Rider University, a private institution in New Jersey, won’t be offering Chick-fil-A as an on-campus restaurant because of its anti-LGBTQ record, reported WSB.
President Gregory G. Dell’Omo and Vice President of Student Affairs Leanna Fenneberg published a letter to the university community, saying the Atlanta-based chicken restaurant was removed from a student survey regarding new on-campus restaurants.
“Although it was included in previous surveys, Chick-fil-A was removed as one of the options based on the company’s record widely perceived to be in opposition to the LGBTQ+ community,” the letter read. “Ultimately, we decided to lean in the direction of creating a welcoming environment where differences can be appreciated and where each individual can expect to experience dignity and respect.”
Chick-fil-A has been under fire in the past for supporting groups that oppose gay marriage. In 2012, CEO Dan Cathy expressed his opposition of same-sex marriage and support of “the biblical definition of the family unit.” After receiving intense backlash and boycotting, Cathy vowed he’d “leave the policy debate over same-sex marriage to the government and political arena.”
Chick-fil-A responded to Rider’s decision in an email to the Atlanta Business Chronicle, saying, “Chick-fil-A is a restaurant company focused on food, service and hospitality, and our restaurants and licensed locations on college campuses welcome everyone. We have no policy of discrimination against any group, and we do not have a political or social agenda. More than 120,000 people from all different backgrounds and beliefs represent the Chick-fil-A brand.”