Monday, November 14, 2011

How to Get Chick-Fil-A Out Of School

I have recently succeeded in getting my kid's school to stop doing fundraisers at the local Chick-Fil-A restaurant. If you want to know how I did it or why, keep on reading.

Most people know only that Chick-Fil-A is closed on Sundays, and they rightly assume it's owned by Christian people. Obviously no one has or should have a problem with the religion of a restaurant owner. People should have a problem, though, with what the restaurant does with their money, and that's especially true when it comes to a school associating with that restaurant.

Chick-Fil-A is a restaurant chain owned by Fundamentalist Christians. The owners are very proud of their religion and in the way they push their version of Christianity in their restaurants. In the past, a Muslim employee was allegedly fired because he refused to thank Jesus Christ during a staff meeting. Now that the company had to settle with the employee for an undisclosed sum, they simply do their best to avoid a similar situation by careful hiring. According to Forbes Magazine, "They screen prospective operators for their loyalty, wholesome values and willingness to buy into Chick-Fil-A's in-your-face Christian credo."

More to the point is the company's very public donations to anti-gay groups (some of these groups have been labeled "Hate Groups" by the Southern Poverty Law Center). Supporting a restaurant that is so explicit in its opposition to gay marriage is taking a stand on a very controversial issue. If a school agrees with the restaurant that gay marriage is evil, then the school should hold events at Chick-Fil-A, but if the school opposes that idea or even chooses to avoid a political debate about civil rights, then the school should avoid associating itself with a company that has become the leading voice against gay marriage. News came out recently that Chick-Fil-A has given $2 Million to anti-gay organizations. When a school holds an event at that restaurant (or even worse, allows the cow mascot to visit the school for photo ops), it sends a message of support for the anti-gay agenda. By allowing your kids' schools to associate with Chick-Fil-A, your schools stop being neutral.

Now, don't get me wrong. My battle is definitely not with Christians in general. In fact, my battle is not with Chick-Fil-A or with anyone who dedicates his life to fight gay rights. People have a right to do that. However, the same law that guarantees their right to fight against the civil rights of others, gives me (and you) the right to do everything I can to stop my kid's school from having anything to do with them.

Here are some of the links I found.



Well, now that you know the facts, there are two things you can do. If you think your kids' school should take a stand against gay rights, enjoy your chikin'.

But if you think your kids' school should either support gay rights or avoid taking a stand on a controversial issue, please bring these facts to the attention of your kids's schools. I feel very fortunate that the principal at my boy's school informed me the school and the parents' association would no longer have anything to do with Chick-Fil-A. I do believe that most schools, when faced with these facts, would do the same.






A random picture found on the Internet. From NJ.com.

37 comments:

  1. Good for you. I've known about these homegrown zealots for a few years now, and refuse to give them my business. I also tell people of their affiliation with hate groups. It's not much, but cutting into their quarterly profits even a little sends a clear message.

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  2. So do you shop at Wal-Mart? Employees there are work forced overtime, and the company has been sued for not promoting women.

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  3. Argh... I meant "forced to work overtime"

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  4. I've always known they were bad, but I had no idea just how bad. Makes me sick. I'm really glad you wrote about this so that other parents can make informed decisions.

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  5. Thank you for posting this. I had heard only vague things about Chick-fil-A's Christian associations, but I didn't know they fired others for not sharing their beliefs, or that they fought hard against gay marriage. I hardly ever eat there as it is, but I will spread the word!

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  6. For me, as long as gays are not doing anything wrong for other people they should be respected because they are still human and created the same way we straight people are.

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  7. As a Christian who believes in equality for all and who loudly and proudly stands up gay rights, CFA is a place that I can't do business with. Your point is my foundation when I make these choices- I support a business based on how they do business but I also care about where my money goes once the company has it. CFA does things I don't support. Curves for Women- when I found out they supported abortion clinic bombers, I dropped my membership.

    I've struggled with my relationship with Target for this reason, too.

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  8. Anonymous, ha! I saw the first comment was an Anonymous, and I was thinking, "Already with the How-Dare-You-Attack-An-American-Icon haters?" -- So, of course I was very happy once I actually read the comment.

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  9. Will, Wal-Mart is probably not a good example, because I've actually never been to one. That doesn't mean I only buy locally grown/made stuff by public donors to my favorite charities. Like a commenter below, I also struggle with Target, which is just as bad as Wal-Mart, but here you get to personal decisions, which is different from what this post is about. I wish I had the strength of conviction (and the extra cash) to always do the right thing, but I don't. What I can do is try to stop the school my kid goes to from contributing to what I consider is the worst of society. I disagree with the politics of the CEO of Target, Wal-Mart, Subway, and Whole Foods, and almost every giant corporation will contain some evil, but I don't think the school and the kids that attend the school get tainted by associating with any of these companies. By associating with Chick-Fil-A and by inviting them into a school, the school becomes complicit in the anti-gay crusade.

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    1. Target is NO WHERE near as evil as Walmart. WM has years of human rights abuses, discrimination (particularly against women), tax avoidance, loss of thousands of jobs from small businesses shutting down, environmental abuses, etc etc etc. I'm sure every large corporation in America donates money to things we all don't necessarily agree with. If we were to boycott all of them we'd have a very limited choice of places to shop. I just think it's interesting that people in general are not consistent with how/where they shop based on their own values- only in certain circumstances like this. BTW- I do NOT support Chick-fil-A's blatant anti-gay views!

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    2. First of all, I hope you got to see the link from my comment above (I know it's just a Wikipedia link, but I'm pretty sure it's a good representation of Target policies). But I also understand what you're saying, and we should be careful not to fight the corporations it's fashionable to fight against.

      A long time ago, I lived next to a McDonalds, and the branch policy was to give food and warm drinks to homeless people. I don't know how far up the chain that policy went, if at all, but it was enough of a gesture for me to realize how misguided the people in anti-Capitalism demonstrations were, because their first targets were local McDonalds branch's windows. McDonalds was a symbol of a society these people have lost, and therefore they were the villains. But the visible, fashionable targets aren't necessary the right ones. We don't do our research, which is exactly what the less visible, less fashionable targets hope for. I'm guilty of that too, of course.

      So I agree we should be consistent and aware of what we're protesting against, but like I wrote in the comment, my post wasn't exactly about that. It was also not a debate about the merits of gay marriage or about Chick-Fil-A's right to do what it wants with its money. What I tried to do was educate people who didn't know about Chick-Fil-A's anti-gay position (and thanks to its CEO, there are less ignorant people now), and then to help the people who are already on the same side as I am to stop Chick-Fil-A from coming to their kids' schools.

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  10. IleenieWeenie, thanks. I hope people are at least able to forward these links to their schools and see what happens. Chick-Fil-A is not very happy with people knowing about that, and they came up with a very carefully-worded press release a few months ago, basically saying they have nothing against gay people--all they want to do is strengthen families, which is why they donate to pro-family charities. You would think these charities are fighting to make divorce rather than homosexuality illegal, wouldn't you...

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  11. Jessica Leader, about firing people, I'm sure that's not how it happens now, after that law suite. Instead, worrying about more law suites, they only hire people who fit with their ideals. Legally, that's probably not a problem (just like a synagogue doesn't have to hire an anti-Semite to answer the phone, Chick-Fil-A should be able to avoid troublemakers), but they do seem to take it a step further, dealing with candidates' values and supposed moral compatibility.

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  12. Eternal Lizdom, I didn't know about Curves... I just read the Wikipedia article, and it seems like there's been a correction, but still, the owner pulled donations from the Susan G. Komen for the Cure because they were giving money to Planned Parenthood... That's unbelievable. And that's a female-only gym that's supposed to improve the health of women. Either he's completely ignorant about Planned Parenthood or he just loves irony.

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  13. Christians should be "christian" enough to know that everyone has the right to freedom of expression and gays share the same right.

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  14. Wow, before reading this I had already boycotted them because I thought Veggie Tales DVDs made for sh**** kids' meal toys.

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  15. I will enjoy my chicken!! What about proctor and gamble company?? They contribute millions towards the pro homosexual agenda. I'm not a Christian but I do know that homosexuality is NOT a civil rights issue, it is a lifestyle issue and choice. Chick-fil-a can do what ever they want.. Is it ok to support gay rights? Who declares that Ok? This article is one sided, and does not represent a real study. You are sour because the liberal machine has been stopped by this organization.. Is it right to have homosexuality be presented to young kids in a public school? Obviously it is but a corporation is perverse if they teach marriage as one man and one woman, and want to protect the innocence of children.

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  16. Phil, I've head such bad things about Veggie Tales, I refuse to even check it out on my Instant Netflix. I will watch Caillou backwards before I submit to the veggies.

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  17. Anonymous, now that's what I'm talking about.

    Now, let me answer while pretending you're not insane.

    I agree, Chick-Fil-A can do what ever they want, and you go ahead and enjoy your chicken.

    Of course this is one sided. It's my blog. Now that you have added to the conversation, though, I'm happy to say two opposing points of view are represented here.

    What else do you have there... You talk about a homosexual agenda... a liberal machine...

    Is it right to have homosexuality be presented to young kids in a public school? Well, yes. But that's really not the issue here, is it?

    And more to the point, a corporation is not perverse if they publicly support a moral position they hold sacred. If I feel that moral position is divisive and hurtful, and if I feel that my kids are tainted by associating with that corporation, then it's my duty as a parent to try to stop my kids' school from associating with that corporation.

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  18. @Anonymous--The idea that ones sexual preferences are a conscious choice is ludicrous. How did you decide you were going to be straight (I assume you are straight)? Once you got that sorted out, did you then go on to narrow down what type of opposite-sex person you would be attracted to? What did you base those choices on? Market research?

    Can you imagine a kid in Nebraska sitting around, thinking about his future, and going, "Oh! I know! I'll be gay! That will be awesome for my social life and my future! And it will be so fulfilling, romantically. I hear there's another gay guy up in North Dakota. Maybe I can get a date with him. Sure, I'll get beat up a lot, but think of how FUN and COOL it is to be gay!"

    Have you ever met a gay person? I suggest that, if you do, and you don't freak out and run away, you ask them about when and how they "decided" to be gay.

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  19. Oh no! Not Whole Foods too! I'm so disappointed.

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  20. I really don't care what you say because based on my research as a family counselor in New York, I see more pain from people who are raised in same sex partner homes. The identity role of the individual becomes confused, not from any internal factors but external. This is the same as with Hollywood and the portral of the normalness of homosexuality as a growing adolescent. I will go as far to say that if TV was gone the Gay agenda would dwindle to where it was in the 50's. Homosexuality is conditional, and a choice based on an individual. Homosexuality leads to depression and the seeking out of others who share their views. It is cultish. It is being shoved down Americas throat.

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  21. Beta Dad, here we are arguing with Anonymous, not even realizing he's a family counselor in NY! And he makes so much sense, too! Like when he blames Hollywood and the portral of normalness!

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  22. Jill, the problem with Whole Food is not about gay rights, though. The first time I heard anything bad about Whole Foods was at the height of the health care debate. The CEO of Whole Foods wrote an OpEd against health care reform, and not only that, but the piece started with a quote by Margaret Thatcher. Now, of course a CEO is allowed to oppose health care reform, but for me (and for a lot of other people--there was a huge backlash), this showed Whole Foods for what it was: not a company dedicated to global fairness and healthy lifestyle, but one that simply found a niche.

    If that's not enough, that weirdo CEO (who has since been ousted from that role but is still on the board, as far as I know) also posted in forums under a fake name, using that false identity to praise Whole Foods and right wing ideology and bash critics and unions. I only go to Whole Foods when there's something there I absolutely can't find anywhere else.

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  23. I applaud the fact that you researched something that was unsettling to you and that you acted upon it instead of just blogging from your saltbox. Truly.

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  24. Frogs, hey, thanks. I was lucky that the cow mascot was invited to the school (which was the thing that finally pushed me to act) the same day the recent news came out about the $2M donations, so the research was basically all over the Internet.

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  25. too bad your research is shallow and missing a lot of facts. Supporting marriage doesn't automatically make someone anti-gay. I guess that would mean that everyone who has ever voted for a Republican candidate for Congress/Senate/President is anti-gay? I mean if you voted that way it means you support 100% of that agenda, right? Funny how in this country we have Occupy groups protesting corporate greed and profiteering and yet when a private company chooses to give back a donate money to help support stronger marriages and encouraging men to be better fathers and women to be better mothers they are attacked for being ant-gay. Not because of anything THEY specifically said or did but because the organization that was putting on the program had somewhere along the line said something... Guilt by association? Tony Dungy is the National Spokesman for All Pro Dad. A terrible platform, right. Wanting to provide dads with tools to be better fathers.. but since it was started bt Focus on the Family I guess that makes Tony Dungy anti-gay! I expect your next article to be an account of your contact with NBC to get him fired and to ask everyone to boycott watching ANY show on NBC because if NBC employs him, then NBC as a company is obviously Anti-Gay. That's how the logic works right? NBC paying millions to someone who WORKS for a anti-gay organization, therefore, they are anti-gay.

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  26. Oh, and Dr Pepper is a title sponsor for All Pro Dad. So keep us posted on your progress with having Dr Pepper banned from the school and school events, your personal boycott of Dr Pepper and the bigger boycott Dr Pepper appeal. Obviously, they are anti-gay as well. Heck if the school IS selling Dr Pepper that would make the whole school board anti-gay, right?

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  27. Being gay doesn't make one less human. Christians should know how to treat gays right as the church preaches that. Right?

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  28. Anonymous, All Pro Dad is all about inclusiveness--including fathers in their kids' lives. Unfortunately, they do that while supporting anti-gay organizations and expressing anti-gay views. So, yes. I will not be a part of that organization, and I will try to stop my school from doing the same. I believe Dungy is a good man, and like many other good men, future generations will laud his achievements while mumbling that he was also, unfortunately, a man of his time, which will be said to excuse his moral shortcomings.

    And I'm not sure about the connection to Dr. Pepper, but I would hope my school stays away from that one too, mainly because it tastes like urine, only less healthy.

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  29. These businesses are tiptoeing on a very thin line. Sure, they're doing "careful hiring". But no matter how careful they are, they can get sued.

    Wouldn't it be something if a group of Muslims decide to expose them by applying all at once? See how they will react?

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  30. In the end, all that matters is our respect for each other's preferences.

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  31. What they are doing is discrimination and we should not support them at all.

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  32. It's interesting that people have tolerance for everything in the world except christianity. If anyone else (ex: muslim) owned chick-fil-A you wouldn't be nosing into what their money supports. The ignorance of this world never ceases to amaze me. If you saw where the money went at every place you bought something you would be sick. And I mean really really sick. But then again a lot of those places aren't owned by Christians so who cares? Right? Sounds like you have WAY to much time on your hands.

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  33. Anonymous, I tried to make it clear that I have nothing against Christianity. I also don't have anything against Christians who actively fight gay marriage (which is definitely not something all Christians do). I am tolerant, but this has nothing to do with that. I fight an organization that actively opposes gay rights, whether that opposition comes from ignorance or from deeply held beliefs.

    And really, Muslims? Is there a Muslim institution or establishment not scrutinized by the government or by regular people? Every penny donated to the so-called "Ground Zero Mosque" was investigated. And it actually relates to this post, because when the Imam came out with a homophobic rant, pro-gay-rights groups quickly turned against him. Nothing to do with being tolerant to his religion (Progressives still supported building the mosque)--and everything to do with his public opposition to civil rights.

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  34. Wow, interesting batch o comments. Didn't know about All Pro Dad — will be leaving that LinkedIn group ASAP. And WTF is a "portal of normalness?"

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    1. Where is that? I don't remember it... And I didn't remember myself being so tough in my own comments. Dr. Pepper tastes like urine? I'm giving myself a high-give for that comment!

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