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.
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16 Comments
I don’t want a side of bigotry and hypocrisy with my chicken sandwich, so I’ll be eating at Shake Shack. The food is so much better and I have a clear conscience eating it.
BTW, to all of those who feel homosexuality is a choice, when did you all make the decision to be straight rather than gay? I’m straight and didn’t choose to be as such. I happen to believe sexual preference/identity is not a choice and, therefore, refuse to judge someone based on who they love or sleep with. It’s nine of my business. Evidently, Christians know something I don’t. I eagerly await your responses.
Judge not and be not judged…
Notice how quickly the anti-gay, religious folks are to respond and comment on this article. Chic-fil-a has no place in a diverse area such as Elmhurst, Queens with a strong and established lgbt community. I commend the Councilman on simply recommending the mall renege on offering this lease to an establishment that does not respect the rights and views of others. Furthermore, I would never want to spend my consumer dollars in a mall that supports folks like this yet is eager to take their money and let alone buy fast food from this twisted organization. They are anti-equality, anti-woman, and anti-Queens. Wake up you extremists this is the world today and equality is what’s being supported not opression.
I like their chicken sandwiches. I’ll spend my money there. Make a better sandwich and perhaps I’ll patronize your establishment.
People like you give me hope for mankind. Thank you.
Most likely, the community will buy their food and not care about Chik-Fil-A’s politics. Too many of us are unconcerned about what others are going through; we’re self-centered and too hungry for fast food to even notice.
I’m pretty sure that many corporations donate money to various causes that some of us might find objectional; this company made the mistake of going public with their views. For me, this contributes to the divisive and exclusionary atmosphere that exists in America. Under the guise of Christianity, they’ve widened the separation between “us” and “them.” I predict that in years to come, we will regret allowing this sort of thing to go on.
Personally, I doubt I will ever go to one of these restaurants.
Am I really reading these comments blindly supporting a new “fast food” restaurant under the guise of freedom of religion? This is the same sheepish thinking that allows the Westboro Baptist Church to function under a shroud of legal protection. Get real, folks.
While they may not fit the traditional definition of a hate group, they are facilitating the continued message by one organization that all things LGBT are wrong. Is it freedom of religion when that religion is free to condemn and spew hatred?
I simply cannot believe that such a large audience in the very diverse, vibrant neighborhood of Jackson Heights, a neighborhood known for its acceptance of all creeds, colors, and sexualities, would defend not only another enormous corporation to open it’s doors in your zip-code, but let alone one that is completely divorced from the foundational values of your neighborhood. I’d expect this from Murray Hill, not Jackson Heights.
As a queens resident this isn’t just about Homophobia but gender discrimination against women and other religions. We live in a diverse neighborhood and people from all walks of life should have equal opportunity in the work place.
the company has been sued at least a dozen times for employment discrimination, according to Forbes magazine.
One of the cases involved Aziz Latif, a former Chick-fil-A restaurant manager in Houston, who sued the company in 2002 because he was fired a day after refusing to participate in a group prayer to Jesus Christ at a company training program. Latif is a Muslim. The suit was settled, but the terms were not disclosed, Forbes reported.
More recently, a former employee of a Chick-fil-A restaurant in Georgia sued the company for wrongful termination, alleging she and other women employees were victims of gender discrimination.
The lawsuit alleges a pattern of discrimination and this is not acceptable
Thanks for inoculating this thread with a little bit of actual information instead of more shameful “Baahs” from the blind sheep.
But in fact, the company has been sued at least a dozen times for employment discrimination, according to Forbes magazine.
One of the cases involved Aziz Latif, a former Chick-fil-A restaurant manager in Houston, who sued the company in 2002 because he was fired a day after refusing to participate in a group prayer to Jesus Christ at a company training program. Latif is a Muslim. The suit was settled, but the terms were not disclosed, Forbes reported
Once again, the libs seeking to stifle the livelihood and free speech of people they disagree with.
Still waiting for the boycott of all the retailers that sell FuBu products
As a member that lives in the community of Jackson Heights, a Christian, one that grew up attending Fellowship of ‘Christian’ Athletes, I would say the sexual ethics that are being taught were beneficial to my life in several ways: (1) avoiding unplanned pregnancy (as opposed to just abortion), (2) meaningful relationships with the opposite sex that did not put sex before compatibility, (3) a high emphasis on marriage and not just casual sex with temporary relationships. To say ChickFilA is not welcome to JH just because it’s a Christian company that supports other organizations that are also Christian and teach Christian doctrines is outrageous. Censor if you like but the one who forgets history is doomed to repeat it. I’m ashamed of JH for letting an article like this be written to promote less inclusiveness for religious groups that may disagree with the LGBT community. Tolerance goes both ways. I’m glad and happy a great chicken sand which restaurant with great customer service is coming to Queens Mall in spite of the LGBT’s attempts to be intolerant.
Acceptance of another’s continued condemnation is not an example of “tolerance”. It is not being challenged because it is a Christian company, Philly boy, but I loved reading your asinine suggestions about how tolerance works both ways.
I bet you feel like you’re the victim of anti-white-racism, too. Congratulations on the no-contest nomination, by the way.
Just as much as he has the right to support the LGBT community (belief and organization of his choice), Chick Fil A has the right to do the same. Council Member Daniel Dromm, just leave them alone!
God bless Chick-fil-A! And God bless America for our right to Freedom of Association, Religion, and Speech!
I would understand if Chick Fil A supported the Klu Klux Klan, but calling the Fellowship of Christian Athletes a ‘hate group’ is just outrageous. Dromm is obviously a politician who has little to offer and so he must kow tow to the gay vote to keep him in power. We live in a democracy where people should have the right to contribute to the charity of their choice without fear of negative repercussions engineered by politicians.