I will admit that I have not always been the best Chick-Fil-A boycotter. Though they have been supporting hate groups for years, there is one that’s not all that inconvenient to my home, and when I happen to be out and about in the early morning hours — which is not often — I will occasionally indulge in their breakfast, as that’s about all I like on their menu. The rest = ew. In my defense, when people in this household stop by that establishment, they tend to come back with approximately forty packets of mayonnaise, sixty packets of spicy mustard, thirty packets of jelly, and all the rest of the condiments you can imagine in the most unreasonable numbers and combinations for a single order of a chicken biscuit with cheese and hash browns. Consider it our quiet protest. What if I decide I want to try dipping it in coffee creamer? You never know.
That said, with the revelation that they spent a full two million dollars on hate groups in 2009 alone, it may be a waste of time to deplete their condiment supply, as I wouldn’t want anyone to see me going in there. And the COO of the organization, Dan Cathy, is not only defending his support for hate groups, or as they euphemistically call it, “the traditional family,” he’s doubling down:
Some have opposed the company’s support of the traditional family. “Well, guilty as charged,” said [Dan] Cathy when asked about the company’s position.
“We are very much supportive of the family — the biblical definition of the family unit. We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that.
Nice. Jeremy responds:
I am so tired of them flipping this script. Or trying to, at least. The intense scrutiny over the past few years has been in regards to the company’s chosen LACK OF SUPPORT for families like mine. Regardless of where you stand, the placement of LGBT people within our societal picture and within our body of laws is the conversation at hand. That is not the same thing as “support for the traditional family,” no matter how aggressively the self-appointed values movement attempts to (mis)name reality!
If Dan Cathy is proud that his company’s efforts have alienated a customer base that is only going to grow with every passing year, then he has every right to take that defiant position. Pro-equality companies will do the reverse, despite boycotts from groups like NOM. But refusing to own the facts at hand is not an option for either side. And refusing to own the facts by hiding behind a false layer of “family” support (which, by extension, casts LGBT people and allies out of that same unit)? That makes Mr. Cathy sound a bit like a, well—chicken.
Indeed. I would also add that it may not have affected their bottom line yet, but the euphemisms about “supporting the traditional family” aren’t going to work either. We support the “traditional family,” if that’s the kind of family you’re a part of or want to make! We also support our own damn families. Moreover, most extended families these days have a combination of several family “types” within them, so if you’re supporting “the family,” you really need to be supporting it in all its forms. I will also say that the Chick-Fil-A near me is one of their nicest stores, and it has an awful reputation in this neighborhood. Why? Because we live in a fairly progressive area, and people know more and more every day what bigots are running the organization. In the times I have stopped by there to stock up on mayo and coffee creamer for the month, I have very rarely seen anyone who appears to live in the neighborhood, besides the cops from the precinct nearby. It’s a very well-trafficked area, and I see a lot of people who seem to be passing through, but the neighborhood itself tends to ignore the shiny, historically-preserved store as just another example of the sort of suburban blight that belongs near mega-churches.
Oh, also, they’re closed on Sundays, to respect “people of faith” (their own faith, but not anybody else’s), and that’s really the only day those chicken biscuits taste good in the first place.
“We are very much supportive of the family — the biblical definition of the family unit…”
So they are in support of a male patriarch with multiple wives and concubines and daughters treated as property to be sold into marriages to other patriarchs? Right.
Bible defined family.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFkeKKszXTw&list=PLB905D9C1F105CB13&index=2&feature=plpp_video
Would that be the incestuous family of Genesis?
Would that be the rape a woman and be punished by having to marry her family?
Would that be the family with Concubines such as Abraham, Solomon and David?
Would that be the family with more than one wife at the same time such as Solomon’s 1,000 wives, Lots two wives and hosts of others?
Seriously, my fellow Christians, read what the Bible actually says about what a marriage is and who is involved in it and the various ways such as rape, you can do to get married.
Look we redefined marriage back when we said you could no longer sell your daughter into marriage for 2 cows and a goat.
What on earth is a ‘Chicken Biscuit’?
Sounds highly suspect to me…
I just LOVE that “biblical” definition. You know – one man and as many wives and concubines as he pleases.
It seems the only ones that DON’T read that book of crap are christians themselves.
I stopped going to Chick Fil A as soon as I heard about their support for NOM (Thanks TWO for that info, I wouldn’t have known but for your postings about it) At first I missed those chicken sammies, but when I thought about how they were spending the money I was giving them, they lost their flavor for me.
While my refusal to patronize those establishments that support hate in any form may not have a detectable impact on their bottom line, it certainly has one on mine!
They are free to support any cause they wish, they just won’t have any money from me with which to support organizations of hate. Sure helps me sleep a little bit better at night.
They can take that “traditional family” crap and take a long walk off a short pier. The nuclear family has pretty much been an anomoly unless you were middle class or wealthy. These people need to get their heads out of their rear ends.
Peter, I’ve never heard of a Chicken Biscuit either, but it sounds like one of those disgusting frankenfood concoctions that this country is famous for, especially in the deep South. One biscuit would probably make you gain about 15 pounds (or 1 stone as you Brits say). :) Make that a gall stone!
You morons don’t know the difference between old covenant and new covenant. Immoral fudgepackers and carpetmunchers throwing the Bible back at Christians is a joke.
Kurt, i agree.
Unfortuantely, it seems to be a joke that you don’t get.
Kurt! I’ve missed your christian witness here of late! Its always wonderful to see the love of Jesus proclaimed so ardently by his best followers. Between you and the Westboro Baptists, the demise of christianism in America is all but assured.
LOL…..good point Ben. :) Poor Kurt. Mean and stupid is not way to go through life Kurt. Just because you are ignorant about matters of faith does not mean everyone is. You really should not project so much. lol
If you are truly diverse you will respect someone’s right to practice their religion (even if you do not agree with it). This is America and people can follow their consciences, run a business, give to the charities of their choice and live by their own standards. Diversity goes both ways, kiddo.
Scott, and, kiddo, if a company doesn’t support my equal rights I have the right to not do business with them–and even to boycott them.
They’ve only opened a very few stores in the Chicago area, so far. However, as I look up and down the strip in my area, there are plenty of other places to eat artery clogging fast food that will give me the runs. I tried Dan Cathy’s product when I lived in FL, and it wasn’t all that anyway. Sorry Danny boy, your politics doesn’t play well outside the bible belt.
Y’all, “mean and stupid” is pretty much all Kurt knows. It’s not a fixable problem either.
And, of course, we’ve all seen how effective a tool calling one’s audience “fudgepackers” and “carpetmunchers” is when attempting to spread the gospel of Christ. Kurt must be one of those people who tries to spread the good news of Jesus Christ – a true evangelist!
Mr. Wee Wee dOes nOt lOves me sOme Dan Cathy!
REMEMBER: Mr. Wee Wee sez, “yOu gO girl” and STAND FIRM behind Barack!
One mOre thing frOm Mr. Wee Wee:
jOin us tOnight at CLUB WEE WEE fOr Our Wednesday night WET-TACULAR and tribute tO O-BA-MA!!! dOOrs at 11:OOpm – flOOr shOw and revue featuring Lady cOckateal at 2:OOam sharp!!
Go away Wee, you’re embarrassing yourself.
[...] COO Dan Cathy has been thoroughly embarrassing himself and his corporation lately. We’ve always known Chick-Fil-A was run by wingnuts, but Cathy has [...]
[...] Chambers supports one of the most homophobic companies in America? “I’m surprised!” said nobody, ever. Comments [...]
This really is a non-issue until someone in government denies the company a permit based on his faith. Then the Mayor has violated the law. It is petty, foolish, and beneath the office to bully a business owner after being asked this personal question, especially when the comment is coming from an individual in the government. Citizens have a right to vote with their wallets and feet. Government does not have the right to oppress a business due to a dissenting religious point of view. Turn it around. Would it be legal to prevent a company from obtaining a permit due to the fact that the owner was openly homosexual or an atheist and espoused those views or opinions ? No. If the owner practices discrimination, i.e. bars them from entering the establishment , denies service, fails to hire, etc., then and only then would there be a legal cause to object. Other than that, the owner is within his rights to express any opinion he may have. Was it a smart thing to say publicly from a business perspective? No. But it is a conscience decision and well within his legal rights. Let’s face it, the numbers of individuals
who live as a man and woman vastly outnumbers the other. No judgement just fact. The behavior of the Mayors and Hollywood creates more sympathy for the business than the frank answer to a question posed! The way to win someone to your point of view is not by calling them names or publicly trying to humiliate them. It is to act with dignity and respect, even if one disagrees. There are many whom are not traditionally inclined, and just because one feels they have to wear their sexuality on their sleeve, across their chest, hat, or back, their are just as many who do not! Forcing someone to accept, or see your perspective doesn’t work. It creates hostility and does not create a welcoming environment. Sexuality is just ONE part of a human’s being.
Mel writes: “Government does not have the right to oppress a business due to a dissenting religious point of view.”
Ever here of Blue Laws? Ever notice that strip joints and nightclubs can be banned based on “community standards” — often meaning an intolerant Christian majority. Ever notice how Christian groups use the government to impose their view on marriage? Ever notice how the government can tell you in some counties you can’t have a cold beer on a hot day because some Christians don’t like it?
Government oppresses businesses all the time and limits what customers can purchase based on religious beliefs. It seems that Dan Cathy is whining because he only likes government intrusion when it affects my marriage, not his greasy chicken joint.
Mel, Gov’ts in virtually every city & county in this nation use the zoning laws to prohibit the placing of businesses. They use licensing and permits in a myriad of ways. Why, NYC wouldn’t let a gay bar open on the West Side because it was within 500 feet of a church/school. And Mel, Chick-full-of-it can certainly express their opinions. But once anyone does everyone else gets to comment on it. Say something stupid and nasty, people will get angry. No one gets a free pass merely because they think they are right and their God tells them so. Gays are exercising our free speech.
Mel, Gov’ts in virtually every city & county in this nation use the zoning laws to prohibit the placing of businesses. They use licensing and permits in a myriad of ways. Why, NYC wouldn’t let a gay bar open on the West Side because it was within 500 feet of a church/school.
The courts have generally treated obscenity differently. There are plenty of reasons to turn down the zoning for Chik-Fil-A, but the alderman has picked one they can’t and you can’t use just unring that bell. Government using government power to punish entities for free speech isn’t some gray, foggy area of the law.
If someone actually admits to firing someone because they are a black, they would be very unsuccessful in court if they then claim “well, there are lots of valid reasons to fire a person, so it’s totally cool.”
They *are* black. I did not mean to have that extra a in there – I had originally written something else.
According to the community standards of Chicago, Chik-fil-a is obscene.
DJS, a gay bar near a school is obscene?
Actually, the whole story about the gay bar not going in near a school had nothing to do with it being a gay bar, but there are stipulations in that area that a bar of any kind has to be a certain distance away from a school.
Oh, and as for stopping by there to steal mayo and creamer from them, wow, that’s not something I would be bragging about. There are a few places around here I boycott because they support ideas very different from mine, but I am a better person than to steal from someone because they disagree with me, or I with them.
the creamer and mayo is complimentary, Katie.
I just LOVE reading all these posts from ignorants who think they have some kind of Biblical knowledge. Keep it coming!
The real problem is that Cathy does not see his donations as supporting hate. He believes he is supporting God. Now that is sad. God, according to most, is good. Cathy as it turns out is not. Remember Coors, the Catholic Church, orange juice industry, dr laura, and more. All of them have had to pay in more ways than just money. This is going to cost Cathy money. Perhaps he doesn’t care, perhaps God is more important to him. We shall see when the bottom falls out. And, it will. Protests work. So let’s keep it going. And, don’t give up until it does hurt this company.