EXCLUSIVE: Chick-fil-A To Stop Donations To Charities With Anti-LGBT Views

[packman]

Source: Bisnow

As Chick-fil-A expands globally and into more liberal parts of the U.S., the chicken chain plans to change which charities it donates to after years of bad press and protests from the LGBT community

Read more: https://www.bisnow.com/national/news/retail/exclusive-amid-global-expansion-and-lgbt-pushback-chick-fil-a-changes-charitable-giving-structure-101818

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About F---in' time - I did enjoy their chicken salad sandwich on wheat and their milk shakes.

[hlthe2b]

1. too little too late, IMO. I'll wait to see whether this is more than just pandering.

Frankly, I'm unlikely to forgive them for continuing to use styrofoam cups more than a decade after all others discontinued using them due to their severe harm to the environment.

It isn't just LGBTQ issues that make them subject to derision.

[mpcamb]

46. Agree. It doesn't mean they doing anything positive or right, just not objectively wrong

from my point of view.

[tymorial]

54. Who cares what their motivation is

I don't care if this is entirely about profit. If their actions match their words then it doesn't really matter what is in their heart because it means the right wing isn't getting their money

[hlthe2b]

58. Their motivation is everything. It predicts what else they will do or not do including

as I pointed out, their rather horrific record on environmental sustainability.

And, I'd bet the LGBTQ community would like to know if this represents a motivated change of heart or merely an opportunity on the short term.

[stopdiggin]

77. agreed. POS is a POS

I'm not a big time boycott activist, but .. Hobby Lobby and Chick-fil-A .. they'll be pushing dirt in over top of me before ....

(These companies have made a POINT of putting THEMSELVES at the front of the culture wars. No accident. No misstep No misinterpretation. They deliberately used their brand recognition and considerable resources .. weighing in on the WRONG side, to do damage to real persons and the public square. It's not just a difference of opinion. It's tearing at the fabric of who we are. They don't warrant a pardon or a do over. They made their bed .. and rubbed everyone's nose in it while doing so!)

[bucolic_frolic]

2. Considering the

Conservative Christian nature of the company, this is a major statement of tolerance.

Nonetheless, I never go there. Been boycotting them forever. Amen.

[we can do it]

4. Not tolerance, loss of $.

[crickets]

8. This. The rest of the world won't put up with their politics.

https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/9kem5e/the-uks-first-chick-fil-a-has-announced-its-closure-after-just-eight-days

The people who own and run the company won't change; they'll just change the public face for the $.

[cstanleytech]

15. Bingo!! nt

[efhmc]

29. I do not care about the motivation but the results.

[we can do it]

37. I do. Hypocrites suck and won't get any of my $s.

[11 Bravo]

48. I've known Buck McCabe (former CFO of Chik-fil-A) for over 40 years.

He's a devout Christian, but he doesn't have a prejudiced bone in his body. I can't speak for Cathay (the big boss), but not everyone at the company is a homophobic bigot.

[JonLP24]

76. I didn't realize people had their bones tested for bigotry

[stopdiggin]

79. to my way of thinking, if you're giving money to people that are staunchly

anti-LGBT. Then you're either a bigot .. or of extremely limited intellect.

(I know a lot of Christians try to straddle the fence on this .. and there are plenty of Christian churches that have legitimately changed their message .. but if you're still with one of those that are mouthing platitudes about "loving the sinner" ...-Then it just doesn't wash.)

[hlthe2b]

80. It is Cathay who has been the issue. n/t

[mountain grammy]

33. Exactly!

[tymorial]

56. So it's about money

In a perfect world I 2 would rather they have changed and completely Embrace lgbtqa people. Even if they don't the right-wing still not getting their money and at the end of the day that's a good thing

[Farmer-Rick]

13. They have really bad chicken sandwiches.

I ate there once when they first started. They microwaved my chicken so it was hard as a rock.

But now I just don't eat there because they have horrible politics and weird religious crap. Probably why their chicken is so absolutely awful. It's a warning.

[mr_lebowski]

24. It's really not awful ... been there a few times, it's def. not microwaved ...

Pretty obvious the chicken is straight from the fryer.

For fast food, their stuff ain't bad.

[efhmc]

30. They have a playground and stuff my gchildren will eat.

I get a salad which I share with them. I stopped going for a while but got a new set of gchildren and caved. So pandering for cash if the policy changes is better than previously. And I guess I was pandering to my peeps and so maybe relieve my conscience a little.

[Loki Liesmith]

3. Their corporate giving hasn't mattered to me much anyway.

I can’t see myself eating there more often.

[Archae]

5. I'll believe it when I see it.

"Christians" like the family that runs Chik-Fil-A are notorious for lying through their teeth.

[atreides1]

35. What Archae said!!

[Cirque du So-What]

6. I still won't patronize that business

Just knowing the bigotry harbored in their gristly little hearts would ruin the experience - and that won't change, no matter how much they change policy.

[LastDemocratInSC]

7. I have never darkened their door and don't plan to.

This change is a marketing necessity. They cannot outrun their legacy.

[MuseRider]

9. What? All the years of outloud bigotry

cutting into their profits? They need more so they must expand?

Fuck em!

I do not believe for one moment they are doing this because of their feeling bad over past bigotry.

I have never eaten there and I never will unless I see them donating heavily to equality issues, equality for all but most especially for LGBTQ+.

I will wait and see. I see they are changing their charitable giving. Good. I will wait. It will take a while before I actually believe it. I want to make certain they are not also still donating to places that do not believe in equality. A donation to HRC will not cut it.

I spent too many years working this issue to see them get to squirrel out of all the damage they have done.

Yo! Salvation Army? You next?

[MurrayDelph]

36. I see this as akin to those Republicans who were re-elected with tainted money

Offering to donate an equivalent amount to charity now that they've already made use of it, in the hopes of removing their taint.

[BlueIdaho]

10. Corporate Triangulation

Not impressed.

[Mickju]

11. They are still assholes

The idiots in my town see eating at Chick-fil-a as a badge of honor. It's absolutely sickening. My sister is one of them. I have never set foot in one.

[klook]

28. An excellent place to eat if you've lost the urge to live.

Antibiotic-laden chicken cooked in grease, accompanied by lots of salt, starch, and sugar. Yeah!

I gave it a try years ago when I worked right across the street from one. I can’t imagine getting addicted to that crap — glad I chose healthier (and less bigoted) options a long time ago.

[stopbush]

12. They've said that before. I'll believe it when I see it.

[randr]

14. Can't wait to see the crazy protests

I have never gone to a Chick-fil so far. The minute I see right wing protesters I'm in line.

[IronLionZion]

43. Freepers are complaining about it

the gays are oppressing them somehow

[keithbvadu2]

16. Money supersedes religious beliefs.

Money supersedes religious beliefs.

[BillyBobBrilliant]

17. I will give them another try

on Sunday...

[klook]

26. LOL - yep. (nt)

[aggiesal]

27. And we all know, they are not opened on Sunday ...

being a day of worship.

This certainly befits your name.
Brilliant!

[sdfernando]

18. I have never set foot inside or driven thru any of their establishments

I tried one of their chicken sandwiches unknowingly at a company event (packaging was gone). I was thoroughly NOT IMPRESSED. It was dry and bland and after two bites it was in the trash.

[LeftInTX]

19. Didn't they say they already stopped a few years ago?

Nevermind..........

[kysrsoze]

20. They must really be worried about those Popeyes chicken sandwiches

Money talks, i guess.

[C_U_L8R]

21. The taste of hate lingers.

And clearly Popeye's is kicking their butt with a superior non-discriminating fried chicken sandwich

[BannonsLiver]

31. Problem is Popeyes customer service is consistently and uniquely awful

Also product is wildly inconsistent across the country. I know this because I’m a Popeyes fan, and also a masochist, apparently.

[IcyPeas]

22. the line was around the block

a new drive-thru Chick fil A opened near me last week and you should've seen the crowd! they don't appear to be suffering from those who won't eat their food. They are opening 10 more in the Los Angeles area this year!

https://patch.com/california/encino/chick-fil-drive-thru-open-thursday-encino

[Raster]

23. I have NEVER eaten there...

... no fucking chicken sandwich tastes better than freedom.

[ToxMarz]

25. It's all about the Benjamins

Their "base" served them well (weird that a fast food restaurant even has a "base&quot , but they are now it's limiting growth factor. Oh well, on to the bigger bucks.

[BannonsLiver]

32. I like Chik Fil A

But not as much as I like watching DUs food snobs descend on a thread about Chick Fil A!

[LanternWaste]

39. I'd guess the corollary is also true.

[IronLionZion]

45. I like pit bulls and Olive Garden

DU snobs descending on threads are one of the most satisfying things to watch!

[happybird]

53. +1

When I read the title, I thought folks would be pleased.


The nuggets are always bangin’
Shakes, too, and the Cobb salad.

[JonLP24]

75. They changed their position due to outrage from conservatives

If I was a meat eater I would make sure not to go there as they are clearly worried about conservatives not going there.

[bearsfootball516]

57. It's amusing to see the "I've never eaten there!" And "their food is awful!" Posts

Go there at lunch or dinner time and look at the line wrapped twice around the building. They’re one of the most profitable fast food chains in the country, and that’s with only being open 6 days a week.

If their food was bad, that wouldn’t be a thing.

[BannonsLiver]

63. They provide good customer service and a consistent product

I think the sandwiches are on the small side but Americans are fat so maybe it’s just right. I’d also mention they pay their employees more than other fast food franchises and did long before that became a social issue. My guess is that’s why places like Popeyes are shit shows. Go look up a Popeyes in any major city on Yelp and see what the reviews are like. My city has more than a dozen and every one of them are poorly reviewed, in fact comically so.

I boycotted Chick Fil A for a solid year, then I found myself in a situation on the road where it was the only option. Sometimes life gets in the way of wokeness, i suppose.

[rockfordfile]

66. to give money to a un-American company like that is to support hate groups

[bearsfootball516]

68. That's a pretty absurd statement to make.

I’m close to quite a few people in the LGBT family who go to Chick-Fil-A quite often and enjoy it. If it’s good enough for them, it’s good enough for me.

[BannonsLiver]

70. Well you sure showed me.

I guess I better cancel my lunch with Anita Bryant.

Here's an idea, you do you, and i'll do me. Thanks!

[rockfordfile]

65. That's because of all the un-American religious nut jobs. Most people go to other places.

Majority of people go to other place and have more choices

[bearsfootball516]

69. You're pretty out of touch if you think the only people going to CFA are religious nut jobs.

[sir pball]

60. Aw hell, I'm a certified food snob

Been cooking for 24 years, in NYC for 10, been a chef for 5 - if you think CFA is bad, low-quality, or (lol) microwaved, you just don't like fried chicken. Yeah, Charles' Pan Fried Chicken up on Fred Douglass is probably the best thing I've ever eaten, but CFA is some pretty damn decent bird politics aside.

[BannonsLiver]

64. Yeah it's a solid option

That being said I think what you mentioned sounds pretty amazing!

[sir pball]

73. I don't seek them out but I'll cheerfully eat there

I tend towards Popeye's for fast food chicken, cuz there's several a lot closer to home than the nearest CFA.

Charles' is a whole.dofferent universe; it's the best fried chicken I've ever had. My Louisiana-bred wife says it's better than her grandma's was.

[rockfordfile]

67. What? CFA is a un-American company that supports hate groups. Do you support cfa?

Yes cfa food is crap. But I think being a un-American pos is a lot worst.

[BannonsLiver]

71. "a lot worst"

[sir pball]

72. I take it you don't like fried chicken.

I'm CFA agnostic; yes the Cathy family are right bastards but so are the Waltons, the Kochs, and innumerable 1%ers making tons of money off publicly traded companies. The only truly ethical purchasing is from a privately held company who's politics you agree with.

My only point was that CFA chicken is actually pretty damned good; if you want to oppose them for their politics more power to you but don't sniff and say "and their chicken sucks anyway" cuz it doesn't. Better'n Popeye's for sure (I also love Popeye's for the record)

[JonLP24]

74. Isn't whether chicken is good or not subjective?

I took advantage of a coupon there awhile ago and it was nothing special just a fast food place that tries to look like a restaurant. It just taste like chicken I can get the same thing at any other chicken place but I quit eating meat. Meat in general is nothing special.

[sir pball]

81. Taste is subjective, of course

But there's also at least semi-objective levels of "good" once we've crossed the threshold of "I don't like X in general" - keeping in chicken terms, you *cannot* say McNuggets are better than a bucket of Popeye's bone-in. As you said, you don't consider any meat to be special, so from your perspective CFA won't be better, nor presumably worse, than than KFC/Popeye's/McDs/Wendys.

[MurrayDelph]

34. I used to like their sandwiches

but haven't had one in over 20 years, ever since I heard about how old man Cathy spent the profits.

While the current move is a step in the right direction, it is too little too late. Until amends are made, the only way I'll set foot in one of their stores is for a bathroom emergency.

[brooklynite]

38. They can still go after the atheists, right?

[IronLionZion]

42. How does one go after atheists?

[Unclephil]

40. As opposed to most people here

I have been to their corporate offices multiple times. Twenty years ago I consulted on their POS systems. I had just stopped selling POPS systems and because I had good knowledge I helped them.

I know the head of IT security fairly well. I think they are not evil. They are very religious. This is a big change for them and maybe they are growing. They do not hurt for profits and the chicken biscuit is the best. Their service is the best in the fast food business and if you work for them during your high school years they help you with college expenses.

[IronLionZion]

41. This probably has more to do with Popeye's kicking their Christian ass

with a superior product.

Chick-fil-GAY employees tend to be friendly enough when providing service, as they are trained to be. It's great if the company really is turning away from hate. They are a popular fundraising partner for most any type of diversity group or charity except the LGBTQ ones.

There are online recipes for people who want to recreate their sandwiches at home without the hate.

[rockfordfile]

44. Don't buy it. religious types lie all of the time. Their food is still crap

I tried them as a kid years ago in a mall and it was terrible.

[OKNancy]

47. Oh good. My gay daughter loves chick-fil-a salad bowls

She knows about the company and the views. LOL she said " I don't give a shit, I like the chicken salad"
She can't have gluten so that is why she likes the salad bowl.

[Nitram]

49. Economic pressure can encourage changes in behavior.

This is a good thing.

[Takket]

50. was interested to see the DU reaction to this.......

Saw the headline and while I'm not going to run out and try their product (they are building one a few miles from me in Michigan as we speak), I like the move. I'd like to see more, i.e. LGBTQ groups keeping an eye on them and making sure they aren't still funneling money to hate somewhere else.

But we always talk about boycotting companies who's practices we don't like, and this one is changing a policy. Isn't that exactly what we want? and Chick-fil-A is NOT hurting for money. They didn't have to do this to avoid a loss of stay out of bankruptcy.

[OriginalGeek]

82. My initial reaction was not to trust them

and I was right: https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142397852

[Gothmog]

51. Mike Huckabee: It's 'tragic' Chick-fil-A will focus its charitable giving on causes that aren't anti

Link to tweet

[Skittles]

52. they can still fuck themselves

[GulfCoast66]

55. A good thing I guess. Rather unimportant in the big picture.

I’m no fan of chicken no matter who makes it so I won’t be going.

Well, fried chicken on the bone done well transcends the poultry family and is one of the best thing ever.

[dustyscamp]

59. The Cons are mad XD

Link to tweet

[jcmaine72]

61. I would still never patronize them

The only difference now is that the Cons are royally ticked at them too and many are vowing never to patronize them again. They now have no customer base that trusts them.

[GoneOffShore]

62. Makes no difference. Their history will follow them.

And their food? Mass produced garbage with too much sugar and too much salt.