The gay chicken row: Chick-Fil-A's anti-gay stance sparks protest as loyal customers turn on chain



Under fire: The Chick-Fil-A chain of restaurants has been criticised for supporting anti-gay groups

A fried chicken chain run by a devout Christian family has been branded homophobic for backing a group which campaigns against gay marriage.

Chick-Fil-A, which says its corporate purpose it to ‘glorify God’, was savaged when it emerged one branch was providing food for the anti-gay Pennsylvania Family Institute.

Blogs immediately lit up with criticism with calls for for a nationwide boycott while students at some universities attempted to get it thrown off campus.

On the Chick-Fil-A official Facebook page the debate got so intense that moderators had to step in to remind people to ‘be respectful of others’.

The row exploded after the New York Times revealed that Chick-Fil-A sandwiches would be used to feed those attending a seminar called ‘The Art Of Marriage: Getting To The Heart Of God's Design’ in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

The same piece pointed out that a few years ago the firm had given away CDs of a Bible-themed radio show with kids meals, which was produced by the Christian organisation Focus On The Family, which is against gay marriage.

Within hours an online petition asking Chick-Fil-A to stop supporting such groups had got 25,000 signatures.

On top of that customers such as Ryan Luzzi vented their anger at the company’s Facebook page and said: ‘I used to love you guys. That is until I found out how backwards and hateful your organisation is! I will NEVER EVER patronise any of your stores again!’

Out of the frying pan... The row surrounding Chick-Fil-A erupted after the New York Times revealed that it was catering for a seminar against gay marriage

Others came out in support, however, such as Thelma Jean Zeigler Waldroup who posted: ‘From now on my family will be eating more Chick-Fil-A food.

‘I will support all Christian companies. I like that they honour God on the Sabbath.

‘If the gays don't like it then is just too bad.’

Chick-Fil-A later backed down and said it was dropping its support of any such groups.

The company’s president Dan Cathy said in a statement: ‘Chick-Fil-A's corporate purpose is 'To glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us, and to have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-Fil-A.'

Debate: The chain's Facebook page has been choked with messages - both for an against homosexuality

‘As a result, we will not champion any political agendas on marriage and family. This decision has been made, and we understand the importance of it.’

He did however add that the company would ‘continue to offer resources to strengthen marriages and families’.

‘To do anything different would be inconsistent with our purpose and belief in Biblical principles’.

The first Chick-Fil-A restaurant was opened in Atlanta in 1946 by S Truett Cathy, now 89, a Southern Baptist with a fondness for Harley Davidson motorcycles.

Due to his religious beliefs he closed on Sundays and as the company has remained in his family ever since, he has been able to maintain its strong Christian principles.

This means the firm has a number of unusual practices, including that potential employees have to disclose their marital status and talk about their religion before they can be hired.

The row is not the fist time Chick-Fil-A has run into trouble over its beliefs.

In 2002 it settled a lawsuit brought by a Muslim who ran one of its restaurants in Houston who claimed he was sacked for not praying to Jesus with other workers on a training session.

Michael Geer, president of the Pennsylvania Family Institute, said that Chick-Fil-A had been unfairly singled out for ‘being good neighbours’.

‘People should applaud institutions that want to strengthen marriage,’ he said.