By: Paolo Ramos/Staff Writer
Our University is known for being diverse and respectful of culture and race but most students are unaware that they are indirectly supporting a prejudiced cause.
Most students at FIU will be able to tell you how good Chick-fil-A tastes. What they won’t know is that by eating at Chick-fil-A, they are giving money to a company that endorses organizations with anti-gay views.
Our University is supposed to be a school where students should not feel oppressed or uncomfortable; but by choosing to do business with an organization such as Chick-fil-A, the atmosphere on campus is tainted.
Chick-fil-A was founded by Samuel Truett Cathy, who infused much of the franchise’s business operations with Christian values, which is why all branches are closed on Sundays, the day of worship.
As a result, Chick-fil-A has supported and been involved with several Christian organizations, most of which have anti-gay agendas.
The degree to which Chick-fil-A supports these organizations is extensive. Since 2003, Chick-fil-A has contributed over $3 million through the Winshape Foundation, Truett’s charitable organization.
Through Winshape, Chick-fil-A has endorsed organizations including Exodus International, Focus on the Family and the National Christian Foundation, all of which have demonstrated anti-gay rhetoric.
A particular incident mentioned in the Huffington Post involved Chick-fil-A co-sponsoring a marriage conference by the Pennsylvania Family Institute, an organization which directly opposed and contributed to the downfall of Proposition 8 in California and the banning of discrimination legislature in Pennsylvania to include sexual orientation.
Winshape has also held its own marriage retreats, with its contract stating “We do not accept homosexual couples because of the statement in our contract,” as revealed by the organization Good As You, an Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender news website.
As a response to the growing controversy, President Dan Cathy went on record saying, “While my family and I believe in the Biblical definition of marriage, we love and respect anyone who disagrees.”
This response is hypocritical in its use of the word “respect.” To respect is to accept something for what it is and to not degrade or offend; Chick-fil-A has done the exact opposite.
By supporting anti-gay organizations, they are condoning their behaviors and ideals, which inevitably reflects the company’s true beliefs.
If Cathy and his company truly respected homosexuals, they would withdraw their support from any organization that discriminates against not just homosexuals, but any other minority group.
Students at FIU are probably not aware of Chick-fil-A’s shady transactions. These actions are barely observable on the local level. When asked whether or not he knew of Chick-fil-A’s support of anti-gay groups, senior Daniel Sandler said, “I really had no idea, but it doesn’t sit well with me. If you’re gay, that should be totally fine and anybody or any organization that is against it doesn’t deserve to be supported.”
When asked if businesses like Chick-fil-A have a place here on campus, junior Deliamary Rivera said, “Definitely not. I don’t tolerate any nonsense like what Chick-fil-A has been doing. I would do away with it all together. It just ruins the image of acceptance and diversity our school is supposed to have.”
If the University wishes to continue to be a place of true diversity and acceptance, then the leaders of our school need to realize that having a business like Chick-fil-A on campus does not promote a positive attitude.
Universities across the country such as New York University and Duke University have already banned Chick-fil-A from their campuses due to successful student campaigns.
FIU students need to decide whether grabbing a bite to eat is more important than hurting fellow members of their community.
paolo.ramos@fiusm.com