Issues arose between Chick-fil-A and the LGBT community in June 2012 after Dan T. Cathy, the fast food restaurant's chief executive officer, made a series of public comments opposing same-sex marriage. This followed reports that Chick-fil-A's charitable endeavor, the S. Truett Cathy-operated WinShape Foundation, had donated millions of dollars to organizations seen by LGBT activists as hostile to LGBT rights. Activists called for protests and boycotts, while supporters of the restaurant chain and opponents of same-sex marriage ate there in support of the restaurant. National political figures both for and against the actions spoke out and some business partners severed ties with the chain.
The outcome of the initial controversy was mixed, as Chick-fil-A's sales rose twelve percent to $4.6 billion in the period immediately following the controversy; this was largely attributed to former Governor of Arkansas Mike Huckabee's counter-boycott launched in support of the restaurant. However, the company's public image and standing with the LGBT community was damaged, with the chain facing criticism and condemnation from politicians and gay rights activists, as well as efforts by activists and political officials to ban the restaurant from college campuses, airports, and elsewhere. Chick-fil-A released a statement in July 2012 stating, "Going forward, our intent is to leave the policy debate over same-sex marriage to the government and political arena."[1] In March 2014, tax filings for 2012 showed the group stopped funding all but one organization which had been previously criticized, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.[2][3][4]
In 2017, tax filings showed that the groups supported by Chick-fil-A expanded to include The Salvation Army, which has been seen as counter to LGBTQ rights.[5][6][7] In November 2019, Chick-fil-A announced that it would not make contributions in 2020 to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and The Salvation Army.[8][9] They did not establish any criteria for corporate donations that would rule out future contributions to groups criticized as anti-LGBTQ.[10]
The owner, Dan Cathy, is still actively involved with groups such as the National Christian Foundation, an organization "spearheading the derailment of the Equality Act".[11]
- ^ "Chick-fil-A Response to Recent Controversy" (PDF). Chick-fil-A. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 12, 2012.
- ^ Comer, Matt (March 3, 2014). "New Chick-fil-A filings show decrease in anti same sex marriage funding". QNotes. Archived from the original on March 9, 2014. Retrieved March 4, 2014.
Those groups are no longer supported by the new Chick-fil-A Foundation or WinShape, holding true to a statement released by Chick-fil-A last January.
- ^ Garfield, Leanna (July 27, 2018). "Pro-LGBTQ-rights consumers vow to boycott Chick-fil-A after it announces it's [sic] opening in Toronto — here's why the fast-food chain is so controversial". Business Insider. Archived from the original on August 20, 2018. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
[T]he company's foundation ended nearly all of its donations to anti-LGBT organizations in 2012. (The foundation's 2015 SEC filings show that it still donated nearly $1 million to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.)
- ^ Allen, Samantha (August 28, 2015). "It's Time For Gays To Forgive Chick-fil-A". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on May 11, 2021. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
The company's new foundation also ended nearly all of its donations to anti-LGBT organizations in 2012, with $25,390 to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes as the only potential sore point.
- ^ Israel, Josh (March 20, 2019). "Chick-fil-A donated to anti-LGBTQ group that bars employees from 'homosexual acts'". Think Progress. Archived from the original on July 3, 2019. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
$1,653,416 to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, $6,000 to the Paul Anderson Youth Home, and $150,000 to the Salvation Army
- ^ Valle, Gaby Del (December 16, 2019). "The backlash against the Salvation Army, explained". Vox. Archived from the original on December 17, 2019. Retrieved December 17, 2019.
- ^ Taylor, Kate (May 15, 2019). "For Chick-fil-A, impact trumps 'any political or cultural war' when it comes to controversial donations". Business Insider. Archived from the original on November 26, 2019. Retrieved December 17, 2019.
- ^ "Chick-fil-A drops donations to Christian charities after LGBT protests". CNBC. November 18, 2019. Archived from the original on November 18, 2019. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
Chick-Fil-A said on Monday that it has stopped funding two Christian charities after coming under fire in recent weeks from LGBTQ activists. The fast-food chain's foundation has donated millions of dollars to The Salvation Army and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Both organizations have a history of opposing same-sex marriage.
- ^ Cain, Áine (November 19, 2019). "The Salvation Army urges the public to stop spreading 'misinformation' after Chick-fil-A cuts funding". Business Insider. Archived from the original on November 20, 2019. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
When misinformation is perpetuated without fact, our ability to serve those in need, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, religion or any other factor, is at risk,
- ^ MacGuill, Dan (November 19, 2019). "Did Chick-fil-A Stop Donations to Groups Criticized as Anti-LGBT?". Snopes. Archived from the original on November 20, 2019. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
- ^ Kirkland, Justin (June 3, 2021). "Chick-fil-a's Owner Dan Cathy Is Connected to Anti-LGBTQ Equality Act Donations". Esquire. Retrieved January 8, 2024.