Chain Gang Feb. 1, 2011
Anti-Gay Accusations Led to Chick-fil-A's Expulsion From Indiana University
By Collin Keefe
Last week Indiana University's South Bend campus temporarily booted Chick-fil-A from its cafeterias after students, staff, and faculty charged that by supporting anti-gay efforts the "Jesus Chicken" maker violated the school's policies on nondiscrimination and diversity. The expulsion from the school's cafeterias was the latest black eye for the company, whose president took to Facebook to deny the flurry of allegations that it supports an anti-gay agenda. Following a careful review, IU's chancellor concluded that Chick-fil-A's local franchisees "in no way violates the letter or spirit" of the school's nondiscrimination policies.
In response to accusations that Chick-fil-A was sponsoring an event hosted by one of the country's most outspoken groups against homosexuality, President Dan T. Cathy posted a video on Facebook in which he said the donation of chicken sandwiches should not be misconstrued as an "endorsement of the mission, political stance or motives of this group or any other." He added Chick-fil-A "serves all people."
As the New York Times noted this weekend, Chick-fil-A is indeed guided by a strict conservative Christian philosophy and the family behind it unabashedly supports groups working to quash same-sex marriage initiatives across the country, but it hasn't necessarily done anything wrong, like turn away or refuse gay customers.
IUSB removes Chick-Fil-A from campus [Preface]
Chick-fil-A franchise is back at IUSB campus [South Bend Tribune]
A Chicken Chain's Corporate Ethos Is Questioned by Gay Rights Advocates [NYT]
Earlier: Chick-fil-A Is Anti-Gay
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Anti-Gay Accusations Led to Chick-fil-A's Expulsion From Indiana
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