There is a controversy concerning comments made by the president of Chick-fil-A, Dan Cathy, and the advocacy of the organization against marriage equality.
Cathy said that Chick-fil-A believes in “the biblical definition of the family unit” and that he prays “God’s mercy on our generation that has such a prideful, arrogant attitude to think that we have the audacity to try to redefine what marriage is about.”
No surprise the Republican establishment has come to Cathy’s aid. In response to the LGBT community’s negative reaction to Cathy’s comments, Fox talk show host Mike Huckabee has created a National Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day for those who support “traditional” marriage to show their support. Huckabee said of the event that supporters should “affirm a business that operates on Christian principles and whose executives are willing to take a stand for the Godly values we espouse.”
The LGBT community has called for people to donate the cost of a Chick-fil-A meal to an organization that supports marriage equality to offset the Huckabee appreciation day. Tit for tat. By the time you read this, both events will have happened because they are scheduled for Aug. 1. The Huckabee event had more than 300,000 likes on Facebook, the LGBT event less than 10,000.
You can still donate $8 to an organization that supports marriage equality. I am sure the organization won’t care that you are a few days late.
Now we get to the most troubling aspect of this situation; the political landscape. Boston Mayor Tom Menino issued a statement condemning Chick-fil-A and vowed to make it “difficult” to get business licenses in the city. Then other politicians across the nation began to jump on the bandwagon. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emmanuel said “Chick-fil-A values are not Chicago values.” A Chicago alderman said the company was not welcome in his ward.
While on the surface I was happy that political leaders had our back, we need to think more strategically. Politicians should not make it “difficult” for businesses because of their corporate beliefs. That is the purview of the consumer.
Do we want right-wing mayors making it difficult for businesses that support marriage equality? I think not.
It is your responsibility to let Chick-fil-A know how you feel. You can protest, you can stop eating there, you can leave a bucket of Popeye’s at their doorstep, but the LGBT consumer should be driving the response to Chick-fil-A’s homophobic views, not our politicians. Why?
In America, you can believe whatever you want and you can espouse those beliefs without fear that our government will persecute you for those beliefs. There are limits to this principle, but Chick-fil-A and its president have not even come close to the line.
City Councilman Todd Gloria got it right when he said “No shoes, no shirts, no gays? I mean, what are they going to put on the door? Naturally, people are welcome to have their individual points of view, but to state its company policy to not want to have equal rights for a segment of consumers … is foolish.”
You should simply not support Chick-fil-A because the company and its president think you are a second class citizen. And Chick-fil-A is just the tip of the anti-marriage equality corporate iceberg. When you shop, do you know what the corporation thinks of your lifestyle? San Diego LGBT Weekly will be helping you become more knowledgeable with a feature in the coming weeks.
This whole chicken controversy makes me feel like I’ve contracted salmonella. I could just vomit.
STAMPP CORBIN
PUBLISHER
San Diego LGBT Weekly
The larger issue that caused the reaction that led to yesterday’s record sales at CFA is being ignored by the LGBT community. That larger issue is the majority of Americans are sick and tired of having identity politics shoved down their throats. Most people don’t give a fuck who marries who, they are tired of a few whiners who call for protest every time someone actually speaks their mind and has the backbone to stand behind what they believe in.
Gay activism’s credibility is in danger of becoming something less than zero if this childish whining continues.
Who gives a flying fuck if the owner of a company doesn’t support gay marriage? Whining about it in a country that supports freedom of speech shows how childish some people are.
Keep it up and you will loose all the ground you gained in the arena of acceptance.
Meanwhile we heard nothing from Carl DeMaio and there were haters lined up Wednesday at the Chick-fil-A in his district on Carmel Mountain Road.
So can I draw the conclusion you hate the first amendment?
or does it only apply to your cause and not everyone equally.
I thought this was America, maybe I am mistaken.