Chick-Fil-A CEO Disinvited From Missouri Chamber of Commerce Presentation Over Anti-Gay Activities

[Ian David]

Chick-Fil-A CEO Disinvited From Missouri Chamber of Commerce Presentation Over Anti-Gay Activities
Posted March 10th, 2011 by Evan Hurst

This is what we mean when we say that anti-gay bigotry is no longer socially acceptable in nice places:

Focus St. Louis and the Clayton Chamber of Commerce said today that they are canceling a planned presentation by Dan Cathy, president and COO of Chick-fil-A, following complaints that Cathy and his company are involved with anti-gay organizations.

Chick-fil-A, which is known for promoting a company vision of Christian values, was enmeshed in a controversy earlier this year involving an independent Chick-fil-A operator in Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Family Institute, which is affiliated with the Family Resource Institute. The latter institute was recently designated a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center because of its anti-gay positions.

The decision to cancel Cathy’s March 18 presentation here was made after PROMO, a statewide organization that advocates for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality, protested his appearance and asked Focus and the Chamber of Commerce to reconsider.

Ellen Gale, the head of the chamber, said today that when the groups agreed to co-sponsor Cathy’s appearance, they had no idea he held controversial views.

Sometimes all you have to do is bring it to their attention. I’m always very cautious when protesting things like this planned speech, because very often, what you have is not a matter of discriminatory beliefs or activities, but rather oversight. In this case, once the Clayton Chamber knew what kind of unsavory activities Cathy and the Chick-Fil-A corporate team have been involved in, they said “No thanks.”

More:
http://www.truthwinsout.org/blog/2011/03/15167/

[MikeE]

1. This is great!

Progress

[Hissyspit]

2. Good. That's what I was going for.

[MNBrewer]

3. *sad trombone sound*

Bwaaa-bwaaa-bwaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Poor Mr. Cathy! hehehehe

[GodlessBiker]

4. Nice!

[alltherage]

5. I'm sorry I read this thread

on an empty stomach.

[Shagbark Hickory]

6. Can we set our bias aside and look at this objectively for a minute?

Look, Chickin fil'ickin is big time here. It's all people eat. Even people that don't eat fast food, eat chickfila food.

This subject has come up in my family and while I know this article isn't about a boycott, for me it raises some questions.

"Chick-fil-A, which is known for promoting a company vision of Christian values, was enmeshed in a controversy earlier this year involving an independent Chick-fil-A operator in Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Family Institute, which is affiliated with the Family Resource Institute. The latter institute was recently designated a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center because of its anti-gay positions."

That's pretty vague. I have many questions.

But from the outside, it looks like the CEO got canceled because of the actions of one independent owner of one independently operated store.

I'm still boycotting target. I didn't ask a lot of questions about that because for me it's an easy one... I can't stand the place. But this one isn't so easy. What facts are there surrounding this issue? Does anyone have any evidence that supports the notion that Cathy and the Chick-Fil-A corporate team have been involved in "unsavory activities." I mean, at least any more unsavory than other wealthy and successful CEOs of multi-billion-dollar companies?

I'm not sticking up for them. If this is true, I want to get to the bottom of it so I can make an informed decision whether to cease dining there, stand outside their headquarters and picket, or do absolutely nothing.

Pointing the finger at Cathy and this company is easy because they have made public statements that would lead most to believe they're religious zealots. To my knowledge they have not publicly made hateful statements.

Lets discuss.

[Lyric]

7. Read this article.

http://news.change.org/stories/yes-chick-fil-a-says-we-explicitly-do-not-like-same-sex-couples

It's from Change.org, which I'm sure you consider a fair source of information, and it has numerous links to the nefarious anti-gay activities that Chick-fil-a Corporate and its subsidiaries have condoned, endorsed, and even perpetuated.

Cathy and Chick-fil-a corporate are NOT innocent. They are blatantly anti-gay, and the money you spend at Chick-fil-a goes directly into the pockets of people who are fighting to deny us our civil rights.

[Shagbark Hickory]

11. You're invited to reply #10

[MNBrewer]

8. Objectivity, by all means...

The website goodasyou.org has excellent information about the facts of Chick-Fil-A's ties to the anti-gay groups considered to be hate groups by the SPLC.

1. In which Chick-Fil-A's WinShape Foundation is explicitly linked to the Ruth Institute, an off-shoot of the National Organization for Marriage

<http://www.goodasyou.org/good_as_you/2011/01/chick-fil-as-winshape-foundation-now-partnering-with-noms-ruth-institute.html>

2. In which the WinShape Foundation's ties to the anti-Marriage Equality movement are discussed in detail. Please do view the embedded videos. They are eye opening.

<http://www.goodasyou.org/good_as_you/2011/01/marriage-comission-summit-unlikely-to-serve-kfc-or-gays-pro-equality-interests.html>

3. In which Chick-Fil-A's WinShape Retreat center's anti-homosexual policies are exposed.

<http://www.goodasyou.org/good_as_you/2011/01/chick-fil-a-head-makes-another-statement-we-truly-hope-this-can-be-our-last.html>

Let's discuss.

[Shagbark Hickory]

10. OK ok ok.

Thank you for doing my homework for me.
After reviewing those links and the links posted in the reply just above yours, I've come to a somewhat of a conclusion.

Much of the information and evidence, if you will, in those links appears to maybe have changed or been edited since it was posted because I probably wasn't seeing what may have originally been there.

But it's pretty clear the restaurant's CEO and founder are tied in with this winshape organization who very clearly announces their involvement with groups that gained notoriety for opposing marriage equality. You can go right to the chickfila website, where at the bottom, there are links to dan cathy and truett cathy's websites where they very clearly state their affiliation with winshape. Then when you co to winshape's site very clearly state their involvement with focus on the family etc etc.

None of these groups, individuals or websites comes right out and clearly opposes marriage equality online, at least for the moment. However none of the groups or individuals clearly advocates for or even mentions marriage equality. This leads one to draw their own conclusions.

The conclusion that I've drawn, based on the information I've read on their websites and from the "good as you" site, is there is clearly some benefit to these organizations from the higher-ups at chickfila.

Now the question is, what should I and everyone else that depends on this food do about it?

In the court of the consumer, what, if anything, is a fair punishment to a CEO who states their involvement with groups that are discriminatory at best, while also blogging about Martin Luther King?

What would be the most effective strategy to further our cause? Is there any chance we can get them to stop benefiting these questionable organizations? Is banning him from speaking engagements or boycotting the restaurants an effective way to do it?

What is the extent to which chickfila is contributing to groups that may oppose marriage equality? If it were only providing meeting space and free food, is this seemingly meager contribution enough to catagorize someone as a hateful person?

Does anyone know why the cathys are involved with these organizations? And why they publicly state their involvement?

Are the restaurants themselves, to blame when a select few in the company are setting up these contributions? Wouldn't that make anyone who eats there also sort of involved? Or is it more to do with franchising? Are the people the franchising the restaurants the ones that need to be thinking about taking some action?

Did you know that least year Chikfila received 20,000 inquiries about franchises but only 90 were granted?

[MNBrewer]

12. I'm confused by your post on a few points

1. WinShape exists because Chick-Fil-A Corp. created it. It is their ongoing CORPORATE creation, and is not just based on the private donations of the owners. Is this not clear?

2. As you pointed out WinShape is involved with Focus on the Family, etc., and I can assure you it very definitely is opposed to marriage equality (and every legal aspect of a GLBT person's existence). Were you unable to find anti-marriage-equality information on the hate group websites?

3. I don't believe that anyone really *depends* on Chick-Fil-A for their food, except maybe their workers, if they get a discount or something. But if you are dependent on Chick-Fil-A for your food, I guess I could send you some recipes or something. Lots of people bring their own food to work, or other places they go if food is required.

4. Didn't MLK endorse boycotts? I don't get your question.

5. Again, what's wrong with boycotts? They seem to have been effective for the black civil rights movement.

6. There is explicit information on the links provided that show the WinShape Foundation (Chick-Fil-A's own creation) working closely with organizations that actively try to prevent and repeal same-sex-marriage. The boycott is designed to punish this bad behavior.

7. I can only take the Cathy's involvement at face value. What other explanation can I offer. I don't know them personally, but I do know some of the company they keep.

8. What would motivate a francisee to confront Chick-Fil-A policy on this matter other than a boycott? If people who don't agree with the anti-homosexual activity of the company continue to eat there and spend money, what possible motivation would there be for them to rock the boat?

[Shagbark Hickory]

13. My replies in bold...

1. WinShape exists because Chick-Fil-A Corp. created it. It is their ongoing CORPORATE creation, and is not just based on the private donations of the owners. Is this not clear?

I thought Truett Cathy created it. It was not clear. Are you saying that the company founded winshape and not Truett Cathy? I wasn't able to find out from browsing the sites.

2. As you pointed out WinShape is involved with Focus on the Family, etc., and I can assure you it very definitely is opposed to marriage equality (and every legal aspect of a GLBT person's existence). Were you unable to find anti-marriage-equality information on the hate group websites?
No, I didn't find anything resembling hateful rhetoric anywhere on those sites. They didn't even mention homosexuality at all. Keep in mind websites are subject to edits and what may be there one minute is gone the next. I'm just trying to approach this with an open mind.

3. I don't believe that anyone really *depends* on Chick-Fil-A for their food, except maybe their workers, if they get a discount or something. But if you are dependent on Chick-Fil-A for your food, I guess I could send you some recipes or something. Lots of people bring their own food to work, or other places they go if food is required.
Well unfortunately a lot of people do rely on those restaurants for a quick bite to eat. On occasion, I eat there. Usually when I worn out at the end of a long day and too tired to make something myself.

4. Didn't MLK endorse boycotts? I don't get your question.
These articles have painted Dan Truett is a hateful person. Would a hateful person blog positively, about Martin Luther King jr? I'm not making any judgement, only pointing out the existence of the blog.

5. Again, what's wrong with boycotts? They seem to have been effective for the black civil rights movement.
I'm not saying there's anything wrong with them. I'm asking if it's the right thing to do in this case. Do you have an opinion on that?

6. There is explicit information on the links provided that show the WinShape Foundation (Chick-Fil-A's own creation) working closely with organizations that actively try to prevent and repeal same-sex-marriage. The boycott is designed to punish this bad behavior.
I was not aware of the boycott, first of all. Where can I find out more about it? Second of all, is a boycott slated to be effective at getting them to stop or have we overlooked possibly more effective strategies for a boycott? The reasons I'm not sure about boycotts in this case are because:
a.) Chickfila is a privately held company. They don't have to answer to shareholders.
b.) Ideologs, especially the super religious types, don't seem to mind sacrificing profit for causes they believe deeply in. If a boycott cost them 1 billion dollars a year, or a third of their revenue, I don't believe that would change the mind of someone like this.

7. I can only take the Cathy's involvement at face value. What other explanation can I offer. I don't know them personally, but I do know some of the company they keep.
no explanation needed. Some ideas on how we should act, on the other hand, would be great.

8. What would motivate a francisee to confront Chick-Fil-A policy on this matter other than a boycott? If people who don't agree with the anti-homosexual activity of the company continue to eat there and spend money, what possible motivation would there be for them to rock the boat?
The Franchisees may well be just as nuts as the executives. If so, would a financial setback get them to stop?

[MNBrewer]

14. If you're asking me to help you make the moral choice whether to eat their food or not

it's up to you.

[RetiredTrotskyite]

9. Excellent!

Maybe one day these haters will realise that bigotry is bad for business.