Cecily Zamora
Chick-fil-A has been accused of indirectly funding anti-LGBTQ+ laws in Uganda through its donations to the WinShape Foundation, which in turn funds the National Christian Foundation (NCF). The NCF has funded projects that oppose LGBTQ+ rights in Uganda, including a 2019 bill that would have imposed the death penalty for homosexuality, known as the Kill the Gays bill. Chick-fil-A has also faced widespread criticism and condemnation for its history of donating millions of dollars to anti-LGBTQ+ organizations and for hostile remarks made by its president, Dan Cathy, against marriage equality. While the company has stated that it would leave the policy debate over same-sex marriage to the government, its actions and donations continue to be scrutinized by the LGBTQ+ community and its allies.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year | 2019 |
| Country | Uganda |
| Bill Name | "Kill the Gays" bill |
| Bill Details | To make "grave acts" of homosexuality punishable by death |
| Chick-fil-A's Role | Donated to the WinShape Foundation, which funded the National Christian Foundation, which funded anti-LGBTQ+ projects in Uganda |
| Chick-fil-A's Response | None |
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What You'll Learn
Chick-fil-A's donations to anti-LGBTQ groups
Chick-fil-A has been involved in several controversies related to donations to anti-LGBTQ groups. The fast-food chain has donated millions of dollars to anti-LGBTQ and hate groups over the years. In 2012, Chick-fil-A's CEO, Dan Cathy, made comments opposing same-sex marriage, sparking widespread backlash and protests. In the same year, Northeastern University's Student Senate voted to cancel plans for a Chick-fil-A franchise on campus due to the company's history of donating to anti-gay organizations. Similar protests and petitions emerged at Davidson College in North Carolina, where the school decided to stop serving Chick-fil-A during their monthly "After Midnight" events.
Chick-fil-A's 2017 tax documents revealed that the company continued to donate to organizations with negative views on homosexuality, including the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Paul Anderson Youth Home. Additionally, Chick-fil-A was found to have co-sponsored a marriage conference with the Pennsylvania Family Institute, an organization that opposed same-sex marriage.
In 2019, Chick-fil-A President Tim Tassopoulos announced that the company would stop donating to charities with anti-LGBTQ views and instead focus on supporting charities dedicated to education, homelessness, and hunger relief. Despite this shift, Chick-fil-A continues to face criticism and protests from LGBTQ+ activists and allies, highlighting the ongoing concerns surrounding the company's previous donations and comments.
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The National Christian Foundation's role in Uganda
The National Christian Foundation (NCF) is a US non-profit organisation that assists donors in contributing to charitable causes. The NCF has funded groups, projects, and individuals involved in opposing LGBT rights in the United States and Uganda. It has been revealed that the NCF funded a preacher to travel to Uganda and assist lawmakers in drafting an anti-gay bill. However, the preacher, Lou Engle, did not directly contribute to the legislation.
The NCF has provided funding to several Christian conservative groups and projects, including some that have been involved in anti-LGBT advocacy or preaching in Uganda between 2001 and 2013. While the NCF has continued to fund many of the same anti-LGBT projects in Uganda, it is unclear to what extent NCF-funded entities were involved in the creation or promotion of the 2009 legislation that would have imposed the death penalty for homosexuality.
The NCF received funding from the WinShape Foundation, which is closely linked to Chick-fil-A, during the crucial period of 2008-2011 when the original anti-LGBT legislation was first being devised and promoted in Uganda. The WinShape Foundation is run by the Cathy family, who also run Chick-fil-A, and the vast majority of its funding comes from the company. While Chick-fil-A and the WinShape Foundation are separate entities, their leadership is closely intertwined, with the CEO and vice president of WinShape Foundation holding senior vice president and CEO roles at Chick-fil-A, respectively.
In summary, the National Christian Foundation played a role in funding projects and individuals in Uganda that opposed LGBT rights. The NCF received funding from the WinShape Foundation, which has strong ties to Chick-fil-A, during the period when anti-LGBT legislation was being devised and promoted in Uganda. However, the extent of the NCF's involvement in the creation and promotion of the legislation is unclear.
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The WinShape Foundation's funding of NCF
The WinShape Foundation, which is run by Chick-fil-A's owners, the Cathys, donated to the National Christian Foundation (NCF) in 2009. Chick-fil-A is the primary contributor to the WinShape Foundation, with $21.3 million out of $22.1 million coming from the company in 2017. The NCF has funded groups, projects, and individuals involved in opposing LGBTQ+ rights in the United States and Uganda.
In 2010, Chick-fil-A donated $247,500 to the NCF through WinShape. However, Chick-fil-A stopped making donations to almost all controversial groups after facing backlash in 2012, when CEO Dan Cathy said he did not support same-sex marriage. The WinShape Foundation's tax returns from 2017 onwards do not indicate that the charity has continued to fund the NCF.
The NCF has worked with socially conservative, Christian organizations in Uganda. In 2010, the NCF funded the evangelical preacher Lou Engle to travel to Uganda to help lawmakers craft an anti-gay bill. While Engle did travel to Uganda around the time the legislation was being drafted, he did not directly contribute to it.
The NCF's millions of dollars in charitable giving include gifts to many Christian organizations, including some designated as hate groups due to their anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment and work. For example, in 2016, the NCF donated $105,300 to the American Family Association's radio network, which has been classified as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.
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Dan Cathy's comments on same-sex marriage
In 2012, Chick-fil-A CEO Dan Cathy expressed his opposition to same-sex marriage, stating that defining marriage as anything other than a union between a man and a woman would invite "God's judgment on our nation". He reaffirmed his stance in 2014, stating that same-sex marriage was wrong. These comments sparked widespread controversy and protests, with many criticising Cathy's views as discriminatory.
Cathy, a self-described evangelical Christian, based his opposition to same-sex marriage on his religious beliefs and the "'biblical definition of the family unit". He stated, "I think the time of truths and principles are captured and codified in God's word, and I'm just personally committed to that". He also shared his thoughts that a family should only consist of a man, a woman, and a child.
In the wake of the backlash, Cathy acknowledged that his comments were not a wise business decision, as they made the company a symbol in the marriage debate. He expressed regret for his comments, stating that leaders go through different phases of maturity and growth and that it is important to recognise one's mistakes. Despite his initial comments, Cathy emphasised his respect for differing opinions and hoped that others would be respectful of his views as well.
While Cathy and Chick-fil-A faced widespread criticism for their stance on same-sex marriage, it is important to note that the company has also taken steps to distance itself from the political debate. Following the 2012 comments, Chick-fil-A stated that it would "'leave the policy debate over same-sex marriage to the government and political arena'. Additionally, Cathy indicated that the company would focus on customer service rather than engaging in political debates about equality.
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The company's response to the controversy
In 2012, Chick-fil-A stated that it would "leave the policy debate over same-sex marriage to the government and political arena." However, tax documents from 2017 show that the company and its owners' foundations still donated to organisations with negative views of homosexuality, including the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Paul Anderson Youth Home.
Chick-fil-A has been implicated in claims that it contributed to the National Christian Foundation (NCF), which then funded a preacher to travel to Uganda and help lawmakers craft an anti-gay bill. The NCF has funded groups, projects, and individuals involved in opposing LGBT rights in the US and Uganda. While it is true that the WinShape Foundation, closely linked to Chick-fil-A, has funded the NCF, the extent of NCF-funded entities' involvement in drafting and promoting anti-LGBT legislation is unclear.
In October 2019, a Ugandan government minister announced an intention to introduce the death penalty for homosexuality, but he did not propose legalising the murder of LGBT people, and his remarks were quickly contradicted by the government. Chick-fil-A's charitable donations were contributing to efforts to introduce the death penalty for homosexuality in Uganda. However, it is not clear to what extent Chick-fil-A's funding of the NCF was involved in the creation or promotion of this bill.
Chick-fil-A has been criticised for donating millions of dollars to anti-LGBTQ and hate groups over the years, as well as for hostile remarks made by its president, Dan Cathy, against marriage equality. The controversy surrounding Chick-fil-A brought renewed attention to the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) and the need for federal legislation to protect LGBTQ people from discrimination in employment and other areas.
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Frequently asked questions
While there is no evidence that Chick-fil-A has directly funded anti-LGBTQ+ projects in Uganda, the company has donated millions of dollars to anti-LGBTQ+ organisations. Chick-fil-A has also been linked to the National Christian Foundation, which has funded anti-LGBTQ+ projects in Uganda.
In October 2019, Uganda's Minister for Ethics and Integrity, Simon Lokodo, announced the government's intention to revive a failed 2014 bill that would make grave acts of homosexuality punishable by death. This bill has been referred to as the "Kill the Gays" bill.
Chick-fil-A has faced widespread criticism and condemnation for its history of supporting and funding anti-LGBTQ+ organisations. The company's CEO, Dan Cathy, has made several homophobic comments and affirmed the company's opposition to same-sex marriage.
Chick-fil-A's involvement in anti-LGBTQ+ activism has sparked a range of responses, including efforts by activists and political officials to ban the restaurant from college campuses, airports, and other locations. In 2019, the Federal Aviation Administration's Office of Civil Rights opened investigations into two airports for excluding Chick-fil-A due to its stance on LGBTQ+ issues.
