A few days ago I was hit with a barrage of social media ads for the food delivery service, DoorDash. They were on my Facebook announcing boldly, “DoorDash now delivers Chick-fil-A!” It was a full paid sponsored campaign with various pages and banners on Facebook. It was deliberate in celebrating that the most homophobic chicken joint in America had now joined the DoorDash’s food delivery family.
From the standpoint of money, I get it. Whether we, as members of the LGBTQ, want to patronize Chick-fil-A or not, the fact is they remain one of America’s favorite fast food restaurants.
Of course, it makes perfect business sense to offer Chick-fil-A. However, unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’d know that Chick-fil-A has been under significant media scrutiny for its alignment with anti-LGBTQ organizations. They’ve reportedly donated over a million dollars to anti-LGBTQ causes over the years and were called out for it in the press just a month ago as that story came to light. Is Door Dash not aware of this?
Sure DoorDash has every right to add Chick-fil-A to its list of affiliates but from a corporate responsibility standpoint, I was taken aback by the celebratory stance on display in their marketing. These ads looked like a proud declaration, screaming out in excitement their new partnership with Chick-fil-A. It makes me question if DoorDash is blissfully unaware that they are aligning themselves with a notoriously homophobic brand? Or are they simply a willing participant in making money from an on-the-record organization that spends millions of dollars to oppress and harm the LGBTQ community?
Some might argue that DoorDash is merely taking care of business by promoting the new Chik-fil-A delivery, and that’s their right. However, that is not an innocuous proposition if it increases the revenue of a brand that in return takes its earnings and donates to a hateful cause. If DoorDash is going to position itself as a trusted member of communities across the country, then they should be aware of their corporate responsibility which in my opinion should not include strengthening the pockets of homophobic corporations. They should make their position on this matter clear.
I’m certain DoorDash is not the only delivery service offering Chick-fil-A but what concerns me is the blatant jubilance in their announcement that makes me think they give Zero CLUCKS about the social implications.
What is most troubling about all of this is the fact that DoorDash’s corporate location is in San Francisco, arguably the epicenter of the American LGBTQ equality evolution, only second maybe to New York City, famous for the historic Stonewall riots.
How is it possible that DoorDash based in San Francisco of all places, could be oblivious to the well-documented, anti-LGBTQ Chik-fil-A headlines of late? But then again, maybe they’ve been too distracted by their own short-comings. DoorDash made headlines of its own in March when one of their delivery men was caught-on-camera drinking a customer’s milkshake. Then there is the on-going Twitter storm of complaints against their drivers, whom customers have accused of devouring french fries and Chipotle chips before delivering half-eaten meals.
All that aside, the only way to know for sure what is DoorDash’s response to the Chick-fil-A issue, is to ask them directly so I’m currently pursuing a corporate response to this question. In the meantime, however, until I get a proper response, I will be using Fastboy Delivery or Seamless to deliver my food instead.
Bon Appetit!
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This piece is an opinion piece by one Contributing Writer for Instinct Magazine and may not reflect the opinion of the magazine or other Contributing Writers.
I don’t buy Ben and Jerry because they donate to hippie Granola lefty causes I disagree with. So I admire you for saying they have the right to sell whatever product they want. Basically, just don’t buy it.
Love your simplistic view of life. It’s cute.