Inspired by similar efforts at college campuses across the United States, this petition aims to censure Chick-fil-A's discriminatory practices against the LGBT community as well as to foster a more diverse and just campus life at the University of South Florida.

Chick-fil-A currently serves thousands of students a year at the University of South Florida. However, the company has spoken openly against LGBT equality and consistently funded groups that seek to curb LGBT rights. In fact, Chick-fil-A has donated over $5 million dollars to anti-gay organizations between 2003 - 2010, supporting groups such as Focus On The Family, Exodus International, and the Family Research Council.

For more information, you can read these news stories:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/02/chick-fil-a-anti-gay-group-donations-_n_1644609.html?utm_hp_ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=false​

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/27/college-students-protest-chick-fil-a_n_1711001.html?utm_hp_ref=college​

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/27/college-students-protest-chick-fil-a_n_1711001.html?utm_hp_ref=college

As a campus that stands for diversity and inclusion, the University of South Florida should not fund a company that supports anti-equality measures. LGBT rights are human rights and no university should cooperate with a group that is openly against human rights. By removing the Chick-fil-A vendor from the Marshall Center, the USF community will affirm its commitment to all of its members.

All are welcome to sign. However, if you are a USF student, staff, or faculty member, please include your full name and the reason why you are signing.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Dr. Scott Ferguson

Assistant Professor

Department of Humanities & Cultural Studies

University of South Florida

 

* The above language has been adapted from Peggy Hay's University of Louisville petition (see http://www.change.org/petitions/university-of-louisville-food-services-please-remove-chick-fil-a-from-the-sac).