CHICAGO, Sept. 19 (UPI) -- A gay rights advocacy group in Illinois said fast-food chain Chick-fil-A has agreed to stop donating money to anti-homosexual groups.
The Civil Rights Agenda said the restaurant chain "is now taking a much closer look at the organizations it considers helping and in that process will remain true to its stated philosophy of not supporting organizations with political agendas."
The Chicago Tribune reported Wednesday the restaurant chain had agreed after meetings with the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender advocacy group to change its official mission to reflect its intention "not to engage in political or social debates."
The restaurant chain inserted itself into the same-sex marriage debate this summer, when company President Dan Cathy said Chick-fil-A was "guilty as charged" of supporting groups that oppose homosexuality.
Another civil rights group, Equality Matters, reported that Chick-fil-A has donated about $5 million to Christian groups, such as Focus on the Family and the National Organization for Marriage, between 2003 and 2010, of which $2 million was donated in 2010 alone.
The Civil Rights Agenda said the restaurant's senior director of real estate had sent a letter to Chicago Alderman Joe Moreno pledging to stay out of politics.
Moreno had pledged to block Chick-fil-A's attempt to open an outlet in his Chicago district, but he has reconsidered that stance and was now willing to let the restaurant in, the newspaper said.
