Sign the petition to urge FOCUS St. Louis and the Clayton Chamber of Commerce to say NO to discrimination!

On March 18th, Chick-fil-A President Dan Cathy will be hosted by FOCUS St. Louis and the Clayton Chamber of Commerce for a presentation on leadership at the Center of Clayton.  FOCUS St. Louis along with the Clayton Chamber of Commerce have always had a strong history of inclusion and diversity, though unfortunately the same cannot be said for Chick-fil-A. 

If you hadn't already known, earlier this year in January, a Pensylvania Chick-fil-A franchise was found to have supported the efforts of the Pennsylvania Family Institute -- a group affiliated with the Family Resource Institute, which had recently been designated a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.   This was not just a local issue.  Upon further investigation at the local level, strong ties were found between the Chick-fil-A Corporate entity and related Winshape Foundation and other anti-gay groups such as the National Organization for Marriage.  Despite efforts to distance the business from such activities, it is clear the Chick-fil-A brand condones discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

To have organizations such as FOCUS St. Louis, who champions diversity, community, leadership, and social justice; and the Clayton Chamber of Commerce, which is based in one of our most welcoming cities, hold someone such as Dan Cathy up as a leader is an affront to the very principles of both organizations.  Additionally, this event is taking place within Saint Louis County, where someone who identifies as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender can still be fired from their job, denied an apartment or denied access to services.

Thus, PROMO calls on FOCUS St. Louis and the Clayton Chamber of Commerce to CANCEL the appearance of Chick-fil-A President Dan Cathy.  Instead, PROMO hopes that the organizations, who share our mutual interests, will seek out a leader who commits to providing TRUE leadership qualities and who commits themselves to the betterment of the entire community.