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Chick-fil-A's gay marriage stance becomes murky

September 24, 2012

There has either been a major case of miscommunication or backpedaling involving Chick-fil-A's targeted donations.

The Civil Rights Agenda (TCRA) issued a press release last week claiming that Chick-fil-A has agreed to cease its support of organizations with anti-gay "political agendas," namely those that lobby against marriage equality.

Alderman Moreno, a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights advocate, said he participated in negotiations with the company about the issue. A letter was addressed to Alderman Moreno and signed by Chick-fil-A's senior director of real estate stating:

"(Chick-fil-A's) WinShape Foundations is now taking a much closer look at the organizations it considers helping, and in that process will remain true to its stated philosophy of not supporting organizations with political agendas."

However, after this letter was released, Chick-fil-A received yet another backlash, this time from the brand's Christian supporters claiming the company "caved" on the issue of gay marriage. Shortly thereafter, The Advocate reported that COO/president Dan Cathy told Mike Huckabee no such fundraising concession was made with Alderman Moreno.

Cathy posted a statement that read: "There continues to be erroneous implications in the media that Chick-fil-A changed our practices and priorities in order to obtain permission for a new restaurant in Chicago. That is incorrect. Chick-fil-A made no such concessions, and we remain true to who we are and who we have been."

In another statement, the company added that its corporate donations have been "mischaracterized" for months.

"A part of our corporate commitment is to be responsible stewards of all that God has entrusted to us. Because of this commitment, Chick-fil-A's giving heritage is focused on programs that educate youth, strengthen families and enrich marriages, and support communities. We will continue to focus our giving in those areas. Our intent is not to support political or social agendas."

According to CNN, Alderman Moreno said Cathy's statements "at least muddied the progress we had made with Chick-fil-A and, at the worst, contradicted documents and promises Chick-fil-A made to me and the community."

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