Zack Jenio
Before you automatically reject my title statement, please read this entire article. I know Chick-fil-A is a southern staple fast-food company and has been ranked as America’s favorite fast-food chain for three years in a row. Growing up in NC, I have definitely had my fair share of chicken sandwiches and waffle fries, but in light of my own recent discoveries regarding the organization’s morals, I have decided to stop eating at the restaurant.
The corporation’s conservative Christian leadership team has been known, as the restaurant is always closed on Sundays; however, the company has continually donated to anti-LGBT organizations. According to a ThinkProgress report, Chick-fil-A gave over $1.8 million to various groups known for their outward anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination. The report adds that the company refuses to include an anti-discrimination policy on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
For these reasons and more, not only should individuals discontinue dining at Chick-fil-A, but NC State should also remove the fast-food chain from the Atrium and replace it with another company that doesn’t disrespect individuals as much.
Chick-fil-A prides itself on representing southern hospitality for over 65 years with “no agenda, policy, or position against anyone.” Yet CEO Dan Cathy said the US was “inviting God’s judgment on our nation when we shake our fist at him and we say ‘We know better than you as to what constitutes a marriage,’” leading to controversy surrounding how hospitable the organization is when it outwardly rejects the LGBTQ+ population and actively works to oppress these individuals.
Conversely, NC State prides itself on being a safe environment for students of all backgrounds, cultures and identities. In the Office for Institutional Equity and Diversity mission statement, emphasis is placed on creating an “inclusive, accessible and diverse” experience for all students in relation to the mission of NC State.
The presence of the company on campus and all that it stands against does not create a safe, inclusive space for members of the LGBTQ+ population. Hence, by employing Chick-fil-A as a vendor inside the Atrium, NC State is going against its mission of diversity and inclusion for a portion of the population.
I do understand that Chick-fil-A is grounded in conservative Christian values, but it is possible for the organization to hold their personal ideals and religious beliefs without actively discriminating against the LGBTQ+ population. The company should not be forced to accept the ideals of sexual and gender fluidity, understanding their right to religious freedom, but should tolerate those lifestyles without seeking to hurt those individuals. Until then, Chick-fil-A should be removed from the Atrium immediately.
As a replacement, NC State can employ other fast-food companies, such as Burger King, that do not donate to organizations that discriminate against people of various identities, whether based on sexual orientation, gender, race, etc. The impact of this replacement on NC State’s LGBTQ+ population would transcend the missing smell of chicken and biscuits around the Brickyard in the morning.