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
Who the heck said chic fil a wasn't entitled to their opinion?
The article just says that when you pay for a chicken sandwich, your money might be getting donated to anti gay causes and we have every right not to do that.
People who support chic fil as views are nothing but cunts (generally of course). ;)
What a load of stupid in these comments. Noone fucking said chic fil a couldn't have an opinion. Get it through your heads.
I don't like their food. Never have.
But I think their entitled to their opinion. It's childish to boycott them, though, especially since there are so many franchises and you'd be hurting people who may or may not hold the same beliefs. Besides, it's not like they turn down homosexuals for food or work. They just protest against them. They're allowed to hold their religious beliefs and boycotting them in hopes of forcing them to change is wrong. Even after gay marriage is legalised, they are still going to hold those same beliefs. Do we boycott them then, too?
Everyone has there own option on gays but it's not going to stop be from shopping or eating at my favortive places.
Maressa is actually the one giving them the press...and guess what, it will probably backfire on her. There will be a bunch of people who support traditional marriage and will decide to give Chic-fil-a their support because of mean nasty people like Maressa. Any person or business is entitled to their opinions. If, as an individual, you don't like their opinion, fine don't go there, but to call for a wide-spread boycott because someone happens to have a differing opinion is verey childish. See, conservatives will disagree with what you say/do and then pretty much just ignore it and go about their business. Liberals on the other hand, have a hissy fit and throw a tantrum until they get their way, which often is pretty much the destruction/annihalation of anyone anywhere who disagrees with them.
I really don't care whether they are for or against gay marriage. I don't think it is a business' place to have an opionion on such a thing...the owners? Sure, they can think whatever they want, but it is not like they are indoctrinating their employees on the "immoral practice or homosexuals wanting to get married". They are a business trying to make a profit, selling a quality product (Chik Fil A, is, in my opinion the most tasty fast food. I don't eat there often, but they never disappoint.) to consumers. Leave them alone. Until they start selling an Anti-Gay chicken sandwich, I will continue to patronize them.
And that's the last time I eat at Chick-Fil-A. They're entitled to their own opinions and I'm entitled not to support the business because of them. That's all there is to it.