Rocio Villalobos 
EDINBURG – Chick-fil-A will no longer donate to the Salvation Army and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, two organizations with anti-LGBTQ stances.
The fast food chain known to hold conservative values announced that beginning in 2020, it will introduce a “more focused” approach for the causes it supports, centering on education, homelessness and hunger.
UTRGV student Candace Rodriguez, who identifies as part of the LGBTQ community, says prior to the announcement she abstained from dining at Chick-fil-A for over a year.
“Now that they’re in the right path so to say, I’m eating there again,” Rodriguez said.
While she sees the move as a means of “damage control” following backlash Chick-fil-A received for their years of donations, Rodriguez says she no longer takes issue with the company.
“Other people might not be okay with it but for me, personally, I don’t mind as long as they’re not affiliating with those organizations anymore,” she said. “But I understand that it’s for their image.”
According to tax filings, the restaurant donated $1.65 million to the FCA and $115,000 to the Salvation Army in 2018.
Sociology student Albert Ramos considers himself an ally to the LGBTQ community, but says Chick-fil-A has always been his “go-to” restaurant when dining at the Student Union.
Despite Chick-fil-A’s decision to halt donations to these faith-based organizations, the chief operating officer says the company will not exclude any organization from future consideration for Chick-fil-A’s charitable giving.
Click on the video below to watch the full story.
