Reports are coming through that Chick-fil-A is 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 – a day before LGBTweekly reported that the fast food chain had decided to no longer financially support groups that promote discrimination.
From The Advocate report:
Although the company’s foundation might not be donating directly, Chick-fil-A President Dan Cathy Tweeted a photo on Tuesday from the 2012 WinShape Ride for the Family. He wrote alongside the picture of a pack of motorcyclists: “WinShape Ride for the Family bikers locked and loaded for 200 mile ride to Wilmington out of
Charleston.”
That long ride is a fundraiser for an organization that helps lobby against marriage equality. Registration forms for the event ask that checks be sent, not to the WinShape Foundation that Chick-fil-A operates, but directly to the Marriage and Family Foundation at 5200 Buffington Road in Atlanta, Ga.
“Chick-fil-A can’t claim to be turning over a new leaf while simultaneously funneling thousands of dollars toward 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 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.
