fought with more vigour than what they deliver. These ultraconservative, ultra-wealthy entities don’t have the power that we LGBTQ and friends possess: power in numbers, tenacity, and grit. The masses have always bastardized those who dare to suppress others. Oh yeah, some of you might think that we might never achieve our goal of equality, which leads to freedom. But most of us do.
bobnla
Gary,
you are such an angry guy! You don’t agree with Chick-fil-A, then don’t go there. There are those that don’t agree with the gay lifestyle…accept that, Gary and move on. Don’t ask the far left courts and legislators to create rules, regs and laws protecting your gay ass from a company who doesn’t like you.
JUST DON’T GO THERE
Gary Q VV
bobnia. You sound just like a ‘troll’, a ‘bot’ planting anti-Queer propaganda and ideals. Why should we agree with anything that you write?
DCguy
@bobnla
And by “Don’t agree with” you mean, don’t support the hatred, anti-LGBT funding, and Chik Fil Et’s fight to take away civil rights for all LGBT people.
IT’s cute when you right wing trolls try to hide bigotry and hate behind the words “Different opinion”.
slake1236
Unfortunately my husband and I live for the moment that we get to have Chik-fil-A. I know that they are a crazed right wing religious business but damn their breakfast is amazing. Sometimes you lose a battle (Chik-fil-A) but then you win the war (DADT, Marriage Equality). By the way I am not a troll.
jjose712
You are not a troll (or at least that’s what you said) but you really sound like one
bobnla
good…reason prevails. Enjoy your breakfast at chick-fil-A
surfpenis
Fine. Enjoy clogging your arteries with that junk. Next time you go, look at the chicken breast. Ever seen a chicken that big in real life? Of course not. CFA has gigantic chicken farms outside Atlanta and uses growth hormones and other ghastly chemicals to fatten those birds up. Bon apétit! Eat that shiite! 😉
Gary Q VV
“bobnia”… continuing their anti-Queer campaign for the far-right. You’ve been exposed “bobnia” . Of course, all you need to do is create another Queerty account – but why, we’ll know it’s you. Don’t get me wrong, you have the right to voice your opinions just as everyone else. Nuff said.
GaybyGod
I hear that from a lot of people, Gay and straight. If one cent of my money will end up in the pockets anti-LGBT forces, even places with the most delicious delectable food, they will not get my business. Especially when the meal isn’t the healthiest choice.
doshepherd
GaybyGod:
Where is one able to find “healthiest choice” foods? Restaurants, “Healthy” -promoted packaged, fast-foods,… most so-called healthy foods (80%, I have been told) have added sugars and other additives which make most foods quite lacking in any healthy sense. As I stated above, society (and the Church) as a whole tends to follow what they are told. Most of us do not truly seek out our own “research” and draw a conclusion from so doing, rather, we take what others state, whether or not *they* have checked for themselves. I – truly, myself – have done the exact.
Tombear
I was hungry and there was a Chick Fl A right in front of me. I’ve never eaten there and never will even when I am hungry.
fur_hunter
If you don’t know it by now that MONEY TALKS, you are a total imbecile. It’s called….boycott. Back in the early 70s when Anita Bryant (who was the spokesperson for the orange juice industry) came out against the gays, wanting to put us all on an island, the gay community reacted with the bars dumping orange juice in the streets and telling reporters that they would NO LONGER be serving any drink that was made with orange juice. It had an impact. Anita was fired and went into obscurity. MONEY TALKS! And gays have much more disposable money than the straight community.
Chrisk
Don’t forget about the Coors boycott. They spent years begging the gay community to let them back in.
I can’t believe some of the imbecile commenters above who just can’t see that their patronage is supporting the very groups that are against them. All for crap food. Maybe it’s just a millennial thing.
fur_hunter
Chrisk…..You are so correct. The same thing happened years ago when Miller gave a hefty donation to the Jesse Helms Center in North Carolina. (If you didn’t know, Jesse Helms HATED GAYS.) The bars dumped Miller Beer in the streets and told the reporters why. I had to chuckle because as that happened, Budweiser made a commercial, showing two men from the back, holding hands. I can’t remember the caption on the ad but it was a great ad to show that Budweiser had no problem with gays. Pepsi (Frito Lay) also had the ‘Rainbow Doritos’. I bought a bag and have it as memorabilia. There have been several companies in recent years who have stepped up to the plate for the gays. Even Disney. Yeah. These companies know that gays have disposable money. Yep. And they are not going to discriminate.
LostMyClothesAgain
I feel very conflicted on this matter. While I have never purchased or eaten at Chik-fil-A, I have received head in the handicapped stall before.
Kangol
You’re not putting a dime in the pocket of the homophobe who heads the company but you were getting something very good out of that hellhole, so it’s all good on your end.
Silent_Joe
Eh… I can find better places to get a chicken sandwich.
Ninette
Hi loves! I’m a hetro Christian who is boycotting with you guys. I’m pretty sure Jesus was more of a liberal anyways just loving others vs being a rude a$$hole. He saved a prostitute during times where others were judging her I’m pretty sure he said that those who are free of judgment could cast the first stone. Sadly this is a huge part of the Bible that a lot of Christians ignore. Anyhoo, I just wanted to say check out Astros Donuts And Friend Chicken. They have an amazing chicken sandwich AND donuts. They have one in DC, VA, and LA.
doshepherd
Hi, Ninette.
As a Christian who also happens to be a gay man, I appreciate your noting that Jesus “is a Friend of sinners.” (A sinner is any- and all- who have ever said, thought, or done anything that is wrong.) We have made terrible conclusions (Church, State, and society) generation after generation. I am first to admit there is little to no means of changing or correcting these. If God wrote in the skies, “It’s Okay to be Gay – God”, it would be Biblically, scientifically, socially, and ethically explained away.
Since a small child, I have always believed we (as Christians) have rallied around the doctrinal issues on the outer edges and not joined on the central beliefs which are basic to us all. (I say I have always in all ways been “unconventional” as a member of the Southern Baptist “Convention.” 😉 –sideline; I am not Southern Baptist anymore.
Brian
So do all of the Chick Filet A boycotters also boycott Amazon? Their horrific employment practices are about 2 steps above human rights violation level, and they are doing it to people directly, not indirectly like Chick Fill A. Shouldn’t we be boycotting them as well?
TheMarc
Yes…if you have a problem with Amazon’s business practices, they should be boycotted as well. But this article is about Chik Fil A.
Brian
Well yeah, that’s my point. I’ve seen endless numbers of articles about Chik Fil A over the years and god knows how many people screaming boycott. Yet Amazon always ALWAYS gets a pass, and what they do is way worse than making a few political donations.
I just find it amusing, Chik Fil A is an easy boycott, there are plenty of other chicken places and it’s somewhere most people would only patronize occasionally anway. But when it comes time for a boycott that actually affects our own lives, radio silence. This is why I don’t take these kinds of boycotts seriously. A heck of a lot of companies do sh!tty things of some sort or another. I see it just as a part of life in the United States. I’m not going to selectively stick my head in the sand or find some lame justification why it’s ok for me to give THIS horrible company my business, but not THAT one.
TheMarc
I don’t think anyone is excusing the behavior of every bad corporate citizen by exposing the naughty deeds of one. The problem you’re discussing seems to be more about media coverage than the validity of boycotting Chik Fil A. Yes, it is an easy boycott. In fact, that’s why I personally as someone who does not give business to Chik Fil A find it so mind boggling that they have so many gay supporters/defenders. Why? It’s just chicken. It’s an easy thing to cross off the list. Such a minor piece of activism that practiced in large number may yield result. Realistically, doubtful. But still, why not do this tiny thing? I do agree with you that whether it’s the gay media or gay community as a whole the biggest boycott targets tend to be the easiest. I gag every time I see another gay in Dubai or uploading their photos from Coachella. But if they have a spine at least some of the time, shouldn’t it be something as easy as don’t eat at that fast food chicken restaurant that donates to anti-gay groups/initiatives?
TheMarc
This is not news. We knew this. But it apparently bears repeating. It is abhorrent to me to see so many come out of the woodwork to defend this company. If you want to keep eating/spending your money with a company that actively contributes funds to organizations and initiatives that do not have your best interest at heart as a member of the LGBT community, please do. It is your decision and you should live as you wish.
But do not expect me or anyone else to make you feel good about doing so. I’m not sorry that here is a reminder that your favorite breakfast restaurant is involved in relegating you to a second class citizen. You choose how you conduct yourself and how to speak with your voice. For some people it’s a boycott or other direct action. For some, it’s nothing. Well maybe except commenting on articles from time to time to tell anyone whoever practices any sort or level of activism is a hypocrite, delusional, “on the plantation,” etc.
Brian
I don’t think any gay person who eats at Chik Fil A expects or cares about anyone making them feel good about doing it. At most, they don’t want a lecture.
TheMarc
From some of the comments and reactions, I would respectfully disagree. There are some who think “the war is over” because gay marriage is legal. And for some, for them, the war is over. Because they don’t live in a state where it is perfectly legal for them to be fired for being gay. Or it is perfectly legal to deny them essential services or accommodations because they are gay. Or it is perfectly legal for them to be denied adoption or even surrogacy because they are gay. Or they do; but enjoy an existence that exempts them from worry over such things. So they never consider where any organization stands on anything. Whether it’s Chik Fil A’s antigay record or, as you mentioned, Amazon’s human rights record.
But I’ve seen some here and other sites, social media, etc. jump to defend their decision to continue to eat at Chik Fil A with rhetoric that makes it sound like they are holy missionaries. Do they go in and passing out flyers with “Gay facts” on them to counter anti-gay messages every time they go to Chik Fil A? Of course, not. They interact with the employees for 5 minutes, tops, and it’s only about what they want to eat. Don’t get me wrong. That’s all it should be about. Brian, understand, I am not out to tell someone they HAVE to eat elsewhere. I choose to. What annoys me is when they show up in comments sections or social media to tell everyone else that does choose to boycott Chik Fil A that it is silly, wrong, ineffective, etc. People who boycotted Chik Fil A and continue to do so, this story changes nothing. It’s people who see this reminder about who they are supporting with their money, sometimes have exhibited a very defensive stance. Which to me is indefensible. Either you care or you don’t.
doshepherd
From what I hear, if we were to boycott every establishment/organization that advanced anti-gay propaganda, there would be few we *would* be able to support. Apparently, many institutions might not readily voice prejudices but the “mother company” very well may take stances on these issues. How are we to decide; where is it to end?
TheMarc
I don’t think that is an accurate assessment; not anymore. “Supporting” gay, lesbian, trans and maybe soon, bisexual rights is popular in major corporate culture. As in “support” = $$ and public goodwill/marketing points. For a company to go against the tide is quite exceptional; not in a good way. So you ask “where does it end?” Umm…don’t give your money to an actively anti-LGBT company. That’s where. For me, I could give a flying f what some comedian/actor said years ago; particularly if their act/talking points have shifted away from anti-gay language since. But a corporation/organization/person that is actively TODAY supporting anti-gay organizations or initiatives will not get MY money/support.
If you’re actually curious, the HRC, despite flaws in other regards, does a very good job of tracking a company’s record as it relates to gay rights. Extremely doubtful that you’ll find a major/essential corp on there with a truly low score. I live in Dallas and even in Exxon’s home base, it’s fairly easy to find a non-Exxon gas station; though it should be noted they have made significant strides since their infamously bad low pro-LGBT ratings. So “few?” Not really. Unless you expand it as another, Brian, noted the OTHER areas that some companies have horrible records in.
Gary Q VV
No! We Queers must boycott every organization, company, store, eatery or whatever entity that supports in any manner, anti-Queer propaganda or actions. Are you deaf, dumb and blind to those who would prevent the equality that leads to our freedom? Wake Up and Act Out!
winemaker
Is this really news? time for a national boycott if one hasn’t already begun It seems most people only get the message through their wallets. same with anything objectionable, the list is virtually endless so i won’t waste time and space here enumerating the many thousands.
CobraPowers
Pro Traditional Family doesn’t mean “Anti-Gay”.
o.codone
I look at this site because I’m qu*eer. Then I get face planted with all the anti-chr*ist*ian and anti-Tr*um*p rhetoric which is posted 24/7 here. I’m ch**rist*ian and I’m a Tr*um*p supporter, and I eat at this chicken place. So how about somebody here stop bu**lly*ing me for my beliefs. Everybody has their thing and wouldn’t it be better to have some respect for a brother and live and let live? So many hysterical, screaming ha*ters and bu*llies on here. Is hat*red and an*ger the new “gay”? Feels like we’re a divided community, not a united one. Live and let live.
djmcgamester
What Chick-fil-A is doing is bad. I wonder if there’s a restaurant out there who we can convince to donate to pro-LGBTQ organizations. Other thing, of course, is to not eat there and strongly suggest your friends and family refrain from doing so.