Chick-fil-A faced controversy in 2012 when its President publicly voiced opposition to same-sex marriage. This led to protests and calls for boycotts from LGBT groups and their allies. Several cities also spoke out against Chick-fil-A's views. In response to the backlash, Chick-fil-A later announced it would stop donating to organizations opposed to LGBT rights, though it would still support groups advocating for "traditional" marriage. By early 2013, the leader of a national gay rights group and Chick-fil-A's President had become friends and found understanding with each other.

1. Rachel Mauro
5/28/13
Backgrounder for Chick-fil-A
ANTI-GAY CONTROVERSY
Issue: Chick-fil-A President Dan Cathy publicly announces a disagreement with “nontraditional” marriage.
Background: Truett S. Cathy founded Chick-fil-A and its values by closely following his Christian
religion in 1946. In 1984, a nonprofit organization and charitable foundation called Winshape was founded;
its main purpose was to help “shape winners.”
For years, Chick-fil-A gave millions of dollars to organizations fighting same-sex marriage and supporting
heterosexual ones. June 2012, Dan Cathy publicly announced, “the biblical definition of the family unit” is
supported by Chick-fil-A. Immediately after Cathy’s statement about same sex marriage, a New York
resident, Carly McGehee, decided to stage a same-sex-kiss-in on Aug. 3. This kiss-in urged gays and
lesbians to show up and protest the food chain across the country.
Mike Huckabee, former Arkansas governor, declared Aug. 1 as Chick-fil-A appreciation day in rebuttal to
McGehee’s same-sex-kiss-in.
Following the statement and countrywide debates, Chicago, Boston, San Francisco and Philadelphia
mayors openly opposed Cathy’s statement along with his unwelcomed beliefs and views on same-sex
marriage.
The Jim Henson Company, creators of Muppet toys for the chains, refused to make any more toys for
Chick-fil-A. Chief Executive Officer Lisa Henson openly supported same-sex marriage and donated all the
money received from Chick-fil-A to support the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD).
Simultaneously, Chick-fil-A posted a “voluntary recall” of all Jim Henson’s Creature Shop Puppet Kids
Meal toys. Chick-fil-A cited reports that children were getting their fingers stuck in the holes of the

2. puppets. This rift in business relationships was later addressed as having nothing to do with the gay
marriage controversy.
July 2012 Chick-fil-A released a statement saying, “Going forward, our intent is to leave the policy debate
over same-sex marriage to the government and political parties.”
Progressive groups, with over 80,000 signatures, petitioned publisher HarperCollins to not allow
Berenstain Bears as part of a kids’ meal promotion for Chick-fil-A. HarperCollins responded with the
following statement, “It is not our practice to cancel a contract with an author, or any other party. For
exercising their First Amendment rights.”
By September 2012, Chick-fil-A announced to ABC they, “ceased donating to organizations that promote
discrimination, specifically against LGBT Civil Rights.” Chick-fil-A emphasized on treating every person
equally, regardless of his or her sexual orientation. It was also announced that the Winshape Foundation
would be taking a closer look at the organizations it considers helping. Winshape Foundation will stick to
their main philosophy of not supporting organizations with political agendas.
Sept. 20, 2012 Chick-fil-A internally released “Who We Are,” a document promising Winshape would not
contribute money to groups opposed to gay marriage. It also stated that the Winshape Foundation would
still donate money to groups supporting “the biblical definition of marriage.”
As of Jan. 2013, gay activist and leader of the National Gay Rights Group, Shane Windmeyer, and
President of Chick-fil-A, Dan Cathy have grown to understand eachother and are now considered friends.
Action: Chick-fil-A will no longer donate money to anti-gay groups.
May 2013
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