Chick-fil-A, the chain of fast-food chicken restaurants, has been criticized for its support of a reportedly anti-gay organization.
The restaurant chain is listed as a sponsor of a two-day marriage retreat hosted by the Pennsylvania Family Institute (PFI). PFI’s president, Michael Geer, has been vocal in the past regarding his opposition to same sex marriage.
As soon as the sponsorship came to light, several pro-LGBT rights groups protested the restaurant’s involvement with PFI.
Chick-fil-A released a statement on its Facebook page regarding the incident. The statement indicated it was an independent restaurant operator, not the chain’s corporate office, that made the decision to provide food for the marriage conference. The statement read, “We have determined that one of our independent restaurant operators in Pennsylvania was asked to provide sandwiches to two Art of Marriage video seminars… At his discretion, the local operator agreed to simply provide a limited amount of food. Our Chick-fil-A operators and their employees try very hard every day to go the extra mile in serving all of our customers with honor, dignity and respect.”
The president of PFI told the website The Christian Post that efforts to tie Chick-fil-A to an endorsement of the seminar are misleading, and “all, in all it’s a trumped-up story.”
The PFI website still lists Chick-Fil-A as a sponsor for the seminar.
In a further attempt to diffuse the situation, Dan Cathy, Chick-fil-A President and Chief Operating Officer, released a video statement. In the three minute video Cathy adds support to Chick-fil-A’s initial Facebook statement. He stressed that because a franchise operator opted to provide sandwiches and brownies to PFI for two upcoming events supporting heterosexual marriage doesn’t mean that the corporate parent endorses the organization.
Cathy said, “From the very first day, my dad made the decision that he would treat every customer that walked through the door with genuine hospitality. That policy has served our organization well for more then 60 years. Heartfelt hospitality is at the core of Chick-fil-A. We want to welcome into a comfortable environment all of our guests and this commitment is a daily focus.”
Cathy continues, “Chick-fil-A serves all people and values all people and its unfortunate that there seems to have been some confusion…”
However, Chick-fil-A continues to be associated with anti-gay groups including the National Organization for Marriage and the WinShape Foundation of North Georgia.
Gay critics of the restaurant aren’t satisfied with Cathy’s response. Change.org says the statement is tantamount to telling LGBT customers, “You’re more than welcome to eat our chicken sandwiches, but we’re still going to give donations and partner with organizations that are fighting against your civil rights.”
More than 23,000 people have signed Change.org’s online petition calling on Chick-fil-A to drop its ties to the Pennsylvania group.
