Chick-fil-A, which came under fire earlier this year after its president spoke out against gay marriage, has agreed to cease donations from its non-profit charity to anti-gay organizations and issued a company-wide internal mandate calling for the equal treatment of all employees and customers.
A Chicago-based lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) advocacy group reports that the restaurant chain has agreed to cease donations to right-wing groups that oppose same-sex marriage, according to a statement released by the group.
In a press release, the Civil Rights Agenda (TCRA) cites Alderman Moreno as confirming that Chick-fil-A officials declared in an internal document that the company "will treat every person equally, regardless of sexual orientation." TCRA reportedly served as an advisor to Alderman as he negotiated these concessions with Chick-fil-A executives, though details of exactly what those negotiations entailed remain unclear.
The chicken-sandwich chain ignited a furor both online and offline this summer after its COO Dan Cathy said that it was company policy to support "the family -- the biblical definition of the family unit." He stated that in his view, same-sex marriages invite "God's judgment" and its proponents "have the audacity to define what marriage is about."
When contacted byBuzzFeed, a spokesman neither confirmed nor denied the report, instead sending along an emailed statement reiterating what the chain says has been its stance all along.
"We have no agenda, policy or position against anyone," the statement said. "We have a 65-year history of providing hospitality for all people and, as a dedicated family business, serving and valuing everyone regardless of their beliefs or opinions. The genuine, historical intent of our WinShape Foundation and corporate giving has been to support youth, family and educational programs."
Moreno is set to end the ban by providing a letter of support and introducing an ordinance that would effectively enable the chain to open a standalone location in the 2500 block of North Elston Avenue in Logan Square on a parcel of land shared with a Home Depot store, according to TCRA.
