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| Chick-fil-A drops controversial charities | |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| US fast-food chain Chick-fil-A has changed its charitable giving policies, which had been criticised by LGBTQ activists. | US fast-food chain Chick-fil-A has changed its charitable giving policies, which had been criticised by LGBTQ activists. |
| The restaurant company did not explain the decision except to say it wanted to offer "more clarity" about its donations. | The restaurant company did not explain the decision except to say it wanted to offer "more clarity" about its donations. |
| The firm said its giving will now focus on education, homelessness and hunger. | The firm said its giving will now focus on education, homelessness and hunger. |
| Chick-fil-A has faced scrutiny since 2012 comments by chief executive Dan Cathy against same-sex marriage. | Chick-fil-A has faced scrutiny since 2012 comments by chief executive Dan Cathy against same-sex marriage. |
| Leaders in Boston, New York and other cities have spoken out or proposed to ban the family-owned company, which boasts about 2,400 outlets across North America. | Leaders in Boston, New York and other cities have spoken out or proposed to ban the family-owned company, which boasts about 2,400 outlets across North America. |
| Last month, the landlord of the chain's first UK outpost, in Reading, said it would not renew the shop's lease after a protest by LGBT rights campaigners. | Last month, the landlord of the chain's first UK outpost, in Reading, said it would not renew the shop's lease after a protest by LGBT rights campaigners. |
| 'Saddened' | 'Saddened' |
| Mr Cathy has said previously that he regretted taking a public stance on same sex marriage, though he has not recanted his view, which he tied to his Christian faith. | Mr Cathy has said previously that he regretted taking a public stance on same sex marriage, though he has not recanted his view, which he tied to his Christian faith. |
| Chick-fil-A had also already stopped donations to a slew of groups that had campaigned against same-sex marriage. | Chick-fil-A had also already stopped donations to a slew of groups that had campaigned against same-sex marriage. |
| On Monday, it said its charitable arm would take a "more focused" approach and revealed recipients of $9m in 2020 donations. | On Monday, it said its charitable arm would take a "more focused" approach and revealed recipients of $9m in 2020 donations. |
| The list did not include two organisations - the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Salvation Army - that had continued to draw fire. | The list did not include two organisations - the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Salvation Army - that had continued to draw fire. |
| The Fellowship of Christian Athletes, which received $1.65m in 2018 for youth sports camps at historically black colleges, did not respond to a request for comment. | The Fellowship of Christian Athletes, which received $1.65m in 2018 for youth sports camps at historically black colleges, did not respond to a request for comment. |
| The organisation asks participants to adhere to a sexual purity policy that bans homosexual relations and sex outside of marriage. | The organisation asks participants to adhere to a sexual purity policy that bans homosexual relations and sex outside of marriage. |
| The Salvation Army, which received $115,000 last year, said it was "saddened" to learn of Chick-fil-A's decision and disputed the claim that its policies are hostile to the LGBTQ community. | The Salvation Army, which received $115,000 last year, said it was "saddened" to learn of Chick-fil-A's decision and disputed the claim that its policies are hostile to the LGBTQ community. |
| "We serve more than 23 million individuals a year, including those in the LGBTQ+ community," the charity said. "We ... greatly appreciate those partners and donors who ensure that anyone who needs our help feels safe and comfortable to come through our doors. | "We serve more than 23 million individuals a year, including those in the LGBTQ+ community," the charity said. "We ... greatly appreciate those partners and donors who ensure that anyone who needs our help feels safe and comfortable to come through our doors. |
| Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, who had supported Chick-fil-A during earlier controversies, said the company's changes sent a clear message. | Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, who had supported Chick-fil-A during earlier controversies, said the company's changes sent a clear message. |
| "They surrendered to anti-Christian hate groups" in a bid for more money, he wrote on Twitter. | "They surrendered to anti-Christian hate groups" in a bid for more money, he wrote on Twitter. |
| Chick-fil-A did not elaborate on the decision to stop funding the two groups, except to say that its charitable arm had fulfilled multiyear commitments to both groups that ended in 2018. | Chick-fil-A did not elaborate on the decision to stop funding the two groups, except to say that its charitable arm had fulfilled multiyear commitments to both groups that ended in 2018. |
| The company said both faith-based and non-faith based organisations would be eligible for future donations. | The company said both faith-based and non-faith based organisations would be eligible for future donations. |
| GLAAD, a gay rights group that has campaigned against the chain, said the announcement should be greeted with "cautious optimism". | GLAAD, a gay rights group that has campaigned against the chain, said the announcement should be greeted with "cautious optimism". |
| However, it said it remains concerned about ties between the Cathy family's private foundation and Focus on the Family, which opposes same-sex marriage. The chain also still lacks policies to ensure a safe workplace for LGBTQ staff, it said. | However, it said it remains concerned about ties between the Cathy family's private foundation and Focus on the Family, which opposes same-sex marriage. The chain also still lacks policies to ensure a safe workplace for LGBTQ staff, it said. |
| "Chick-fil-A ... should unequivocally speak out against the anti-LGBTQ reputation that their brand represents," said Drew Anderson, GLAAD's director of campaigns and rapid response. | "Chick-fil-A ... should unequivocally speak out against the anti-LGBTQ reputation that their brand represents," said Drew Anderson, GLAAD's director of campaigns and rapid response. |