Chick-Fil-A's 'Anti-Gay' Group Donations Spark New York University Protest

Chick-fil-A is known nationwide for serving up plenty of savory Southern goodness, but one New York University student feels the restaurant's offerings leave behind a sour taste.

California native and NYU freshman Hillary Dworkoski has launched a protest against the fast food chain, saying she is disturbed by the company's reported financial support of several groups with "anti-gay" motives, including Focus On The Family, Exodus International, and the Family Research Council.

A petition calling for the university to close its Chick-fil-A franchise, reportedly the only one in Manhattan, has attracted over 5,000 signatures since Dworkoski launched it in January.

"NYU prides itself on being a diverse, open and inclusive campus community," Dworkoski, who is identified by The Village Voice as being bisexual, writes in the petition. "That's one of the major reasons why I enrolled at NYU as a freshman last fall. Unfortunately, maintaining a contract with an anti-gay vendor like Chick-fil-A undermines what makes this university so great."

She goes on to note, "As Secretary Clinton recently announced, 'Gay rights are human rights, and human rights are gay rights.' As such, I respectfully request that NYU remove Chick-fil-A from campus."

Still, in an interview with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, company president Dan Cathy defended Chick-fil-A, calling blogosphere reports "folklore." Cathy, who is the son of company founder Truett Cathy, noted, "We're not anti-anybody. Our mission is to create raving fans."

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) activists have previously staged protests at a number of the chain's locations throughout the country, including Chicago and Hollywood.

Click here to view the petition.

Also on HuffPost:

Comments

[Clinton Henderson]

01:21 PM on 05/23/2012

Ironic that someone can state how the "diverse, open, and inclusive" attitude of the university was their reason for attending there, and then ask for those with differing views to be thrown off campus. Guess they value diversity a little less than they pretend.

[hellotarra]

09:29 PM on 04/17/2012

I wish Chick-fil-a didn't make donations to anti-gay orgs, but I wish even more that there were not anti-gay orgs.

[Scott Von Wald]

08:31 PM on 04/12/2012

Chick-a-fil-a is anti-gay, just watch this commercial

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0y8ilOoRarg

[Kimberly Quinn]

10:06 PM on 03/11/2012

I'm agnostic (and bisexual) and I worked for Chick-fil-a for several years. They are a CHRISTIAN organization. Get over it. If you like their food (who doesn't?) then offset the cost of your purchase with a donation to NOH8 or something.

[kdragon487]

03:08 AM on 02/19/2012

I NEVER eat there for this very same reason. Against the fight for gay rights...

[self2]

07:20 PM on 02/18/2012

I just read from each of those groups, I could not find any lies they are spreading, Am I missing something?

[bannorhill]

06:09 PM on 02/18/2012

I boycot them every Sunday.

[laundrybrick]

04:57 PM on 02/17/2012

This student is practicing a double standard, you need to be tolerant of HIM, but he doesn't have to be tolerant of YOU.

[alweg]

03:00 PM on 02/17/2012

Hey! We don't want you at our diverse, open and inclusive campus!

[AudreyLee]

10:27 AM on 02/17/2012

Both ways, it's freedom of speech. Hopefully the protesters can just be a little louder than the ones they're protesting against.

[skillman46]

08:38 PM on 02/16/2012

Focus On The Family, Exodus International, and the Family Research Council are groups who spread lies and distortions about Gay people. Thank you for informing me to ChickFila's financial support of these hateful groups who's only goal is to oppress a group of people. When I am in Richmond, I will make it a point to stay away from ChikFila. I do not want to help fund these groups with my hard earned money.

[self2]

09:59 PM on 02/16/2012

I guess freedom of speech is only allowed when it suits you?

[FancyAmerican]

10:54 PM on 02/16/2012

Lying is legal under the First Amendment but there are exceptions, like yelling "FIRE" in a theater.

Unfortunately that same exception doesn't apply when it comes to the lies made up about the gay community.

[skillman46]

12:51 AM on 02/17/2012

I was taught lying is wrong plain and simple by the very same book that these groups are using to persecute gay people. You're free to spew lies but shouldn't be surprised when someone condemns you as a liar. Lying is not the same as freedom of speech.

[Kimberly Quinn]

10:08 PM on 03/11/2012

Don't eat there. Quit whining. They have rights, too. -Bisexual Agnostic

[Rich914]

06:53 PM on 02/16/2012

Its very freshman activisty to petition the university to close a franchise operating under lease or contract with NYU, but its not the best way. Good 'ol fashioned boycott is the way to do it. That way the franchise closes due to losses and the university doesn't get sued or have to pay Chik A Fil to get out of the lease or concession agreement.

[self2]

10:00 PM on 02/16/2012

I don't think that will hurt their bottom line.

[GoDogGo]

02:55 PM on 02/17/2012

Yes it will. If the store at issue in this post doesn't get customers, they will close the store. Basic math. Again, do you not have schools where you live?

[C Renee]

04:01 PM on 02/16/2012

Why is it that if you don't agree with something the liberals believe then you're "intolerant"? The ones crying for freedom and tolerance are the first to get ticked off when someone doesn't agree with them... Hypocrisy at its finest. Calling people (companies) that don't support what you happen to believe (gay marriage) "hate groups" is laughable.

[DevonTexas]

03:36 PM on 02/16/2012

good for you, students! Keep it up. I haven't been to the place since I discovered their intolerance and support of hate groups like AFA.

[self2]

10:01 PM on 02/16/2012

That's ok, I go there all the time.

[Kimberly Quinn]

10:09 PM on 03/11/2012

I have an entire blog devoted to bringing down AFA. I still support the rights of Chick-fil-a to do whatever the hell they want with their proceeds.

[Chuck Kenney]

02:29 PM on 02/16/2012

Face it folks. We live in corporate America. If you dig deep enough you will find that somewhere down the line some place we patronize supports something we don't like. Boycotts mean nothing except for TV shows it seems. I eat there once or twice a year, but I do know gay people who work there. Once they stop hiring us just for being gay I'll reconsider. Until then i'll be eating more chickin!

[DevonTexas]

03:39 PM on 02/16/2012

My son was standing in line when a young black guy asked for an application. "Are you Christian?", he was asked, "We only hire Christians". Perhaps that's not the practice everywhere but one more reason not to give them your money. Boycotts happen one person at a time. Without them Rosa Parks would still be riding in the back of a "segregated" bus.

[alweg]

02:57 PM on 02/17/2012

This probably didn't really happen. It'll sure get people worked up, though.

[Kimberly Quinn]

10:12 PM on 03/11/2012

They have the right to hire whomever they want to hire. I recently consulted an attorney regarding a different matter and he told me, in right-to-work states, employers can hire/fire based on a haircut. This isn't civil rights. It's a privately owned organization.

[AudreyLee]

10:33 AM on 02/17/2012

They are not solely boycotting, they are protesting and petitioning. Just saying. It's more the... symbolism of the act, I think? I agree with them, anyway.