US: School bans Chick-fil-A food over anti-gay donations
A Chick
A California school has banned food from the restaurant chain Chick-fil-A over its anti-gay stance.
A football booster club at Ventura High School had sought permission to sell sandwiches donated by the chain at a fundraiser event.
However, Principal Val Wyatt took a stand against the fast food chain’s involvement, over fears it could alienate gay students and parents.
The fried chicken company has donated millions of dollars to anti-gay groups including the Family Research Council, ‘gay cure’ group Exodus International and Focus on the Family.
Ms Wyatt said: “With their political stance on gay rights and because the students of Ventura High School and their parents would be at the event, I didn’t want them on campus.
“I work really hard to keep Ventura High School from being a marketplace for all kinds of vendors to come to the campus and reap profit.”
Backing the decision, Superintendent Trudy Tuttle Arriaga said: “Every principal has the discretion to invite community groups or businesses onto their campuses.
“We value inclusivity and diversity on our campus and all of our events and activities are going to adhere to our mission.”
Incredibly, the owner of the local Chick-fil-A store, Robert Shaffer, claimed: “Chick-fil-A doesn’t have a stance on gay marriage.
“We treat everyone who walks through our doors, regardless of their religion or sexual orientation, with honour, dignity and respect.”
His comments come despite CEO Dan Cathy admitting in 2012 that the company was “guilty as charged” for backing “the biblical definition of a family”.
S Truett Cathy, who started the business, died earlier this month, aged 93.
