Economic group invites Chick-fil-A CEO to give keynote speech at 'equality' conference

Economic group invites Chick-fil-A CEO to give keynote speech at ‘equality’ conference
Dan Cathy's company continues to be one of the most anti-LGBTQ businesses in America.
Josh Israel
Aug 2, 2018, 8:00 am


The theme of next month’s annual International Economic Development Council (IEDC) conference — which approximately 1,500 people are expected to attend — will be “inclusive economic development.” But the keynote speaker at the Atlanta gathering is none other than the head of one of America’s least inclusive companies: Chick-fil-A chairman, president, and CEO Dan Cathy.

Though it has funded and backed anti-LGBTQ causes for years, it was not until 2012 that Chick-fil-A became nationally known for its exclusionary views. That year, Cathy confirmed the restaurant chain’s anti-gay political agenda, telling the Baptist Press that his company was “guilty as charged.”

Following national backlash, Cathy claimed he and the company would stay out of the debate on LGBTQ rights and “treat every person with honor, dignity and respect — regardless of their beliefs, race, creed, sexual orientation and gender.” But five and a half years later, the company remains one of the largest national companies without a written non-discrimination policy for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer employees, as well as a 0 score on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index.

Additionally, a recent tax filing for the company’s tax-exempt foundation revealed that it continues to fund anti-LGBTQ organizations like the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the Paul Anderson Youth Home, and the Salvation Army.

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https://thinkprogress.org/dan-cathy-chick-fil-a-ceo-keynote-equality-conference/