In this weird time we live in, with rancor and freedom from fact and hyper-polarization infecting so much of the public discussion, an amazing thing seems to have happened: Dan Cathy, the head of Chik-fil-A, and Shane Windmeyer, the head of Campus Pride and the leader of a boycott against Chik-fil-A, actually met, talked, shared information and ideas, and have now reached something that can reasonably be called a meeting of the minds about gay equality and corporate responsibility. There may even be something of a friendship.
Here, at HuffPo, is Windemeyer’s report of what happened. The boycott is off. Chick-fil-A has made modest but important changes in its giving to outside groups supporting marriage. Don’t look now, but something good just happened.
I’ve known and admired the Cathy family for years, and I thought that most (if not quite all) of the attack on them for being anti-gay was unfair and unfounded. I’m delighted to read this story, and this guy Windmeyer seems like a real leader.
Main take-away point for me: They actually met, talked, got to know one another. I know it can sound trite, but the more I hang around this issue, the more importance I attach to developing personal relationships. Yes, I realize that the hardball tactics — the boycott, the name-calling — is probably what brought Dan Cathy to the table in the first place. Point conceded. But still: I want to feel good for a moment about the simple humanity that seems to be on display here.
The notion that the “boycott is off” is premature. Windemeyer is speaking only for himself and his group that was opposing Chik-fil-A’s attempt to expand on college campuses. As several of the comments at HuffPo indicate, lots of readers think that Windemeyer sold out to for the price of tickets to a bowl game.
In any case, your headline is quite wrong. Whether or not Cathy continues to contribute to hate groups, there is no indication that he is contributing to the struggle for equal rights.
I think you’re misinterpreting David’s headline. My understanding is that he didn’t mean “Support equality by eating a chicken sandwich;” instead he meant, “Now you can be a full-throated advocate of marriage equality and still eat a chicken sandwich.” Of course, David can correct me if I’m wrong.
This is ridiculously and soul-crushingly cynical, IMO. Windmeyer didn’t “sell out.” He’s just being a human being and a good one at that.
I think people on “both sides” can – and I think that they should – agree that this is a really beautiful and inspiring article.
David:
I have gone through this at length. Nothing has changed CFA is still not an Equal Opportunity Employer and that’s just for starters.
BTW, have you read Franck’s piece this morning? Ugh!
Shroeder, I don’t find the article beautiful. Cathy apparently is a good schmoozer, and Windemeyer seems to be so needy for approval that he is impressed when he gets a phone call and then an invitation to attend a bowl game from someone like Cathy. For me, the telling point is that Windeyer’s husband apparently was not invited to the game. That apparently would have just been too upsetting for the Cathy family. They will tolerate one homosexual, but not two, especially not two who are married to each other.
See the Advocate article here.
As usual, the “traditional marriage” people are not to be trusted. What seems to have happened is that Cathy’s foundation has quit giving to groups such as the Family Research Council, the Eagle Forum, the National Organization for Marriage, Focus on the Family, and Exodus, etc.
However, they do give to outfits like the National Christian Foundation, which makes grants to groups like Focus on the Family, etc.
Just a little money laundering to take the heat off Chik-fil-A, and Windemeyer is either wittingly or not a pawn in a public relations campaign.
I’ll be more impressed if and when Dan Cathy spends an evening at a gay bar chatting with the patrons! Perhaps Mr. Windmeyer can arrange for that.
I want to feel good about this meeting, as does David, and I do up to a point. Sure, it’s great when adversaries get together. Given the negative publicity Chick-fil-a has gotten, it’s hard not to wonder if this isn’t just a publicity stunt. Still, personal contact has the effect of humanizing those members of groups you don’t like. Maybe Mr. Cathy can look at a gay person now and see another human being, not an “other” human being.
And there remains the disturbing reality that a minority is being asked to discuss, persuade and otherwise bargain for its legal rights. It’s nice that Maggie Gallagher and Jon Sorvino, or Brian Brown and Dan Savage have a public debate or discussion but it has the consequence of framing the issue as one open to public debate, rather than a legal decision.
A couple of points that I made through a link (for lack of time at the moment):
1. Assuming, for the moment, that these folks are reviewing the filed 990 for calendar year 2011 (which is not on Guidestar), that predates the controversy which began in July of 2012. The 990 is for the year ended December 31, 2011.
2. CFA is not an equal opportunity employer (compare their policy with Starbucks). In addition to LGBT, their highest ranking woman has the title “administrator.” I didn’t notice an “Epstein”or “Blumberg” among management either. Their only rreal diversity policy applies to whom they will serve – not whom they will hire; They are willing to take anyone’s money.
Billy, Windameyer’s husband was not invited? That would have been a deal breaker for me if I was in his shoes.
I think Dan Cathy has built a business empire and is very skilled at human relations. The profits of Chik Fil A flow thorough to Dan Cathy regardless of what his Foundation does or does not do. I cannot support a business where the owners are anti gay.
The correct position for Dan Cathy is to claim that his religion restricts him from his choice of a wife/husband, yet his duty as an American Citizen requires him to not force his religious views into our Civil Laws. Dan Cathy made a good business decision to stop funding anti gay groups. However those of us with longer memories remeber Maggie Gallagher speaking at on of his charity “Marriage Week-end Retreats” We remeber the protestors standing at the gates with Pickett signs. So although Windemeyer seems impressed that prior to the recent chicken sandwich affaire, Cathy was already experiencing business blow black, the reason he made that change came only after pro rights protesting. His decisions for his foundations are related to his business, and the desire to not hurt his business operations.
Basically IMHO Windemeyer got played, got played by a master. Dan Cathy has his photos of a gay man and him, he keeps his business empire in tact, he keeps his beliefs that the fourteenth amendment doesn’t apply to sexual minorities, and Windemeyer got to go to a football game.
The ONLY acceptable position for people who are morally opposed to same gender civil marriage is to treat it exactly the same as people who are morally opposed to Divorce, you accept that Civil Law will not reflect your CHOSEN religious beliefs and you live your life according to your world view, and accept the fact that others have this same right to live their life according to their world view. Did Windemeyer get that from Dan Cathy? Nope. He got to go to a college football game.
Certainly there’s a chance that Windemeyer got “played.” But to somehow know it and be certain of it without being there seems just as closed-minded and closed to any kind of slow progress as our most extreme opponents.
Thank you, Ralph. Exactly.
Slow progress is progress.
Ralph, okay you are right.
I should have said that this is the most likely possibility. To claim it as a fact when
I have no proof, yeah okay, busted.
But really it was only after promgaymprotestorsmshowedmup at their Christian Marriage retreats, which featured Maggie Gallagher, and I watched her whole speech on video, did the Cathy Foundation cut back on the extreme anti gay donations, although he keeps funding this particular hetro only Marriage Retreat. My pont beingmCathy stopped funding the extreme anti gay groups only when he was exposed and his connection to,Chik fil A all,over the pro gay websites. Somitmisn’t as if Cathy had an honest change of heart just out of the blue.
Oh wait on re-reading I said, “IMHO” that is my opinion. I stated it as an opinion not a fact.
I agree with Ralph Lewis and Peter Hoh above.
My basic thought on this is that you do a boycott to change someone’s behavior, not because you think they will suddenly come around to your point of view. So if Chik-fil-a has stopped donating money to fighting same-sex marriage, then it makes sense to call off the boycott.
Billy and David Hart – I’m a little confused. It looks like the data is on giving in 2010 and 2011 and 2012 isn’t available. Has the guy said he will stop giving now? When would that go into effect and when would we know? And, looking at his works, is there any ambiguity about where he will give money?
Diane M.
Here is the time line to the best of my knowledge. I think that this will address your confusion. At least I hope so.