For several years now, Chick-fil-A has stood with Christian organizations, rising in the ranks of fast food thanks to its unique Christian identity. But strangely, and shockingly, Chick-fil-A has done a 180- on Monday it announced that it will end its streak of giving donations to Christian groups which have been deemed “anti-gay” by pro-LGBTQ activists.
Switching Sides
Not a year goes by where a pro-LGBTQ activist tries to brand Chick-fil-A as hateful and anti-gay, thanks to CEO Dan Cathy’s opinion on same-sex marriage as well as the companies donations to Christian organizations. Because of these traits, along with their Biblical standpoint, Chick-fil-A has an overwhelmingly positive reputation and a loyal base of customers.
Even though it has been facing boycotts and pressure from the left-wing, Chick-fil-A’s sales have only increased- making many think that the obvious choice for Chick-fil-A is to continue driving their company in a Christian manner.
However, that was not to be. Starting next year, Chick-fil-A will stop donating to Salvation Army, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), and the Paul Anderson Youth Home, instead focusing on giving to causes of education, homelessness, and hunger, through the organizations Junior Achievement USA and Covenant House, as well as to various community food banks. All three of those organizations have been labeled “anti LGBT” for taking a Biblical stance on homosexuality.
“There’s no question we know that, as we go into new markets, we need to be clear about who we are,” Chick-fil-A President and Chief Operating Officer Tim Tassopoulos said. “There are lots of articles and newscasts about Chick-fil-A, and we thought we needed to be clear about our message.” [1]
Shame, shame on you, @ChickfilA. You are the 3rd most successful fast food franchise in the US. You had no reason to capitulate. But you did. Yes, shame on the progressive bullies too — yet the greater shame is yours, Chick-fil-A, you cowards. https://t.co/eTfALNMUz4
— Rod Dreher (@roddreher) November 18, 2019
“More Focus”
This new decision is strangely opposing to what Chick-fil-A Foundation executive director Rodney Bullard and Chick-fil-A vice president of external communications Carrie Kurlander said earlier in 2019 when she was defending the three organizations from activists. “At the end of the day, the calling for us is to ensure that we are relevant and impactful in the community, and that we’re helping children and that we’re helping them to be everything that they can be,” Bullard said at the time. “For us, that’s a much higher calling than any political or cultural war that’s being waged. This is really about an authentic problem that is on the ground, that is present and ever present in the lives of many children who can’t help themselves.” [2]
This move comes shortly after Chick-fil-A has faced several cases of opposition from airports refusing to allow the company to remain at their venues. And after late Boston Mayor Thomas Menino pledged to ban them from opening their first Chick-fil-A within Bostons city limits.
“This provides more focus and more clarity,” Tassopoulos said. “We think [education, hunger, and homelessness] are critical issues in communities where we do business in the U.S.”
Chick fil A defied the LGBT rage mob for years and only grew in popularity because of it. Now all of a sudden they cave. This is the most pointless and counter productive surrender I’ve ever seen.
— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) November 18, 2019
Notes:
- ^Sperance, Cameron. “EXCLUSIVE: Chick-fil-A To Stop Donations To Charities With Anti-LGBT Views.” Bisnow, 18 Nov. 2019, www.bisnow.com/national/news/retail/exclusive-amid-global-expansion-and-lgbt-pushback-chick-fil-a-changes-charitable-giving-structure-101818. (go back ↩)
- ^Freiburger, Calvin. “Chick-fil-A pulls support from Christian groups branded by LGBT lobby ‘anti-gay’.” LifeSiteNews, 18 Nov. 2019, www.lifesitenews.com/news/chick-fil-a-moving-away-from-contributions-to-groups-tarred-as-anti-lgbt. (go back ↩)
