A Southern high school passed on an offer of a free lunch from Chick-fil-A, with the school's principal saying the decision was made out of respect for his LGBTQ employees.
Steven Corbett, principal of New Orleans's Lusher High School, said he could not in good conscience allow the chain's food to be served at an upcoming employee lunch. The Chick-fil-A meals were offered to schools in the Orleans Parish by the College Football Playoff Foundation, which is hosting the upcoming Sugar Bowl and College Football Championships in the Crescent City.
"Out of respect to our LGBTQ staff, we have chosen to not serve Chick-Fil-A at an employee lunch," Corbett said in a statement. "The #1 rule at Lusher is to 'Be Kind' and we live this motto every day. Chick-Fil-A has been politically outspoken about its views, and we feel it is not part of Lusher's culture of kindness and community."
Chick-fil-A not only donates to anti-LGBTQ causes, it offers no benefits or protections to LGBTQ employees. While many conservatives have made a point of patronizing the chain, other people, like Corbett, have done the opposite and pushed to ban the restaurants.
Meanwhile, a representative from the College Football Playoff Foundation said the organization respects Corbett's decision and will provide food from a different restaurant for Lusher High School staff.