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“Coca-Cola has gotten a 100 percent rating [from the HRC Corporate Equality Index] and is very friendly to our community. When their CEO chooses to speak and headline with a company that is against us, it is tarnishing Coca-Cola’s reputation,” Schappaugh said.
Delta Air Lines, also a gay-friendly company that ranks high with HRC’s Corporate Equality Index, is a sponsor of the Leadercast event and Schappaugh said a letter will be sent to company officials pointing out the disparities between Delta and Chick-fil-A over equality for LGBT employees.
Currently Chick-fil-A writes non-discrimination clauses into the franchisee agreements in states where they are required by law. Where it isn’t required, they don’t, said Art Izzard of the Queer Justice League.
“We feel if Chick-fil-A really wants to ‘talk the talk’ for leadership and change they should ‘walk the walk’ and adopt a corporate policy that protects all their employees from discrimination regardless of the legal requirements of a specific jurisdiction,” Izzard said.
GetEQUAL, a national direct-action group, is also planning national protests of Chick-fil-A on May 6, including supporting student organizations trying to get the fast-food chain kicked off campuses for its anti-gay support, Schappaugh said.
“Through action we can create change,” he said.
Top photo: GetEqual GA and the Atlanta Queer Justice League plan to protest at the Chick-fil-A Leadercast Conference on May 6, including having protesters dressed in cow costumes to mock the fast-food chain’s iconic mascots. (via Facebook)