Christian leaders say Chick-fil-A has waffled on same-sex marriage.
More than a decade ago Christians across the nation rallied to defend the beloved fast-food restaurant chain after gay marriage activists declared war.
They tried to put Chick-fil-A out of business after the son of founder Truett Cathy said that marriage is between one man and one woman.
But it appears there’s been a cultural shift at Chick-fil-A.
A Utah franchise posted photos on its Facebook page celebrating the marriage of two men complete with photos of the gushing grooms.
“CONGRATULATIONS TO THE HAPPY COUPLE!” the December 3 post reads. “Dougie & Toby recently got married and we are so beyond happy for them!”
Many Christian customers fired off letters to Chick-fil-A’s corporate headquarters complaining about the post. In response, they received a message from the company noting that they embrace people of all sexual orientation and gender identity.
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“Chick-fil-A, Inc. is committed to being Better at Together by embedding Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in all that we do,” read the message. “We strive to provide a welcome and inclusive place for everyone.”
Well, that explains the bitter aftertaste in their plant-based chicken sandwich.
Family Research Council issued a blistering statement accusing the beloved fast-food chain of betraying faith-based customers.
“While most of Chick-fil-A’s chains are run by local operators, the fact that any location felt comfortable posting such a controversial message is further proof that the company hasn’t weeded out the LGBT extremism that sparked so much backlash just a couple of years ago,” FRC’s website states. “Chick-fil-A built a business model based almost entirely on faith. And frankly, that means they should be held to a higher standard.”
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In recent years Chick-fil-A stopped donating to Salvation Army and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes after pressure from the far-left.
“For years, social conservatives were buoyed in the culture wars by the ability of companies like Hobby Lobby to resist left-wing political trends and fads because of their private ownership,” said Steve Soukup of Political Forum. “Chick-fil-A’s insensitivity to the current of cultural rebalancing represents the mirror image of that resistance.”
Chick-fil-A also drew fire for creating a corporate-level position that addresses diversity, equity and inclusion.
It further attacked the chain for employing a vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion in a bid to enforce further inclusivity.
“Unlike Target or Anheuser-Busch, this company intentionally made religion a part of the chain’s identity. So, it’s a point of legitimate hurt and disappointment that this company keeps profiting from its Christian reputation, only to turn around and sell out those same values,” FRC wrote in a blog post. “Americans expect that from Nike. They expect it from Starbucks. They believed Chick-fil-A was different — and they continue to be wrong.”
Gov. Mike Huckabee said his decision to lead a nationwide campaign to support Chick-fil-A was his biggest regret.
Family Research Council’s David Closson is equally stunned by the chain’s departure from the Cathys’ legacy, but he had plenty to say about what the executive team is getting wrong. “When Chick-fil-A says it ‘embraces everyone,’ that’s faithful to Scripture,” he notes. “But to embrace contested identities — such as transgender identities or identities rooted in same-sex behavior — as morally legitimate expressions is something altogether different. A company grounded in Christian conviction should be able to love and serve every person without endorsing categories that contradict biblical truth,” Closson insists.
Many loyal customers are wondering if Chick-fil-A’s traditional values was simply a marketing ploy to endear themselves to Christians under false pretense.
Not only did Chick-fil-A remove the carrot salad and coleslaw from its menu, but they also tossed out their traditional family values. t