FAST FOOD CHAIN TO NO LONGER DONATE TO ANTI-GAY CAUSES

Chick-Fil-A, which was recently mired in controversy over its stand on gay marriage, has reportedly agreed to no longer donate money to anti-gay groups.

According to American LGBT rights group, The Civil Rights Agenda (TCRA), the company gave the commitment to Chicago council member Proco Joe Moreno, who had vowed to not allow the company to build a restaurant in his ward over the issue.

In a letter addressed to Moreno and signed by Chick-fil-A’s Senior Director of Real Estate, the American restaurant chain said that its WinShape Foundation “…is now taking a much closer look at the organisations it considers helping, and in that process will remain true to its stated philosophy of not supporting organisations with political agendas.”

In meetings with Moreno, company executives reportedly confirmed that Chick-Fil-A and WinShape will no longer give to anti-gay groups.

Additionally, the company has sent an internal memo to franchisees and stakeholders that states that as a company, they will “treat every person with honour, dignity and respect-regardless of their beliefs, race, creed, sexual orientation and gender” and that their “intent is not to engage in political or social debates.”

“We are very pleased with this outcome…,” said Anthony Martinez, executive director of TCRA. “I think the most substantive part of this outcome is that Chick-fil-A has ceased donating to organisations that promote discrimination, specifically against LGBT civil rights.

“It has taken months of discussion… for Chick-fil-A to come forward with these concessions and we feel this is a strong step forward for Chick-fil-A and the LGBT community, although it is only a step,” said Martinez.

Chick-Fil-A, with over 1,600 outlets, came under fire after its CEO Dan T. Cathy denounced same-sex marriage, saying that the family-owned fast food chain backed the “biblical definition” of the family and that it had financially supported anti-gay groups, some classified as hate groups.