CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Campus Pride, the leading national nonprofit for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) and ally college students, has joined with the Outsports.com today in calling for immediate action to end the Chick-fil-A Bowl and Kickoff Games as well as involvement by NCAA, ACC, SEC and ESPN and the participating colleges - University of Alabama, University of Arkansas, Auburn University, Boston College, Clemson University, Duke University, University of Florida, Florida State, University of Georgia, Georgia Tech, University of Kentucky, Louisiana State, University of Maryland, University of Miami, Mississippi State, University of Missouri, University of North Carolina, North Carolina State, Pittsburgh University, University of South Carolina, Syracuse University, University of Tennessee, Texas A&M University, Vanderbilt University, University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Wake Forest University.

Campus Pride supports these specific actions:

• Atlanta Chamber of Commerce should remove the Chick-fil-A name from the Bowl and the Kickoff Games.
• Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and the Southeastern Conference (SEC) should end their relationship with the Bowl game.
• Participating schools involved with the Bowl game should withdraw from this year’s Kickoff Games.
• ESPN should not broadcast the Chick-fil-A Bowl and Kickoff Games.
• National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) should stop all monetary support of the Chick-fil-A Bowl.
• Bowl Championship Series (BCS) commissioners and presidents should not even accept a bid from the Chick-fil-A Bowl to host the impending college football playoff games starting in 2014.

Campus Pride issued this statement today:

"This past week Chick-fil-A radically rebranded its public image and is more than a place where you can buy a chicken sandwich. Chick-Fil-A's brand is now associated directly with hate. It is unfair to ask any college athlete to be forced to play in the Bowl and Kickoff Games branded with a company like Chick-fil-A, which is on record funding documented hate groups like the Family Research Council which advocates the criminalization and death of LGBT people. The company also sponsored Exodus International, an "ex-gay" group claiming to "cure homosexuality" at devastating psychological costs to young people. Chick-Fil-A and its founding family have the right to believe, say and do whatever they want. The Chick-fil-A brand negatively impacts organizations like the ACC, SEC, BCS, ESPN and NCAA who wish to be viewed as inclusive, socially responsible organizations. In addition, participating colleges and universities need to consider the message sent to national audiences by being part of the Chick-fil-A Bowl, especially when it comes to a safe space for all students to learn, live and grow. Ending the relationship with the Chick-fil-A Bowl and Kickoff Games is imperative -- saying 'no' to Chick-fil-A is saying 'no' to hate.”

Learn more about Campus Pride's Call for University Leaders to Uphold Non-Discrimination Policies and End Chick-fil-A Relationships and the Outsports.com post Chick-fil-A Bowl and Kickoff Games should end. ACC, SEC and ESPN should pull out.

For further comment or questions, please email [email protected] or call 704-277-6710.

Campus Pride is the leading national organization for student leaders and campus groups working to create a safer college environment for LGBT students.