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.
This 14th edition of the tracking report finds that LGBTQ grantmaking reached a new record high of $160.7 million! The report notes significant increases in funding for trans communities, grantmaking to address criminalization and criminal justice reform, and support for LGBTQ communities in the U.S. South.
This 14th edition of the tracking report finds that LGBTQ grantmaking reached a new record high of $160.7 million! The report notes significant increases in funding for trans communities, grantmaking to address criminalization and criminal justice reform, and support for LGBTQ communities in the U.S. South.
1) From the early development of The United States of America, rel.docxlindorffgarrik
1)
From the early development of The United States of America, religion has remained the very foundation of its structure. Though the religious nature brought in the 17
th
century would eventually shift to different beliefs, the government was built with a spiritual recognition ("Religion and the…”). Despite this fact and the fact that the United States still engages in some religion based practices including the use of a bible when taking oath or the using the motto, “In God We Trust,” the U.S. Constitution gives the American people the freedom and the right to follow the religion of their choice ("First Amendment"). Having that said, it is important to fully understand the terms secular and secularization to recognize the direction American society is being driven. Simply defined, secular is a term to describe something such as an organization that has a non-religious or non-spiritual nature. It also suggests that a group is controlled by a government rather than a church ("Secular"). Becoming a secular society requires the process of secularization at which religion starts taking the “backseat” in a culture or society (“Secularization”).
There has been some attention on America’s transformation in becoming a more secular society. According to the Pew Research Center, there has been a shift in those who belong to a religion. In fact, there is a great division. Fewer belong to a religious group and those that do, are becoming more involved in their religion. There are three changes that are believed to have been causing this shift. These three changes can be identified as the following: Christians are losing the majority, Christians have lost religious privilege, and Christians are becoming more concretely identified.
Christian faith is no longer the “home-field” of America. Where many could assume a fellow American’s faith was in Christianity, it becomes less likely the case as years pass. In the past, people could share religious views and were only further influenced into Christianity. Now, people raised in non-religious homes are more open and susceptible to other ideas and focus.
Next, many Christian based traditions or practices are not being recognized as once before. Although this seems rather trivial, personal focus, gain, and advantage are increasing as Wednesday nights and Sundays are no longer isolated for religious practices. Stores began to open on the Lord’s day and personal events began to take place on Wednesday nights that were often reserved for prayer and worship.
Finally, the Christian faith is more defined. When mentioning the faith is more defined, I am suggesting that one no longer classifies as a Christian based off of what one said they believed, but now it has shifted to more of a measure of involvement. Those that do not belong to a church or choose to worship at home are less involved with those that are highly involved causing a greater margin between the two. As time and trend continue, se.
1) From the early development of The United States of America, rel.docxlindorffgarrik
1)
From the early development of The United States of America, religion has remained the very foundation of its structure. Though the religious nature brought in the 17
th
century would eventually shift to different beliefs, the government was built with a spiritual recognition ("Religion and the…”). Despite this fact and the fact that the United States still engages in some religion based practices including the use of a bible when taking oath or the using the motto, “In God We Trust,” the U.S. Constitution gives the American people the freedom and the right to follow the religion of their choice ("First Amendment"). Having that said, it is important to fully understand the terms secular and secularization to recognize the direction American society is being driven. Simply defined, secular is a term to describe something such as an organization that has a non-religious or non-spiritual nature. It also suggests that a group is controlled by a government rather than a church ("Secular"). Becoming a secular society requires the process of secularization at which religion starts taking the “backseat” in a culture or society (“Secularization”).
There has been some attention on America’s transformation in becoming a more secular society. According to the Pew Research Center, there has been a shift in those who belong to a religion. In fact, there is a great division. Fewer belong to a religious group and those that do, are becoming more involved in their religion. There are three changes that are believed to have been causing this shift. These three changes can be identified as the following: Christians are losing the majority, Christians have lost religious privilege, and Christians are becoming more concretely identified.
Christian faith is no longer the “home-field” of America. Where many could assume a fellow American’s faith was in Christianity, it becomes less likely the case as years pass. In the past, people could share religious views and were only further influenced into Christianity. Now, people raised in non-religious homes are more open and susceptible to other ideas and focus.
Next, many Christian based traditions or practices are not being recognized as once before. Although this seems rather trivial, personal focus, gain, and advantage are increasing as Wednesday nights and Sundays are no longer isolated for religious practices. Stores began to open on the Lord’s day and personal events began to take place on Wednesday nights that were often reserved for prayer and worship.
Finally, the Christian faith is more defined. When mentioning the faith is more defined, I am suggesting that one no longer classifies as a Christian based off of what one said they believed, but now it has shifted to more of a measure of involvement. Those that do not belong to a church or choose to worship at home are less involved with those that are highly involved causing a greater margin between the two. As time and trend continue, se.
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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