The LGBT and ally community on Drexel University’s campus is preparing to mobilize against a planned leadership event next week — one that is organized by a notorious right-wing food chain.
As of presstime, Drexel was forging ahead with its May 4 Chick-fil-A Leadercast, a daylong conference broadcast live from Atlanta to venues throughout the world. The leadership-development event will feature presentations by such figures as conservative footballer Tim Tebow.
In the past few years, Chick-fil-A has reportedly donated more than $3 million to antigay organizations, including National Organization for Marriage and Focus on the Family, drawing protests and boycotts by LGBTs and progressives.
A protest may be looming on Drexel’s campus if the event continues as planned.
Ted Faigle, program manager of Drexel’s Program for LGBT Health, contacted university officials April 18 to lodge a complaint about university support for the event.
The webcast is part of the “Creating Experiential Opportunities for Leadership Education and Development” series held by the Office of Campus Activities.
In a statement released to PGN, the university said that it is “committed to fostering a community grounded in open dialogue and a respect for diversity, a community that can engage with curiosity and humility, honoring and celebrating people’s fundamental differences and similarities.”
The university added that the webcast is “one of many leadership events sponsored by corporations throughout the year to provide students at Drexel the opportunity to build their leadership skill set.”
Attendance is voluntary. Students who participate in the daylong Chick-fil-A Leadercast conference will receive three credits toward a CEO LEAD certification.
In his communication with the university, Faigle also heard from Rita LaRue, senior associate vice president of Drexel Business Services, who, while not involved in the planning of the Leadercast, pointed out that it was Drexel students who selected Chick-fil-A to join the campus as a vendor.
The eatery won the most votes in a 2008 contest where students were asked to choose a brand to be featured at a new dining venue on campus, which opened in 2009.
William Lukas, Drexel sophomore and outreach coordinator of Foundation of Undergraduates for Sexual Equality, organized a protest last year at the campus Chick-fil-A to raise awareness about the company’s practices, which began to come to light in 2011.
Lukas said the university’s participation in the conference “sends a message of contradiction, as the university is working to create a more inclusive space for all students.”
“I think it’s pretty offensive because it’s no secret that Chik-fil-A has antigay connections,” he said.
The university said it “acknowledges the concerns raised by its LGBTQ community regarding Chick-fil-A’s business viewpoints, philanthropy and presence on campus as a dining location. The university encourages members of its LGBTQ community to ask questions and voice their concerns because Drexel believes that open dialogue makes the university’s diverse and inclusive campus even stronger.”
Faigle noted that, ideally, the university would cancel the event but, if not, supporters are prepared to stage a public protest.
“I got in touch with all of the networks of LGBT people and allies and got a deluge of responses,” he said. “People have really kicked into action over this.”
Members of the LGBT student community met Tuesday night to make plans for a May 4 action.
“As members of a marginalized community, we will demonstrate autonomy and hold the university accountable for their continued relations with antigay businesses and failure to see this event as a step backward in addressing LGBTQ equality at Drexel,” Lukas said.
Once the Leadercast issue passes, Faigle said he’d like the university to reconsider Chick-fil-A’s presence on campus.
“We need to start having a discussion about whether they should be a vendor and how the nondiscrimination policy the university has — which prohibits discrimination based on things like race, color, creed, sexual orientation and gender identity and does include contracts with vendors — is being impacted here. This relationship with Chick-fil-A is an insult to the LGBT community.”
LaRue has agreed to meet with the Drexel LGBTQA+ Faculty & Staff Network at its May 8 meeting to hear their concerns about the restaurant.