Chick-fil-A made headlines this past week when it was revealed that the company’s charitable donations to anti-LGBT organizations dropped by over 99% in 2012.
More specifically, Chick-fil-A’s WinShape Foundation and Chick-fil-A Fondation each increased their grants to anti-LGBT groups such as the Marriage & Family Foundation and the National Christian Foundation between 2010 and 2011 from $1.9 million to $3.6 million. Neither group received funds in 2012, though, with the foundations distributing funds to other programs. In total, the amount given to anti-LGBT groups in 2012 was down to roughly $25,000 for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
So what does this mean for gays? Is it okay to eat at Chick-fil-A now?
Well…maybe not just yet.
Chick-fil-A COO Dan Cathy’s positions on our community have shifted in different ways over the past few years, but never quite to a position of acceptance. Cathy spoke out against the Supreme Court’s decision on DOMA, and he’s called LGBT activists “arrogant.” At the same time, he’s established a rapport of sorts with Campus Pride leader Shane Windmeyer, who’s given Cathy the benefit of the doubt on multiple occasions.
It may not seem fair to judge a company based on one executive, but as the son of company founder Truett Cathy, Dan Cathy’s opinions can still have an effect on the company’s behavior towards the LGBT community, from customers to employees. And while boycotting may not impact Chick-fil-A financially – remember the number of conservatives who formed lines around Chick-fil-As when this whole controversy first started – it’s still worth considering where our money goes, and if it’s worth a taste of that delicious (yes, I admit it) chicken.