 McDonald's USA, which had made a $20,000 donation to the chamber and became a 2008 chamber sponsor, said it would not sponsor the organization in 2009.
Ellis, the company said, "made a pers onal decision to step down" from the board after he got a new position with McDonald's Canadian operations. "It is our policy to not be involved in political and social issues. McDonald's remains neutral on same-sex marriage or any 'homosexual agenda' as defined by the American Family Association," the memo said.
In May, the group called for a boycott of McDonald's over the fast-food chain's association with the gay business organization. The American Family Association, based in Mississippi, runs American Family Radio.
"Our concern was: Here is a family-friendly company that has, all of a sudden, joined hands and became a partner and ally with an organization that is absolutely attacking the moral foundation of our nation; trying to redefine marriage in our nation," said Buddy Smith, executive assistant to the group's chairman. "All we were asking is that they just simply be neutral in the culture wars and focus on doing their business and remain neutral."
The chamber, based in Washington, D.C., said it doesn't lobby for same-sex marriage.
Franchisees were feeling the heat from their customers, said Richard Adams of the Franchise Equity Group consultancy. "It was a huge issue for customers in the South. They put a lot of pressure on franchisees," he said.nchisees," he said.
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