Would you like a side of heated politics and self-righteous moral values with your chicken sandwich? Well, now, you may not have a choice. For years, there's been persistent buzz that "family-oriented" fast food chain Chick-fil-A isn't keen on those whose sexual orientation isn't heterosexual. Specifically, that the company is vehemently anti-marriage equality. Well, now, we have definitive proof that it's true.
Chick-fil-A's president Dan Cathy, whose father founded the chain, spoke with Baptist Press and put on the record what we've suspected for so long now. When asked about the chain's backing of "traditional" families led only by a man and a woman, Cathy said, "Well, guilty as charged." A-ha!
It's no big surprise, given the actions of the company, like their WinShape Foundation, which has "morphed into a marriage program in conjunction with national marriage ministries," according to Cathy. He elaborated:
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.
So, let me get this straight (no pun intended). Cathy & Co. are "supportive of the family" ... but only in a narrow-minded way that excludes gay couples and divorced/re-married couples, which pretty much means they're only cool with a tiny niche group of hetero, never divorced American families! Way to go, Chick-fil-A.
This news only serves to confirm quite a few of the fast food chain consumers' worst fears. From Cathy's interview we can most definitely conclude that when you fork over $5 for a fried chicken sandwich, some fries, and a soda, that cash could ultimately be going toward funding campaigns aimed at blocking marriage equality. Even though Cathy claims the company's opposition isn't a civil issue, they've certainly proven to put their money where their morals are.
Oh yes, this is America, and a restaurant is more than entitled to put their profits toward causes they care about. But we consumers are entitled to opt out of patronizing an establishment whose "values" we don't agree with and don't want to support financially. No matter how much you love those waffle fries.
Do you steer clear of restaurants that publicly back causes you're opposed to?
Image via Terry Alexander/Flickr
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Comments 87
Edward Voll - You're a f-ing moron if you think homosexuality = pedophilia. STFU.
And good grief, would you guys just stop the "they've got a right to their opinion!!!!!" crap? Nobody said they didn't. Just because they can say it doesn't mean we have to like it. We have a right to state our own opinion against them.
It disappoints me that they feel this way, really, but at the same time each any every person is entitled to their own opinions. I enjoy going to CFA because they're clean, their bathrooms and playplaces are clean and smell nice and their service is excellent. My daughter also enjoys the family activity nights and the little educational toys that come with their kids meals. I'd still eat there...
I love Chik-Fil-A. Unlike pretty much every McDonald's or Burger King I've ever been in, the servers are actually polite. They smile. They look at you when you're talking to them, or they you. They come around to your table and ask if you need anything, taking trash, refilling drinks. Tables are cleaned often and well. Chik-Fil-A is closed on Sundays because they believe Sundays should be reserved for God and family. They never play music that I don't want little ones to hear the lyrics to.
They do A LOT right. Very, very right. The owner is entitled to an opinion. His opinion is not going to stop me from enjoying what he's worked very hard to build.
The other, more liberal restaurants, with more liberal social stances, could learna thing or two from Chik-Fil-A.
Aside from that, let same-sex couples get married. Then they can find out how *great* it truly is. This grass is no greener.