Chick-fil-A is funding a group that hosts drag queens reading stories to children. Yes, really
Chick-fil-As in the US has been a site of protest for many LGBT+ people. (Tibrina Hobson/FilmMagic)
In news that no horoscope, psychic or Mystic Meg could have ever predicted, fast-food chain Chick-fil-A has funded a group that is hosting drag queen story time sessions.
The Baptist-owned company has a long, well-documented history of donating to anti-LGBT+ charities and advocacy groups, but became plunged into further controversy after flip-flopping on whether to continue its donations.
But in further plot twist, the company’s charitable wing, the Chick-fil-A Foundation, has sent money to the partner of a drag queen group that reads stories to children, financial records show.
Chick-fil-A donated $100,000 to charity thats’ parent company hosts drag queen reading groups.
Covenant House, a charity that tackles youth homelessness, has a New York affiliate that provides “community space” to host the readings, according to Drag Queen Story Hour’s website.
The organisation sees queens swing by community libraries and local schools across the US.
In the group’s New York City branch, kids across the five boroughs sit down and hear the queens read books that touch on diversity as well as doings arts and crafts sessions.
In these spaces, kids are able to see people who defy rigid gender restrictions and imagine a world where people can present as they wish, where dress up is real.
Chick-fil-A have donated around $230,000 overall to Covenant House, which, being a homelessness charity, has a particular focus on LGBT+ youth who are disproportionately more likely to be homeless.
Moreover, the Foundation’s 2017 and 2018 IRS 990 forms reveal is wired $30,000 to Covenant House Georgia and $100,000 to Covenant House California. Neither of these branches are partnered with Drag Queen Story Hour.
But a branch billed as based in New york City received a total donation of $100,000, according to financial records.
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.
