What you may not know about Chick-fil-A

[Kobi]

Mayor Thomas M. Menino withdrew his threat to ban Chick-fil-A from Boston over the chicken chain president’s anti-gay marriage stance — but the Hub Democrat remained in the crosshairs of national conservatives, including former GOP presidential hopefuls Rick Santorum and Mike Huckabee.

“When I heard of the vicious hate speech and economic bullying being directed toward the (CEO Dan) Cathy family and their Chick-fil-A company, it was stunning. In the name of ‘tolerance’ a group was exercising extreme intolerance and trying to censor a citizen by threatening their business,” Huckabee told the Herald last night.

The former Arkansas governor also teed off on Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who echoed Menino in slamming the Atlanta-based chain over Cathy’s anti-gay-marriage statements.

“When mayors of major cities like Boston and Chicago actually became ‘wannabe tyrants’ and went on the record to say they would stop a business from opening in their city because they didn’t agree with the fact that the CEO of the company supported Biblical marriage, it was time to take a stand,” Huckabee’s statement read.

Huckabee, now a Fox News Channel host, also railed against Menino on his Facebook page and trumpeted support for an Aug. 1 nationwide “I Support Chick-Fil-A” rally. Huckabee’s page got so many hits yesterday it crashed briefly as thousands of Facebook users “liked” the posting.

“I’m thrilled that there have been over 250,000 people so far join with me to support Chick-fil-A but more importantly they are supporting the rights of all Americans to have freedom of speech and freedom of Faith,” Huckabee said in the statement.

Santorum, a former Pennsylvania senator who dropped out of the GOP race earlier this year, also backed Chick-fil-A.

“With two of my boys, enjoying chick-in-strips and an awesome peach shake at Chick-fil-A. See you here next Wednesday!” Santorum tweeted.

Exiled Boston Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas, who sparked controversy for skipping the team’s White House visit, also weighed in, writing on his Facebook page: “I stand with Chick-fil-A.”

Menino kicked up the coast-to-coast ruckus when he told the Herald last week “it will be very difficult” for Chick-fil-A to get licenses for a restaurant in Boston. The chain has been eyeing a pair of Hub sites.

The mayor yesterday backed off that threat, calling his quote a “mistake” and a “Menino-ism.”

“I sent (the landlord) a letter, but that’s all. There’s no pressure by me,” he said.

But in the letter — first obtained by the Herald — Menino blasted Cathy for “discrimination” against gays, and wrote, “I urge you to back out of your plans to locate in Boston.”

Civil rights experts say Menino’s hints of City Hall chicanery crossed a line — and could reap a lawsuit.

“It’s clearly unconstitutional for the city to deny permits based on a person’s opinions,” UCLA law professor Eugene Volokh said. “It opens the city up to criticism and even litigation.”

Local civil rights attorney Chester Darling said he’d “love to represent Chick-fil-A. I’d be in federal court in a New York minute.”



http://www.bostonherald.com/news/reg...oc#articleFull

[always2late]

Just throwing this out there because I'm interested in opinions about this particular event. On Friday, gay activists are staging "national same-sex kiss day" at Chick-fil-a. Your thoughts? Do you think this is an effective form of protest for this particular issue? Do you think it will contribute to advancing the message/boycott? If not, why not?

I am, personally, not really sure how I feel about this. The media and right-wingnuts have turned this into a freedom of speech/religion issue..which is clouding the true purpose of the LGBT boycott of this particular chain. I think it would be more pro-active to get the REAL message out...that this boycott is NOT about free speech. Dan Kathy has a right to his beliefs and opinions, misguided though they may be. The point is that he is contributing a portion of his profits to groups that are actively working to deny/prohibit equal rights (not to mention that at least one of the organizations is working in Uganda to put forth the death penalty for homosexuality). THAT is why he is being boycotted...because to contribute to his earnings is to contribute to hate groups working to undermine equality. That is the message that needs to be spread. That is what the public needs to be informed about. I really don't see how staging a "kiss-in" is going to accomplish that.

[DapperButch]

Originally Posted by always2late

Just throwing this out there because I'm interested in opinions about this particular event. On Friday, gay activists are staging "national same-sex kiss day" at Chick-fil-a. Your thoughts? Do you think this is an effective form of protest for this particular issue? Do you think it will contribute to advancing the message/boycott? If not, why not?

I am, personally, not really sure how I feel about this. The media and right-wingnuts have turned this into a freedom of speech/religion issue..which is clouding the true purpose of the LGBT boycott of this particular chain. I think it would be more pro-active to get the REAL message out...that this boycott is NOT about free speech. Dan Kathy has a right to his beliefs and opinions, misguided though they may be. The point is that he is contributing a portion of his profits to groups that are actively working to deny/prohibit equal rights (not to mention that at least one of the organizations is working in Uganda to put forth the death penalty for homosexuality). THAT is why he is being boycotted...because to contribute to his earnings is to contribute to hate groups working to undermine equality. That is the message that needs to be spread. That is what the public needs to be informed about. I really don't see how staging a "kiss-in" is going to accomplish that.

I would prefer the LGBTQ community and our allies just turn at this point and take our queer dollars with us. Staging a kiss in will only add fuel to the fire, pissing anti-gays to keep spending their money there, and will continue to give Chik-fil-a free advertising. Plus, yes, it will take away from what is supposed to be highlighted in all of this.

Most/many in the USA don't have strong feelings about this....they just get reminded every day that they really like the sandwiches at Chik-fil-a so they pick a up on few on their way home.

[Soon]

I say give them no more publicity (or money...they can't just sit there w/o buying something) but let their brand fester and become permanently associated with bigotry. I also think that the kissing may just, once again, reinforce that our relationships are solely about the physical and that our struggle for equality is about behavior as opposed to rights.

Watching the videos and support for them has been really depressing. It seems that many of us didn't even realize how many of those around us are willing to support this asshole business which has given money to damaging anti-gay causes (reparative therapy! uganda!) besides being against marriage equality.

I do think we lost this round--they framed it as freedom of speech, which we know it isn't--and rallied their "freedom loving Americans" by the hundreds of thousands.

Really sickening.

[Sachita]

Originally Posted by HowSoonIsNow

I say give them no more publicity (or money...they can't just sit there w/o buying something) but let their brand fester and become permanently associated with bigotry. I also think that the kissing may just, once again, reinforce that our relationships are solely about the physical and that our struggle for equality is about behavior as opposed to rights.

Watching the videos and support for them has been really depressing. It seems that many of us didn't even realize how many of those around us are willing to support this asshole business which has given money to damaging anti-gay causes (reparative therapy! uganda!) besides being against marriage equality.

I do think we lost this round--they framed it as freedom of speech, which we know it isn't--and rallied their "freedom loving Americans" by the hundreds of thousands.

Really sickening.

exactly. Why give them more free advertising? I drove by the location by my house and there were more cars then I ever seen before. All we are doing is keep their brand in the public's face. I think that a "Kiss In" will only fuel the fire and accomplish nothing. The sooner we stop spending money there and keeping them in the public eye the better.

[princessbelle]

I wouldn't go to that place for anything...ever again.

Was wondering, however, when KFC or another Chicken or perhaps Burger place is going to come out with a "Support the LGBTQ Community Day". Just for us to show support.

I think they should. I think we would get just as much, if not more support, than Chick Fil-A-holes

[BullDog]

Instead of national kiss day how about queers go out and volunteer at soup kitchens or something useful- something the haters would never do.

I agree with Soon and say let the brand fester. The best thing to do is to stay aware of corporations using their profits to fund anti-queer causes and to take our queer dollars elsewhere.

[DapperButch]

Originally Posted by princessbelle

I wouldn't go to that place for anything...ever again.

Was wondering, however, when KFC or another Chicken or perhaps Burger place is going to come out with a "Support the LGBTQ Community Day". Just for us to show support.

I think they should. I think we would get just as much, if not more support, than Chick Fil-A-holes

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/0...tml?ref=topbar

[ruffryder]

Never been to Chick Fil Hate and never will. It sucked to see all the support the other day. People are so ignorant to think it's based on free speech. A kiss in day? How stupid i say! People think it's gonna be a full make out go at it day and probably some idiots will. I don't think it solves anything. I would agree more with a bunch of gays holding hands around the Chick Fil Hate places, buying some deli chicken or KFC and handing it out for free to those that came to Chick Fil Hate.

Starbucks is having an appreciation day, Aug 7. So be sure and go! Starbucks not only treats customers and employees with respect and dignity, but for the last 20 years, it also has offered domestic partner benefits in the U.S. to part-time and full-time employees. Drink for marriage equality

[Soon]

Originally Posted by Sachita

exactly. Why give them more free advertising? I drove by the location by my house and there were more cars then I ever seen before. All we are doing is keep their brand in the public's face. I think that a "Kiss In" will only fuel the fire and accomplish nothing. The sooner we stop spending money there and keeping them in the public eye the better.

Yeah.

I can look at an upside--I do think their brand has been now permanently scarred with its fundamentalist and bigoted associations, and I am glad for that. Their brand approval ratings have already dropped and, despite the large turnouts in some areas of the USA, I think that many will not consume their product any longer.

I think those mayors/politicians did a disservice by speaking out as they did. It seemed more of a political manoeuvre than anything and most (all?) have backtracked or softened their original comments. There was a way to handle owner S. Truett Cathy's comments and have this all played out differently. Also, the media was no help or we didn't do a good job exposing the awful types of organizations this business owner supports. As we know, it is not a matter of free speech but an active support of organizations that harm and deny people their humanity and rights.

[Sachita]

Originally Posted by HowSoonIsNow

Yeah.

I can look at an upside--I do think their brand has been now permanently scarred with its fundamentalist and bigoted associations, and I am glad for that. Their brand approval ratings have already dropped and, despite the large turnouts in some areas of the USA, I think that many will not consume their product any longer.

Yes and no. That's the funny thing about controversy and marketing. Sure they will lose a sector of the market but if you think about it that may not have even been a strong market for them in the first place. You have a HUGE fundamentalist sector that will now go out of their way to show support not because of the gay agenda but them standing their religious ground. Trust me, they have more money coming through then they did prior to all of this. Like I said I drove by the store in my small southern town and it was slammed packed. If we keep shoving our sexuality down their throat do you really think it will make a difference or get people out of the churches and heavily supporting these companies.

But perhaps it will have a ripple effect and only time will tell.