While an advocacy group announced that Chick-fil-A would cease funding for “anti-gay organizations,” statements from the company have sparked confusion in Chicago over the restaurant’s decision, which could alter its reputation in Boston.
Chicago Alderman Joe Moreno confirmed Chick-fil-A would abandon its practice of donating to “anti-gay organizations,” according to a press release released from Sept. 18 from The Civil Rights Agenda, an Illinois lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization.
“The WinShape Foundation is now taking a much closer look at the organizations it considers helping, and in that process will remain true to its stated philosophy of not supporting organizations with political agendas,” stated Chick-fil-A’s senior director of real estate in a letter to Moreno, according to the release.
Moreno finalized his negotiations with the restaurant, and company executives clarified they would no longer give money to “anti-gay organizations,” according to the press release.
But the announcement has sparked a storm of confusion in Chicago, as documents show the restaurant might have no intention of ceasing its donation to certain entities.
“Once our statement was picked up this week by Dan Cathy, Chick-fil-A started to reverse its course immediately, saying that no concession had been made,” said TCRA executive director Anthony Martinez, in a phone interview.
On Sunday, Moreno asked Chick-fil-A to publicly acknowledge the agreement or revert to his plan to ban the restaurant from opening, Martinez said.
“[This negotiation] was what we were told and that was what Chick-fil-A promised,” he said. “Now whether or not that is true or they lied, that needs to be determined, so that’s why Alderman Moreno has asked that Dan Cathy confirm the terms of the agreement in public.”
The confusion has raised questions in major cities about Chick-fil-A’s affiliations.
Boston Mayor Thomas Menino’s office could not be reached for comment in time for print on what implications this might have on the mayor’s view of Chick-fil-A.
Menino sparked a firestorm in July when he issued a letter to the restaurant urging them not to build a location in Boston.
“You called supporters of gay marriage ‘prideful,’” Menino said in his letter. “Here in Boston, to borrow your own words, we are ‘guilty as charged.’ We are indeed full of pride for our support of same-sex marriage and our work to expand freedom to all people.”
Chick-fil-A cannot confirm that they have ceased donations to such organizations, but has updated an official company document called “Chick-fil-A: Who We Are,” said Chick-fil-A spokesman Jerry Johnston in an email.
“The Chick-fil-A culture and service tradition in our restaurants is to treat every person with honor, dignity and respect — regardless of their belief, race, creed, sexual orientation or gender,” states the document, parts of which are also in a Sep. 20 press release.
The document states Chick-fil-A’s corporate giving has been mischaracterized for months and the restaurant will continue to give to programs to which they are committed.
“A part of our corporate commitment is to be responsible stewards of all that God has entrusted to us,” the document states. “Because of this commitment, Chick-fil-A’s giving heritage is focused on programs that educate youth, strengthen families and enrich marriages and support communities. We will continue to focus our giving in those areas.”
Menino’s statement to Chick-fil-A rallied impassioned people behind his stance, while other people said it punished the restaurant for expressing its own rightful views.
“We are so fortunate to have the long-term leadership of Mayor Menino in support of our community,” said Grace Stowell, executive director of Boston Alliance of Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Youth. “He has consistently supported the LGBT community. He has stood up for equality for all.”
Stowell said any business has a right to open up shop wherever they want.
“They do need to know that in a city like a Boston, a business that is openly supporting anti-LGBT equality is not something that the people will see as a good thing,” she said.
The Chick-fil-A controversy also struck Chicago when Alderman Joe Moreno announced he planned to block plans for Chick-fil-A to open a new restaurant in his district.