Head of Chick-fil-A Charity Says They Would Consider Working with LGBT Organizations, Says Helping People Doesn’t Mean ‘to Exclude’
The executive director of the Chick-fil-A foundation says the restaurant and organization does not condone homophobic views.
Chick-fil-A has faced criticism recently for what critics are calling “homophobic” views and giving funds to “anti-gay groups.”
According to Business Insider, Rodney Bullard, the executive director of the Chick-fil-A Foundation, said the restaurant’s founder, Truett Cathy, and his family isn’t trying to discriminate.
“There’s a calling to help people, and I think at times that has been confused with a calling, somehow, to exclude. And that’s not the case,” Bullard said. “The focus, the phrase ‘every child’ — we’re very intentional about that. We do have programs and we look for programs that are inclusive as well to help every child.”
Critics say Chick-fil-A has made donations to the Salvation Army and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Both organizations have in the past showed opposition to same-sex relationships.
Bullard, however, said that Chick-fil-A donations have specifically gone to programs such as summer camps for inner-city children.
Business Insider also asked Bullard if Chick-fil-A would ever consider working with an LGBT organization.
Bullard responded, “Would it be authentic for us to partner with that organization? For them to partner with us? And for us to get work done? I think those are the things that we would definitely consider and be mindful of,” Bullard said. “Would we do it just for reasons that weren’t authentic? No, we wouldn’t do that.”
In 2012, Chick-fil-A CEO Dan Cathy said the company supported “the biblical definition of the family unit.” The company had previously donated millions to groups that opposed same-sex marriage.
The company no longer makes donations to political groups. According to Business Insider, however, individual franchises in New Hampshire and Iowa have made donations to Gay Pride events in the past.
Photo courtesy: Getty Images/Alex Wong/Staff
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