HRC - Chick-fil-A Fails to Live Up to Promises of Stricter Donation Guidelines

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 20, 2012
Dan Rafter |

Chick-fil-A Fails to Live Up to Promises of Stricter Donation Guidelines

Fast food chain is still actively raising money for the anti-LGBT Marriage and Family Foundation

Washington – The Human Rights Campaign – the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization – is condemning Chick-fil-A for continuing to actively raise money for anti-LGBT organizations like the Marriage and Family Foundation. The Advocate is reporting that Chick-fil-A President Dan Cathy tweeted a photo from an event raising funds for the anti-LGBT group on Tuesday – the very same day that news broke of the fast food chain’s apparent decision to no longer financially support groups that promote discrimination.

“Chick-fil-A can’t claim to be turning over a new leaf while simultaneously funneling thousands of dollars towards a group that does not acknowledge the dignity and respect of LGBT people,” said HRC Vice President of Communications Fred Sainz. “Chick-fil-A and the WinShape Foundation are at a turning point and face a fundamental question: will they continue actively using customer dollars to support groups that demonize LGBT people, or will they once and for all act like a responsible business and stop supporting discrimination?

“This issue is not – nor has it ever been about – whether a particular organization supports marriage equality. It is about the fact that Dan Cathy’s personal views are leading to corporate dollars being used to prop up groups that demonize and spread malicious falsehoods about LGBT people. Americans can agree upon the values that make our country great – fairness, respect, and dignity for all. There are a number of organizations that work to promote these types of values. Unfortunately, Chick-fil-A is continuing to support organizations that do not reflect mainstream American values.”

In addition to being out-of-step with most Americans, Chick-fil-A’s current anti-LGBT donations are simply bad for business – and this summer’s earlier controversy adversely impacted their brand. According to According to YouGov’s BrandIndex, Chick-fil-A’s perception with consumers dropped from a 65– nearly 20 points above the national average for other fast food chains – to a 39 in the week after Dan Cathy’s proud and very public embrace of his company’s anti-LGBT practices. Learn more at www.hrc.org/chickfila.

The Human Rights Campaign is America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.

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