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The “anti-gay” smear encumbered Chick-fil-A, but ditching it meant wading deeper into the political and cultural wars, not out of them. Over the course of the last few years, however, it has faced a handful of setbacks, as a few landlords and local politicians have sought to block its restaurants - expressly because of its Christian values, namely a biblical understanding of sexuality.īisnow reported last month that company leadership “felt a new message was needed - especially in foreign markets, where the most prominent brand exposure to Chick-fil-A are headlines about its support for organizations with anti-LGBT stances.”Īttempting to explain its funding decisions, Vice President of Corporate Responsibility and Executive Director of the Chick-fil-A Foundation Rodney Bullard said it “don’t want intent and work to be encumbered by someone else’s politics or cultural war,” saying it is “mindful” of anything that “gets in the way of their mission.”
Covenant House employs the True Colors “inclusion assessment” to create a more “LGBTQ-inclusive and -affirming program and environment.” Chick-fil-A Tries to Shake ‘Anti-LGBT’ Labelĭespite the media grilling the restaurant chain after CEO Dan Cathy’s 2012 statement that he was “guilty as charged” with regard to supporting traditional family, Chick-fil-A has since doubled its growth. While the New York affiliate did not receive Chick-fil-A funding according to currently available tax documents, the parent organization proudly advertises it has collaborated with True Colors United, which provides “training and education” in LGBT matters. “The Cov,” as its residents call it, has marched in New York’s Pride Parade multiple times. But in 2018, Chick-fil-A also gave $100,000 to parent organization “Covenant House.” Its website says it seeks to provide houses that are “welcoming, affirming, and safe for LGBTQ youth.” New York-based Covenant House has nearly two dozen affiliates all over the United States and South America, but the parent organization and its New York affiliate in particular have indeed put a focus on LGBT politics.Īn examination of Chick-fil-A Foundation’s 20 IRS 990 forms reveal it gave $30,000 to Covenant House Georgia and $100,000 to Covenant House California, neither of which appear to fund DQSH or any other anti-biblical agendas. The site encourages visitors to #STANDWITHSTORYHOUR and help raise $35,000 by the end of the year to “fight back against anti-LGBTQ censorship and attacks.”Ĭovenant House, the recipient of at least $230,000 of Chick-fil-A’s donations, bills itself as “the largest provider of services to youth facing homelessness in the Americas” and provides shelter to about 400 kids between 16 and 21 years old. “DQSH captures the imagination and play of the gender fluidity of childhood and gives kids glamorous, positive, and unabashedly queer role models,” according to the Drag Queen Story Hour website. These events consist of men dressing up as women to read or tell stories based in gender ideology to children. The company says it donated $1.6 million to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes for sports camps for inner-city youth, a group that is overtly against gay marriage, as well as $150,000 to the Salvation Army, which has also been accused of discrimination.Chick-fil-A Donates to Drag Queen Host’s Partnerĭrag Queen Story Hours have been cropping up in libraries and other public spaces across the country. as well, including San Antonio city council trying to stop a location from opening in the city and a New Jersey university blocking it from the campus.Ĭhick-fil-A says it doesn't have a political or social agenda, and disputes the characterization of the 2017 donations. The Atlanta, Georgia-based company has faced opposition in the U.S.
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Our focus is on offering a welcoming and respectful environment for our guests and team members, and we encourage people to give us a try," he said. "We respect people's right to share their opinions. Wilson Yang, operator of the Chick-fil-A in Toronto, said in an emailed statement that everyone is welcome at the restaurant. He said the company gave $1.8 million in 2017 to anti-LGBTQ groups, has given to conversion therapy groups, and is not welcome in Toronto. It's just unacceptable," said Justin Khan, director of public interest and legal issues at The 519, an LGBTQ advocacy group. "The fact that Chick-fil-A's opening up on the streets of Toronto's really problematic for us, given that we know the company promotes hate.