Trump’s favourite Evangelical pastor Franklin Graham is praying to keep Chick-fil-A homophobic. Yes, really
Franklin Graham (LOGAN CYRUS/AFP/Getty)
A Trump-supporting right-wing pastor pleaded with his followers to pray that US fast-food brand Chick-fil-A stays anti-gay last weekend.
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Evangelist Franklin Graham took to Facebook to comment on the “concern and criticism” that the Baptist-owned company has faced in light of its donations to controversial charities.
He also said that November 30 should be made “Pray for Chick-fil-A Day”.
The chain, a longtime target from LGBT+ activists due to its owner’s opposition to marriage equality, has faced resistance this year after it opened branches in the UK.
Franklin Graham: Chick-fil-A must not ‘cave to the LGBTQ agenda’.
In November, Chick-fil-A reportedly released a revised donation strategy that would have cut off donations to groups which discriminate against LGBT+ people.
However, Graham later claimed the company’s CEO had personally assured him that Chick-fil-A would not “bow down” to the LGBT+ community, and that Chick-fil-A would continue to fund any group it chooses.
As flip-flopping spiralled, Graham sought to call on the chain to consolidate its anti-gay stance before “caving to the LGBTQ agenda.”
Chick-fil-A sign in Naples, Florida. (Photo by: Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
The missionary called on “Christians everywhere” to pray for Chick-fil-A’s owners.
“It’s their company, they can do what they want. But my prayer is that God will lead and direct them, and that they will continue to honoUr their late father Truett Cathy’s strong stand for biblical values – all to the glory of God!
“While Chick-fil-A is one of the few restaurants closed on Sunday to honour God, what if we make today ‘Pray for Chick-fil-A Day?’
“Will you join me in praying?”
The US fast-food chain has a long history of supporting anti-LGBT+ causes.
In 2013, it was reported that the chain’s anti-LGBT+ donations had almost doubled. The Chick-fil-A Foundation donated almost $3 million to an anti-marriage equality organisation in 2011.
In 2012, Chick-fil-A boss Dan Cathy confirmed that the chain is against same-sex marriage. He later said he regretted getting the company entangled in controversy surrounding LGBT+ rights, but said his views had not changed.
“The bottom line is we have a responsibility here to keep the whole of the organisation in mind and it has to take precedence over the personal expression and opinion on social issues,” he said.
