Investigation Confirms Chick-Fil-A's Deep Ties to Anti-Gay Causes

I have written before about Chick-Fil-A and questions about its support for anti-gay organizations. Trying to avoid a PR disaster, Chick-Fil-A president and COO Dan Cathy released a statement denying that Chick-Fil-A's donation was an endorsement of traditional marriage, arguing that Chick-Fil-A has "no agenda against anyone," and that the company would not "champion any political agendas" relating to marriages or families.
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Now, a new investigation has revealed that Chick-Fil-A's involvement in supporting anti-gay groups - including registered hate groups - and possible religious based discrimination in its hiring practices is far worse than originally thought. It also suggests that Cathy, like most Christianists, is a liar. It seems impossible to believe that Cathy didn't know where Chick-Fil-A's donations were going.
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If one is going to spend their money at Chick-Fil-A, you might as well send a donation directly to NOM, FRC, FOTF or some other organization that regularly denigrates LGBT citizens and strives to deprive us of civil rights. Sure, Chick-Fil-A is free to do want it wants with its money. But why on earth would any LGBT individual or LGBT ally want to spend a dime at Chick-Fil-A? I hope readers will make a point to drive past the Chick-Fil-A the next time they're looking for fast food. Better yet, urge your friends and family members to do so likewise. It's very simple. If Chick-Fil-A wants to exercise its freedom to finance hate and intolerance, then other Americans can exercise their right to boycott the backers of religious based hatred such as Chick-Fil-A. Equality Matters has details on the investigation findings. Here are highlights:
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KEY FINDINGS:
1. Chick-Fil-A Charitable Arm Winshape: Over $1.1M Given To Anti-Gay Groups
2. Chick-Fil-A Reportedly Favors Married Employees, Investigates Their Personal Lives
3. Chick-Fil-A's Partnership With Focus On The Family
4. Chick-Fil-A's Sponsorship Of Anti-Gay Hate Group Affiliate
5. WinShape's "Traditional Marriage" Activities
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$631,600 to National Christian Foundation. The National Christian Foundation is a grant-making foundation that has made "hundreds of grants" to anti-gay groups like Focus on the Family, Family Life, and the Family Research Council, according to the Philanthropy Roundtable's publication "Reviving Marriage In America: Strategies for Donors." NCF allows donors to direct their donations and has experienced a surge in interest among donors in funding marriage-related giving. [Philanthropy Roundtable, accessed 2/8/11].
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Chick-Fil-A's Employment Practices Are Hostile Towards "Sinful" Candidates. Chick-fil-A requires potential franchise operators to disclose their marital status, number of dependents, and involvement in social, church, and other organizations. Employees may be fired for engaging in "sinful" behavior, and Truett Cathy has said he aims to hire workers who are married
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Chick-Fil-A's Partnership With Focus On The Family. From October to November of 2005, Chick-fil-A partnered with Focus on the Family and Digital Praise Inc. to give away free interactive CDs of Focus on the Family's radio program Adventures in Odyssey, . . . Focus on the Family is notoriously anti-gay, promoting the theory that gays and lesbians can change their sexual orientation and arguing that homosexuality "violates God's intentional design for gender and sexuality."
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Sponsorship Of Anti-Gay Hate Group Affiliate. Since 2008, Chick-fil-A has been a sponsor of All Pro Dad, a program created by the Tampa-based organization Family First, also known as the "Florida Family Council." The Florida Family Council is an affiliate of the American Family Association, which has been designated as an anti-gay hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.