Georgia’s own bigoted fried chicken chain is on the up-and-up, with its revenue in 2022 rounding out to about 11.3 billion dollars. Chick-Fil-A reigns supreme as one of the largest fast-food chains in America. Yes, their chicken is perfectly crispy and rather tasty. And I know that their customer service is top-notch. However, I struggle to choose Chick-Fil-A over Popeyes or Zaxby’s. I can go without being told to have a blessed day in exchange for a guilt-free chicken sandwich. And no matter how desperately I wish Chick-Fil-A was guilt-free, it is far from it.
Many people may know about Chick-Fil-A’s unflinching desire to uphold Christian values and traditions, but even fewer people know about their active attempt to do so, even if it means further marginalizing the LGBTQIA+ community. Chick-Fil-A’s ownership is completely unabashed about their support of anti-LGBTQIA+ foundations.
Since 2003, the chicken juggernaut’s charitable foundation, The Winshape Foundation, has pledged and donated over five million dollars to many conservative foundations such as the Alliance Defending Freedom, which openly supports criminalizing homosexuality, and Exodus International, a group that doesn’t exist anymore but offered conversion therapy when it did.
Chick-Fil-A also gave money to the National Christian Charitable Foundation. And I know, at first, that seems like a rather righteous foundation to support. Except, the National Christian Charitable Foundation is spearheading the derailment of the Equality Act. For those who may not be overly familiar, the Equality Act would be an amendment to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and prohibits any discrimination based on sex, sexuality or gender identity regarding employment, housing, education, credit and more.
Granted, Chick-Fil-A publicly promised not to make any more donations to these conservative groups and will instead focus on helping the homeless and underprivileged. And, to its credit, Chick-Fil-A has kept its promise to the public. But here’s the kicker: Dan Cathy, the owner and son of the late founder S. Truett Cathy, still donates to the aforementioned harmful foundations and more. So now this begs the question, is it possible to separate the business from the owner?
Truly, what is the difference between Chick-Fil-A actively fighting against fundamental human rights and Dan Cathy doing the same? Regardless, it’s money made from our purchases being used for hatred. Every number one combo with a Sunjoy and waffle fries comes with a side of complicity. And, of course, we as consumers aren’t to blame for Big Business’ unethical practices.
But there’s no denying the power the little man’s dollar holds. Look at the United Kingdom. The company tried planting its red and white roots overseas and was run out of the country. In 2019, there was a Chick-Fil-A set to open up in a Reading shopping mall. A local activist group, Reading Pride, protested in front of the restaurant, organized boycotts and denounced the company’s ethics and morals. They are quoted saying, “[Chick-Fil-A’s] ethos and moral stance goes completely against our values, and that of the UK as we are a progressive country that has legalized same-sex marriage for some years and continues to strive towards equality.” Eight days after opening, the shopping mall decided not to extend the restaurant’s initial six-month lease, forcing the chicken-eating cows to pack up shop.
Our dollar is powerful. It’s a matter of how we’d like to use it. Because although the boycotts in the United Kingdom worked, the opposite reigned true for the United States’ dirty south. When the late founder, S. Truett Cathy, publicly denounced same-sex marriage, it benefitted the chicken brand. Cathy stated in a radio interview, “I think we are inviting God’s judgment on our nation when we shake our fist at him and say, ‘We know better than you as to what constitutes a marriage.’ And I pray God’s mercy on our generation that has such a prideful, arrogant attitude to think that we have the audacity to define what marriage is about.” After these statements, like-minded Southerners supported Chick-Fil-A more than ever. But ultimately, the backlash has been louder than any support received.