May 3, 2016 By Jackie Strawbridge
Council Member Daniel Dromm has called on the Queens Center Mall to reconsider its new lease with Chick-fil-A due to the fast food restaurant’s support of an anti-LGBT organization.
Chick-fil-A, a fried chicken restaurant slated to open at the mall this fall, has drawn substantial criticism in the last few years for its anti-LGBT spending and stances. The company subsequently scaled back its funding of explicitly anti-LGBT groups, and CEO Dan Cathy, previously vocal in his opposition to same-sex marriage, said he would stay out of that debate.
However, Chick-fil-A did not stop supporting a group called the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, which has a “sexual purity policy” prohibiting homosexuality. Tax documents published by Think Progress indicate that Chick-fil-A spent about $1 million on the group in 2014.
Dromm said in a statement that he is “deeply disturbed” by this spending.
“It is outrageous that Chick-Fil-A is quietly spreading its message of hate by funding these types of organizations,” he continued. “I hope that the Queens Center Mall will reconsider giving a company so deeply involved in anti-gay discrimination a lease on their property. Believers in equality should boycott these purveyors of hate.”
In response to Dromm’s statement, Chick-fil-A stated, “our intent is not to support groups with political agendas.”
“The Chick-fil-A Foundation partners with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes specifically to provide free summer sports camps for hundreds of young students in urban environments throughout the nation,” the company said. “The Chick-fil-A Foundation gives 100 percent of its dollars to programs supporting youth, education and the local communities in which our restaurants operate.”
FCA’s Sexual Purity Policy states, “neither heterosexual sex outside of marriage nor any homosexual act constitute an alternative lifestyle acceptable to God… FCA’s desire is to encourage individuals to trust in Jesus and turn away from any impure lifestyle.” The policy can be found on application forms for employees as well as student leaders and officers.
The Queens Center Mall could not be reached for comment as of this writing.
