Some positive news from the Chick-Fil-A LGBT civil rights front. In what appears to be a rather illuminated and magnanimous gesture, following a retreat with campus leaders in Atlanta, the Chick-Fil-A organization has issued a statement indicating they will acknowledge the civil rights of all people, including those who associate with the LGBT community. They will also stop their controversial donations to anti-LGBT groups through their non-profit charitable arm WinShape. According to the Civil Rights Agenda (TCRA), a watchdog organization for LGBT rights who was involved in the disucssions, an internal Chick-Fil-A memo to franchisees and stakeholders indicates:

• As a company, they will “treat every person with honor, dignity and respect-regardless of their beliefs, race, creed, sexual orientation and gender…[their]…intent is not to engage in political or social debates.” source

• “The WinShape Foundations is now taking a much closer look at the organizations it considers helping, and in that process will remain true to its stated philosophy of not supporting organizations with political agendas.” In meetings the company executives clarified that they will no longer give to anti-gay organizations, such as Focus on the Family and the National Organization for Marriage. source

This blog entry is not meant to be a full summary of the discussion. More detailed articles on the topic: Boston Spirit Magazine, Huffington Post, and Chicago Phoenix.