Chick-fil-A finds itself in the center of a firestorm of its own making after the chain announced this week that it will be narrowing the number of charities the company will support — which will no longer include two Christian organizations previously supported.
Two Christian organizations that have been tagged “anti-LGBTQ” by the left.
After receiving backlash for donating to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and The Salvation Army, which have been accused of harboring anti-LGBTQ views because of their Christian beliefs, the nation’s third-largest fast-food chain said that as of 2020, it will give to “a smaller number of organizations working exclusively in the areas of education, homelessness, and hunger.”
“Staying true to its mission of nourishing the potential in every child, the Chick-fil-A Foundation will deepen its giving to a smaller number of organizations working exclusively in the areas of education, homelessness and hunger,” read a news release published in its blog, The Chicken Wire.
In all, Chick-fil-A Inc. and the Foundation “will provide approximately $32 million in total cash gifts in 2020,” the release said.
“Additionally, the Foundation will no longer make multiyear commitments and will reassess its philanthropic partnerships annually to allow maximum impact,” Chick-fil-A said. “These partners could include faith-based and non-faith-based charities.”
The Salvation Army released a statement that denounced “rushing to ill-informed judgment,” insisting that it is “the largest provider of poverty relief to the LGBTQ+ population” and is actively involved in the areas Chick-fil-A is diverting funding to.
“When misinformation is perpetuated without fact, our ability to serve those in need, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, religion or any other factor, is at risk,” the statement read.
We love all. We serve all.
Read The #SalvationArmy‘s full statement in the image and here: https://t.co/F079r7lbMX pic.twitter.com/0jJv0Ed2zP— Salvation Army USA (@SalvationArmyUS) November 18, 2019
Chick-fil-A has long been a target of the left because of the late founder Dan Cathy’s Christian beliefs, to include opposition to gay marriage.
The company stopped giving money to several conservative Christian groups in 2012 because of this, but continued to donate to The Salvation Army and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes due to a multi-year commitment, which ended in 2018.
“We made multiyear commitments to both organizations, and we fulfilled those obligations in 2018. Moving forward you will see that the Chick-fil-A Foundation will support the three specific initiatives of homelessness, hunger and education,” a Chick-fil-A representative said in a statement to Business Insider.
It seems the chicken sandwich chain didn’t get the memo that you can never satiate the left when it comes to their intolerant views on social justice. Just as troubling, despite subtle overtures, Chick-fil-A remains a target of unhinged liberals to this day.
Case in point:
GLAAD's response:
"In addition to refraining from financially supporting anti-LGBTQ organizations, Chick-fil-A still lacks policies to ensure safe workplaces for LGBTQ employees and should unequivocally speak out against the anti-LGBTQ reputation that their brand represents,"
— Chad Felix Greene (@chadfelixg) November 19, 2019
It’s not so much questioning where the company opts to direct its donations in being a good corporate citizen that has people on the right upset as much as it is the appearance of succumbing to the liberal narrative that Christian beliefs are anti-LGBTQ.
Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott responded to the news online, linking to a story from the Dallas Morning News to say he was going to have dinner at a popular BBQ chain.
“I’m headed to Bill Miller’s tonight,” Abbott tweeted.
I’m headed to Bill Miller’s tonight.https://t.co/2u2VrquGjn
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) November 19, 2019
Of all the responses online, OANN’s Liz Wheeler summed up best what is really at stake here.
Wheeler said in a tweet: “The worst part of Chick-fil-A caving to the rage mob… it empowers & emboldens the rage mob. Now the rage mob knows their bullying works, so they’ll bully other Christian business owners. And those not as powerful as Chick-fil-A could be forced to close.”
The worst part of Chick-fil-A caving to the rage mob… it empowers & emboldens the rage mob. Now the rage mob knows their bullying works, so they’ll bully other Christian business owners. And those not as powerful as Chick-fil-A could be forced to close.
— Liz Wheeler (@Liz_Wheeler) November 19, 2019
Here’s a sampling of other responses from Twitter:
Those sniveling idiots at @ChickfilA kowtow to the gays and here’s what they get—another kick in the rear end! https://t.co/pTG7cphvwc
— Dinesh D’Souza (@DineshDSouza) November 19, 2019
.@ChickfilA bowed down to the ?️? extremists, and now they smell blood and are circling the wagons for another attack.
Never. Give. In. To. Leftists. pic.twitter.com/Jk3gpKg98V
— Mark Dice (@MarkDice) November 19, 2019
.@ChickfilA had invaluable brand loyalty because of their beliefs and convictions.
Their customers were brand ambassadors who appreciated that they stood their ground while the rest of corp. America caved to leftist radicals.
Now they’re just another fast food chicken place.
— John Cardillo (@johncardillo) November 19, 2019
The crazy thing is they’re alienating all of their customers and caving in to the ones who never went there anyway. And never will. ? #ChickFilA https://t.co/DAjUnqZJH4
— Alana Stewart (@AlanaKStewart) November 19, 2019
I don’t really care where they give their money. It’s about them giving in to the anti-Christian hate groups and stopping support for Christians standing up for Christian values.
— Leonard (@SkipMeister68) November 19, 2019
Glad this platform allows Salvation Army to speak up! @ChickfilA made a really bad mistake. A stupid one matter of fact. Can’t compromise its core values because it wants to go into “new market”. I bet the folks who protested this still will not visit @chickfila.
— not the real peppa piggy (@cwwang) November 19, 2019
I wonder if @ChickfilA thinks there’s going to be thousands of “letter people” crowding their drive thru’s and visiting their restaurants in support of their decision to not support the Salvation Army any longer. News flash for ChickfilA: That’s not going to happen!!!
— kevin (@knewenigma) November 19, 2019
I’m very disappointed in @ChickfilA. Christians supported them en masse when the left decided to go after the company. Now Christian charities are too controversial for them. Have they got new corporate management or something? Stunningly bad business decision.
— GoPatriots (@stepreb) November 19, 2019
@ChickfilA unfortunate you cave to the “mob”. You’ll learn it’s never enough for them, you take away needed funds from a proven charitable organization to appease the unreasonable & they’ll only use that as a PR weapon. They’re not interested in helping anyone, just their agenda
— Weimar Lopez (@itsmeweimar) November 19, 2019
DONATE TO BIZPAC REVIEW
Please help us! If you are fed up with letting radical big tech execs, phony fact-checkers, tyrannical liberals and a lying mainstream media have unprecedented power over your news please consider making a donation to BPR to help us fight them. Now is the time. Truth has never been more critical!
[email protected]
The longest-tenured writer at BizPac Review, Tom grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills.
- Study reveals the mind-blowing cost of illegal immigration. Taxpayers buckle up! - March 8, 2023
- Jon Stewart unleashes vulgar rant on Fox News, conservatives over private communications - March 8, 2023
- Loomer launches Twitter attack on ‘Jill DeSantis’: ‘Pretending to be the Kennedys’ - March 8, 2023
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.
