Chick-Fil-A Fast Food Chain Donated Nearly $2 Million To Anti-Gay Groups In 2009
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Want a side order of anti-gay rhetoric with your chicken sandwich?
Chik-Fil-A might be able to help you with that.
According to EqualityMatters.org, the fast food company donated nearly $2 million in 2009 to groups that have anti-gay agendas.
IRS 990 forms show that WinShape, the restaurant chain's charitable foundation which was founded by Chick-Fil-A's chairman S. Truett Cathy in 1994, gave to the following groups in 2009:
Marriage & Family Legacy Fund: $994,199
Fellowship Of Christian Athletes: $480,000
National Christian Foundation: $240,000
Focus On The Family: $12,500
Eagle Forum: $5,000
Exodus International: $1,000
Family Research Council: $1,000An earlier investigation by Equality Matters found that Chick-Fil-A, which was recently voted the third most beloved restaurant chain in the United States, donated more than $1 million to anti-gay groups between 2003 and 2008. The IRS forms from 2009 are the most recent available as public records.
In January Chick-Fil-A president Dan Cathy defended the chain saying, "We're not anti-anybody… Our mission is to create raving fans."
Cathy was also forced to respond to gay activists' claims after the company provided lunch at a marriage-training event sponsored by Pennsylvania Family Institute.
Cathy asserted, "While my family and I believe in the Biblical definition of marriage, we love and respect anyone who disagrees."
In recent months students attending at least six universities, including University of North Texas, Mississippi State University, and the University of New Orleans, have launched petitions asking their schools not to support anti-LGBT businesses like Chick-Fil-A.
LGBT activists have also staged protests at a number of the chain's locations throughout the country, including Chicago and Hollywood.
