The Virginia football team participated in the Chick-fil-A Bowl in Atlanta New Year’s Eve. LGBTQ groups say Chick-fil-A has contributed millions of dollars to anti-LGBTQ organizations. Photo courtesy Virginia Athletics
The Serpentine Society, the LGBTQ alumni organization at the University, sent an open letter to President Teresa A. Sullivan Dec. 30 to express dismay with the Virginia football team’s decision to participate in the Chick-fil-A Bowl the next day. The group maintains that the fast food chain supports anti-LGBTQ organizations.
Sean Kennedy, co-chair of The Serpentine Society and author of the letter, wrote that he understood that a bowl invitation is “hard to turn down,” and asked the University to make a donation to LGBTQ studies at the University.
In an interview, Kennedy said the group was frustrated with Chick-fil-A’s highly visibile anti-LGBTQ agenda in mainstream media.
In the letter, Kennedy referenced a January 2011 article in The New York Times which indicated that the company’s operators, its WinShape Foundation and its founding family have given “millions of dollars” to a “variety of causes and programs,” including “groups working to defeat same-sex marriage initiatives.”
Moreover, Seth Kaye, an executive member of Queer and Allied Activism at the University, noted that Chick-fil-A’s founders have donated about $2 million to groups classified by the Southern Poverty Law Center as hate groups.
These groups, such as Focus on the Family, try to “prevent marriage equality in states” and “promote conversion from gay to straight,” Kennedy said. “We want some money to combat the money that Chick-fil-A gives to these organizations.”
University spokesperson Carol Wood said bowl proceeds had already been allocated before The Serpentine Society sent its letter. $50,000 will be given to AccessUVa, and another $50,000 to a scholarship for a student from Georgia.
“These gifts have the ability to benefit LGBTQ students in our community,” Wood said.
The Chick-fil-A Bowl provides a $3.35 million payout to participating teams, according to numerous reports. But Virginia football spokesperson Jim Daves said in an email that this money is divided among other ACC programs. It is unclear exactly how much Virginia received.
Despite the allegations against the Chick-fil-A brass, Wood said “there is no report to my knowledge that [Chick-fil-A founders] have influenced the company’s treatment of its employees or its patrons, nor have they negatively influenced the company’s corporate sponsorship of the Chick-fil-A Bowl.”
Still, Kennedy believes the University needs to stand up for equality.
“We don’t begrudge the University’s successes … all we want from the president was acknowledgement that they support LGBTQ equality,” he said.
Kennedy said The Serpentine Society also hopes to see the LGBTQ area of study expand at the University, including the introduction of a queer studies minor.
Wood responded to The Serpentine Society last night, saying the University does not have a choice as to which bowl the football team plays in, nor does the participation in the Chick-fil-A Bowl counter “strong-held beliefs about the importance of diversity in our community.” She also emphasized the University’s “strong commitment to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender community.”
Kennedy said he appreciated the University’s response, but is disappointed that no donation is going to be made to the LGBTQ studies fund at the College Foundation.
“The University significantly lags behind peer institutions … concerning academic opportunities,” Kennedy said.
Representatives from the Chick-fil-A Bowl did not respond to emails and phone calls requesting comment.
Correction: An earlier version of this story has been updated to reflect that the University donated $50,000, not $500,000 of its proceeds from the football team’s participation in January’s Chick-fil-A Bowl to AccessUVa.
I feel bad for the complete lack of intellect shown by the authors of this letter. First of all, you guys are asking for money (donation) from the University as a show of its commitment to EQUALITY. Well, then (in the name of equality), the University would have to give a donation to EVERY group on Campus. Let me be clear: you are not asking for LGBTQ equality; you are asking for special treatment for LGBTQ people. If you were asking for equality, you would be asking to be treated as an INDIVIDUAL in all circumstances. Being given or denied anything (regardless of whether that thing is good or bad) solely based on the group you identify with amounts to inequality. It doesn’t make sense to support inequality when it favors you (i.e. a donation from the University) but to oppose it when it denies you (anti-same sex marriage laws). Equality stems from treating all people as INDIVIDUALS; inequality comes about from treating people (good or bad) based on our perceptions of what group they belong to. There is no “LGBTQ equality”, there is only equality for all humans. I personally think the authors have a backwards understanding of equality.
Secondly, aren’t the authors being nit-picky? It’d be like a black person saying to them: hey, you participate in a University that built it’s lawn with slaves. Therefor, you (and every other participant) needs to make a monetary donation to me as a show of support for racial equality. IT”S ABSURD!
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Hot debate. What do you think?
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I think you miss the point “Person.” The issue is really not the money but the fact that the University participated in a bowl game sponsored by a corporation that donates money to hate groups. Perhaps the LGBTQ aspect of the situation is off-putting to you. Would you hold the same opinion if the issue was race? If Chick-Fil-A donated to the Klan and groups that promote “praying away” the blackness of African Americans because God is offended by blackness would you still want the university to participate? Participation for those protesting equates to a passive acceptance of bigotry. The focus now shifts to the money because we can not undo the University’s poor decision. Naturally, a group descriminated against would ask that the money go to counteract the sponsor’s neferious activities.
Your interpretation of equality could use a little more thought. If one identifying aspect of my personality automatically associates me with a group, it is reasonable that oI would work in a group to overturn prejudice. You point out the issue of marriage. If I were to apply for a marriage license in some states it would be denied. Not because the municipality does not like me (I am a delightful person really) but because I am associated through an aspect of my identity with a group.
On a sidenote I would caution phrases like “I feel bad for the complete lack of intellect shown by the authors of this letter.” More often times than not personal attacks such as this reflect poorly for the author more than for the intended target.
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It demonstrates the principle of free speech, not hate, to oppose gay marriage. They have a right to their personal and religious beliefs, just as you do! They are not comparable to the KKK because they do not promote violence, they just have their own opinions.
If you oppose brutality, I suggest you work against apple and boycott all iphones and ipads, as they abuse the workers in China who make them:
http://e.businessinsider.com/TxYYSWdj2epkAAkQ/TxLxZXSIji12AwnjA276c
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Who the hell turned the happy faced CavMan into the pycho mad guy over the summer?
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I believe the letter also addresses the inequity in donations to affinity groups in relation to other peer universities in the country as a basis for the donation request. I would imagine the University gives quite a bit to students of ethnic minorities, but yet, you don’t feel inclined to “go there.” Which I’d imagine is because you know it would be shut down immediately. Which goes back to Christopher’s point – it isn’t the request for the donation that bothers you nearly as much as the fact it is an LGBT organization involved. Though I’d imagine secretly you also think the blacks and hispanics should stop asking for “handouts” as well if they want to be “equal.”
There’s a very big difference as well in countering the University’s decision to partner with Chick-fil-a today than dealing with the fact the University was built using slave labor 200 years ago. If you can’t parse that out, then I’m shocked you’re even a student at the University. Ignoring of course that even though it was 200 years ago, the University does a great deal to try to reconcile that history through education and scholarship.
As someone who graduated from the University when people did still sing “not gay” during the Good Ol’ Song (and until this letter, I had not realized that had stopped) and who felt it was not a welcoming environment for someone openly gay or lesbian, I’m proud of the great progress made in that regard. So much so I’ve started giving back financially. So if you need a practical, pragmatic reason to support a welcoming environment – there’s one. LGBT students are going to come to UVA becuase it is a great school. And many may choose to give back if their experience there is one they care to remember and be proud of.
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I think the University’s words are also nice, but a bit hollow in light of the SPLC review of the donations. Though I love and sometimes contribute to Access UVA, I will take the money I would have sent this year to the Serpentine Society or LGBTQ studies fund instead. If other gay alumni follow suit, perhaps it will inspire the University to act in accordance with its “strong-held beliefs.”
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dear patzke, I think you are missing the point. Do you not realize that you are participating in a University that has practiced inequality for 200 years? I think, if you really care about equality, you would reject UVA altogether. As a wholly non-preppy alum, I can tell you that UVA is one of the most prejudiced and close-minded places on earth, as I experienced a ton of exclusion based on my personality and style of dress. Should I ask for a donation to non-preps who don’t fit in with the popular UVa preppy culture? Hell no! Honestly, before you complain about the University participating in something you deem reprehensible, please realize that I can just as easily look at you, and accuse you of participating in a University whose very culture and history is reprehensible and deplorable.
As far as the gay marriage debate, I do not believe it’s the government’s job to grant or deny “rights”. If gov’t can grant to right for gays to marry, then it can just as easily deny the right for gays to marry, and both are wrong. I think gov’t oversteps its bounds in even recognizing marriage. I think marriage is a strictly religious and family institution, not a gov’t one. Inevitably, some churches and families would allow gays to marry, while others would not. Gov’t is already wrong to written marriage laws; writing further laws to disenfranchise or re-enfranchise gays is not the solutions, as two wrongs don’t make a right. Gov’t should not be involved in granting marriage licenses (whether it be to a man-man, man-woman, or man-dog).
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Our society has become dominated by extremist groups, such as the Serpentine Society, on the far left- and far-right ends of the political spectrum. Next, we will be told that the University must boycott bowl games sponsored by corporations that provide financial support to Planned Parenthood.
Groups, such as the Serpentine Society, which are within their rights to express their political opinions, should focus their narrow-minded perspectives on more productive purposes. They should advocate for the elimination of state-sanctioned marriage so all citizens, gay or straight, can enjoy the glory of such a magnificent institution. Attempting to force their views on others, through civil and legal authority, merely highlights their own hateful viewpoints and that of their hateful adversaries. Perhaps, we could extradite both the Serpentine Society and their ideological opponents to the “Hateful States of America” and save the rest of us from their hate-filled beliefs.
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The arguments that the expressed view of the Serpentine Society is a ‘hate-filled belief’ shown to be stupid by Thomas Jefferson in his excellent short tutorial about the sort of governance the Founders declared, fought for, and established, found in his First Inaugural Address of March 1801 ( http://www.bartleby.com/124/pres16.html ):
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During the contest of opinion through which we have passed the animation of discussions and of exertions has sometimes worn an aspect which might impose on strangers unused to think freely and to speak and to write what they think; but this being now decided by the voice of the nation, announced according to the rules of the Constitution, all will, of course, arrange themselves under the will of the law, and unite in common efforts for the common good. All, too, will bear in mind this sacred principle, that though the will of the majority is in all cases to prevail, that will to be rightful must be reasonable; that the minority possess their equal rights, which equal law must protect, and to violate would be oppression. Let us, then, fellow-citizens, unite with one heart and one mind. Let us restore to social intercourse that harmony and affection without which liberty and even life itself are but dreary things. And let us reflect that, having banished from our land that religious intolerance under which mankind so long bled and suffered, we have yet gained little if we countenance a political intolerance as despotic, as wicked, and capable of as bitter and bloody persecutions. During the throes and convulsions of the ancient world, during the agonizing spasms of infuriated man, seeking through blood and slaughter his long-lost liberty, it was not wonderful that the agitation of the billows should reach even this distant and peaceful shore; that this should be more felt and feared by some and less by others, and should divide opinions as to measures of safety. But every difference of opinion is not a difference of principle. We have called by different names brethren of the same principle. We are all Republicans, we are all Federalists. If there be any among us who would wish to dissolve this Union or to change its republican form, let them stand undisturbed as monuments of the safety with which error of opinion may be tolerated where reason is left free to combat it. I know, indeed, that some honest men fear that a republican government can not be strong, that this Government is not strong enough; but would the honest patriot, in the full tide of successful experiment, abandon a government which has so far kept us free and firm on the theoretic and visionary fear that this Government, the world’s best hope, may by possibility want energy to preserve itself? I trust not. I believe this, on the contrary, the strongest Government on earth. I believe it the only one where every man, at the call of the law, would fly to the standard of the law, and would meet invasions of the public order as his own personal concern.
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Several points to highlight:
Founders state that “minority possess their equal rights, which equal law must protect, and to violate would be oppression”. Our governance is NOT mob rule or militia rule; it is not even purely majority rule. Rather it is rule of law, and this rule of law can never be oppressive of a minority. So, our governance must pay particularly attention NOT to participate in oppression of minorities. The Serpentine Society had made claims – and presented evidence – that Chick Fil A’s principals are complicit in oppression of sexual and gender minorities. This evidence must be answered. The University tried, inadequately, to counter this evidence. There must be a more extensive conversation about the evidence.
And, Founders state that this rule of law – the inherently respects minorities – must be engaged with an ‘affection’ for liberty. What threatens liberty?: Founders know from the history of Europe and early America that religious wars, religious inquisitions, religious bigotry caused “throes and convulsions of the ancient world, during the agonizing spasms of infuriated man”, and Founders purposefully established governance to avoid these threats to liberty: Founders state that they labored to “banish from our land that religious intolerance under which mankind so long bled and suffered, we have yet gained little if we countenance a political intolerance as despotic, as wicked, and capable of as bitter and bloody persecutions”. Founders disallowed in any establishment of religious belief in governance. There are no scientifically sound, non-religious based, arguments opposing same-sex marriage of competent adults. Why does the University continue to coerce its constituents based on the establishment of particular religious beliefs about marriage? and particular religious beliefs about sexual identity? or gender identity?
Serpentine Society is asking that the respect shown to other constituents of the University be shown to sexual and gender minority constituents. Serpentine Society has presented evidence that Chick Fil A’s principals have intentionally funded groups that deny the authentic existence and human morality of gay and lesbian persons. If that evidence is accurate, then the University’s acceptance of money from Chick Fil A’s principals, must be qualified by some substantial showing that the University does not endorse any denial of the human rights of lgbtq persons, families and communities. Words from the University that UVA respect human rights of lgbtq constituents are an excellent first step: but again, reason asks, are these words accurate? Where is the evidence that UVA respects lgbtq constituents equally with other constituents?
Do ask these questions is not ‘hate filled’, but, rather, an exertion of reasonable inquiry.
Unfortunately, the University has not provided evidence of its “strong commitment to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender community.” Words matter, but evidence matters as much. UVA has not provided evidence that it is not acting with religious/cultural coercion that harms sexual and gender minority students, employees, alums, others, who state that they are experiencing coercion. Told that it is acting with oppressive coercion – which facts lgbtq constituents could recite at length in meetings with the University, should the University engage a mutually respectful conversation (which it has not) – what has the University accomplished (not merely ‘said’ ) to overcome actual and perceived oppression and coercion of sexual and gender minority constituents?
Just as Mr Jefferson was eager to present the evidence that the national governance opposes oppression, the University should be eager to present evidence that its governance has not shadow of oppression in it.
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Chick-fil-A was not caught on videotape six times trying to aid and profit from child sex trafficking. Planned Parenthood was. So even though I agree with the above post, the two are not comparable when it comes to ethics.
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I think the University has tried and continues to support the gay student
community and it has certainly improved over the many years since I graduated in 1974 and I believe that it will continue to improve its commitment to the benefit of all students at the university as times do
indeed change for the betterment of all Americans of whatever religion,
race, creed, political beliefs, sex, sexual orientation or anyother group
designation that can be identified as part of the American dream. It takes
time for society to change and adjust to new beginnings and although not
perfect its a start and moreso is it the continued responsibility to point
out the contradictions in our society as it changes gradually by the younger generations of Americans that hold so much promise for the future
of democracy in America as a county that truely lives by its Constitution
and Bill of Rights without exception to any group of individuals for what
ever reasons.
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Joseph, the University of Virginia started murdering entirely innocent and defenseless infants in UVA hospital in 1991. They continue to do so at a rate of about two per week, and have violently stopped at least 2552 hearts in the University’s abortion program through 2010. They have also referred tens of thousands of their students to other facilities during this time to kill their children elsewhere.
About 900 babies are slaughtered a year within the UVA community, simply because they were deemed unwanted by someone else. Countless preterm births have since happened due to these procedures performed on women who were not informed of this risk by the University. Thus, there are at least hundreds of children living with moderate to severe developmental disabilities and birth defects such as cerebral palsy due to UVA’s inhumanity, dishonesty, and politically motivated war against medical science.
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Sean,
Please stay on topic. Thanks.
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As I can recall the State of Virginia has never recinded its law regarding
sodomy which was deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court after a male
couple in Georgia in believe took their arrest for sodomy to court. I dont
understand why the students at the University dont demand and lobby the
virginia legistlature to recind that law. I also dont understand why the
gay lobby in Richmond doesnt demand it also be recinded. Black folks in the fields of agriculture suid the federal government because of its
discrimination against black farmers in grants financial assistance to raise crops and have won their case. The students at the University could
also it seems to me file suit against the University for its practice in
supporting events,etc by companies who discriminate againt gay folks and
even perhaps against the companies themselves. Its interesting that Jefferson is frequently quoted at the University, however no one ever says
anything about the 600 slaves he owned, or about the number of children
he fathered by one of his slaves who I believe was Sally Hemmings. Jefferson apparently was an equal opportunity sexual being. It is incredible to me that any state or federal government would dictate to
its citizens who you could love? Leonard Matlovitch has on his tombstone
the words something like “they tought me how to kill a man and discharged me because I loved one.” It seems to me that the youth of American are at
the forfront of being active in changing the attitudes and laws concerning
those who have been denied their civil rights as some identified minority
group however their description and the outrageous social, emotionsl, and
psychological harm that has been done to minority groups that have been
marginalized by hateful federal and state laws. Someday I hope that America is truely a land of the free and the brave.
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The topic is whether the university should take part in events that enrich a company that in turn support a few activist groups that don’t mesh with the politics of some (not all) students and faculty. But the overall argument is that Chick-Fil-A is a human rights abuser via its contributions to some groups. That may be true, but only if you accept that the right to legally marry someone of the same gender is a human right. At present, it is not in a legal sense any more than incestuous or polygamous marriages are. Some people like where the line is drawn currently (one man, one woman only), but some people don’t. At present, that is the only legal marriage anywhere in the United States. Federal law > state laws. Been that way since 1865.
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