Chick-fil-A CEO Befriends Gay Rights Leader

And gay rights group Campus Pride has ended anti-Chick-fil-A campaign

In a shocking reversal, the leader of Campus Pride has "come out" as a friend and supporter of Chick-fil-A CEO Dan Cathy.

Shane L. Windmeyer made the announcement in an op-ed that's well worth reading in full. "For many this news of friendship might be shocking," he admitted.

After all, I am an out, 40-year-old gay man...I am also the founder and executive director of Campus Pride [which] advanced a national campaign against Chick-fil-A for the millions of dollars it donated to anti-LGBT organizations...I have spent quite some time being angry at and deeply distrustful of Dan Cathy and Chick-fil-A. If he had his way, my husband of 18 years and I would never be legally married.

So what brought about Windemeyer's "shocking" reversal? Dialogue.

In the heat of the Chick-fil-A controversy of 2012, Dan Cathy called Windmeyer seeking "understanding." They talked on the phone many times, sharing their views.

Eventually Dan Cathy invited Windmeyer to New Year's Eve at the Chick-fil-A Bowl. "This was an event that Campus Pride and others had planned to protest," writes Windmeyer, who salutes Dan Cathy's courage in inviting him and facing "the ire of his conservative base...by being seen or photographed with an LGBT activist."

Last week Dan Cathy shared his 990 tax documents with Windmeyer. To the latter's surprise, Chick-fil-A had stopped funding anti-gay marriage groups way back in 2011 – before the controversy erupted in 2012.

Campus Pride, the group Windmeyer heads, has also now reversed course completely and ended their anti-Chick-fil-A campaign.

Via the Huffington Post and Campus Pride.

Does this story change your view of Chick-fil-A, or the gay rights movement, or both?

[Jack-Black]

No. I had /have no issue with either group. It is Chick-fil-a's right to believe what they want as well as the Gay rights group.

[Clarke12]

completely agree, Jack-Black.

[AlexMIA]

Well said Jack.

[Politicskid]

Politix, this is a poorly worded poll. There were some of us that supported chick fil a even before this news.

[DARSB]

Just goes to show you, it's easy to dislike or even hate people, in the abstract. It's harder to do that up close and personal.

George Carlin had a bit about our opinions of other people and how we express those opinions based on proximity. If the guy is in the room with you, it's a whisper. "this guy's an a$$hole." If the guy is out of the building, it's normal indoor voice level. "This guy's an A$$HOLE!" If the guy lives out of town, like in the White House, it's a full throated shout. "THIS GUY'S AN A$$HOLE!!"

[Denizen_Kate]

There are no Chick-fil-A restaurants in my area, so I didn't participate in the boycott due to geography. This was a nice story, I hope it's true. I also hope this isn't the last time we read about people with vastly different views and lifestyles coming together in an effort to understand each other. (Yes, I know I sound like Pollyanna at times, but I find it much less stressful to be an optimist.:)

[jessejaymes]

You aren't nice to me. I tried to get you to go for lobster and a romp and what did you say? Accused me of Gingerphobia. Tsk.

[PoliticalSpice]

You don't understand guys. The guy is just looking for some action on the side, figures the chickenhawk is a closet case waiting to cum out. He's hoping with him...

[methinks]

Now, aren't you glad you didn't go to those demonstrations? I'm sorry to say, but when liberals disagree with someone's opinion, all their talk of tolerance gets thrown out the window, and is immediately replaced with foaming at the mouth hatred.

Remember all the hate filled comments coming from people about Dan Cattie. They now have to eat a huge slice of humble pie because of what these two "adults" did.

We can all learn a lesson from this...including you, Dr. Funklestein!

[PoliticalSpice]

@methinks larry Craige. Nuff said. And flattering by saying I'm sick and twisted will get you nowhere. Learn to laugh...

[NTBFW]

My give a f*ck must be broke. I like their chicken. Gay straight. Just wash your hands

[Raptor]

It may surprise you but I think they both suck.One sells bad food and the other(and I will be deleted for this comment), well use your imagination. LOL

[PoliticalSpice]

Think tge chicken hawk is a closet case. All the gay bashers usually are. Larry Craige. That they both suck is the idea...

[ACTSmom]

The boycott didn't work anyway..glad to see they're now friends..

[Arumizy]

You can dislike a persons actions and not hate them, i dislike homosexuality but i do not hate anyone. People tried to make him seem like a hate monger even though his most controversial comment was he supported the traditional values of marriage and the religious sanctimony of it.

[jessejaymes]

I've never been in a chick fil a in my life and the way I figure it is that if someone owns a company and are dumb enough to alienate a segment of their customer base, that's their right. Here's your sign.

[WattheTyler]

It's like Jew rights leader befriending Adolf Hitler.

[cleverusername]

yup yup it's just like that. Rolls eyes...

[Dan_Tien]

"So what brought about Windemeyer's "shocking" reversal? Dialogue." Did the dialogue include a promise to donate money to Campus Pride?

[hankf68]

$$$ :)

[twinertia]

Yep, looks as if Windemeyer might've been bought off. Cathy's still a bigot.

[SignifiedNBlue]

I have often wondered if gay people would stop flaunting it people may just accept it..prostitutes dont flaunt it. Only to their customers.LOL ok scratch that.. Haaaaaaaaaa

[scotta]

I stood behind both the gay rights had constitutional right to protest and and I also stood behind the chick company for expressing his personal expression he did not fire any body for being gay or anti gay.

[texas_cutie75]

I love love love Chick-fil-a and have quite a few gay friends.... I had no dog in that fight. I'm glad a little communication messed some tension!

[humptydumpty]

I dont care but one thing i know is no matter where you stand on this issue it takes a hen and a rooster to make chicken!

[harold_lloyd]

It always encourages me when somone can change their mind about something. It's an indication of personal growth.

[falco_alba]

I tend to not eat places that practice discrimination with corporate profits. It is nice to see that I can be comfortable spending my money there again.

[Politicskid]

You really thought this guy was anti-gay rights for economic gain? Give me a break. They aren't open on Sundays because of his Christian principals...he does it because of his values, not because it puts him ahead!

[falco_alba]

@Politicskid

You misunderstand me.

I've known that his company made donations to anti-gay organizations using corporate profits long before this ever became public. It would be one thing if it was private, personal money. However, he used money from consumer profit. So I didn't eat there. I didn't want a percentage of my dollar being donated to organizations that systematically release propaganda against people.

Now that I know that he has stopped doing so, I am more comfortable spending my money there.

I could not care less what his beliefs are. But my money will not support those beliefs if I disagree with them.

[Fishbone345]

Money talks, BS walks.
I can't believe that there aren't more comments on this thread, there were so many months ago.
Probably too caught up in guns articles to notice.

[ConserveUSA]

I hate the sin but not the person.

[SavageMazx]

I don't care, one should serve me over priced chicken and the other is less than 5% of the population clamoring as if they were the majority.....to put it as polite as possible STFU.....move on please.