Hospital Apologizes for Chick-Fil-A Lunch, Thanks Employees Who Had the ‘Courage’ to Complain

A Minnesota hospital issued a profuse apology to staff after failing to abide by its “values of respect and justice” — by giving out free Chick-fil-A.

Essentia Health in Duluth wrote to staff last Tuesday after staff clucked about the free sandwiches available in the St. Mary’s Medical Center’s atrium earlier that day.

“We have received feedback from some colleagues who were concerned or offended by this occurrence, and we value colleagues feeling comfortable expressing their reservations,” Tammy Kritzer, senior vice president for regional operations at Essentia Health wrote in an email to medical staff that was obtained by The Daily Wire.

“We would like to thank our colleagues who had the courage to speak up to widen our lens of inclusivity, and we appreciate all colleagues continuing to live our values of respect and justice,” Kritzer wrote.

Chick-fil-A has drawn the ire of LGBT activists over the years, who have boycotted and staged protests over the company donating to groups like the Salvation Army, which activists claim has “a record of anti-LGBTQ discrimination.”

In fact, the company emphasizes that it “values diversity, equity and inclusion” and does not discriminate or tolerate harassment on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.

The hospital distanced itself from Chick-fil-A in the email, writing that the free lunch was “not intended to endorse a business or business practices,” the email said.

“We respect all we are honored to serve and employ, and situations such as these are an important reminder to consider all viewpoints. As we strive to be thoughtful and inclusive as an organization, we will have learnings along the way,” the email read.

“In the words of Maya Angelou, when we know better, we do better,” the email concluded. “Thank you for giving us grace, as we work to be better, together,” the email read.

Some cities have prevented Chick-fil-A from opening locations at their airports, including Buffalo, New York, and San Antonio, Texas. The chain famously does not open on Sundays to honor the Lord’s Day, Chick-fil-A’s founder explained, likely causing it to lose more than $1 billion a year.

While Essentia staff squawked about the free lunch, they have been silent about some of their employer’s other decisions. The hospital, which did not respond to a request for comment, provides cross-sex hormones and more to minors. According to the Stop The Harm database, Essentia has performed at least five sex change operations on minors.