Fast Food chain under fire from same sex couples

Corkfeen

jank wrote: »

Not strictly fascist but communist totalitarian states advocated equality, brotherhood and comradeship before killing up to 100 million people, in fact basing the right to rule on those very things.



Unfortunately they are not within their rights at all as it would be against the law. Just because someone has a different opinion as you, doesn't mean they cannot be afford the same rights as anyone. That's the crux of a tolerant society that liberals seem to forget, you have to accept the fact that there are others with extreme opinions who have just a right to be heard as those who are advocating rights for gays, women and so on.



Hate groups are such an arbitrary term. Who decides this? Apparently the ADL and the Southern Poverty Law Center do. So there is no "official" list of hate groups anywhere in the US. Sorry but I am not trusting what the ADL say about these groups when they have an entirely different agenda.

This is all political, if you cant see that then you are blind.

Communism was actually rather opposed to many of the same things as religions including homosexuality. I will accept that I was slightly wrong on them preventing them from opening. But this does not prevent mayors from airing the opinions of the public in regards to them (I think they also scaled back on denying them building permits because they can't). Personally I think they should not actually block the opening of any business as their sales are likely to suffer in the areas opposed to them opening anyway.

I also never said that we have the right to prevent people or companies from airing their views. But once again, we are perfectly within our rights to say how idiotic their viewpoints are and that it could result in a public image backlash against them.

Gandhi

This whole thing is stupid.

Mayors of cities have no legal power to deny a business's right to open inside their city limits because they don't like the CEO's opinions. The only non-zero outcome they could have is a very expensive lawsuit, which they will lose, and then hand the taxpayers the multi-million-dollar legal bill. All they are doing is making a meaningless crowd-pleasing political soundbite for the press.

The vast majority of gay marriage amendments that have made it as far as a ballot or a bill in the US have had resoundingly anti-gay marriage results*. Gay marriage is unlikely to come to the vast majority of America anytime soon. Anyone lobbying one way or another is just wasting their money as far as I can see.

Personally I am in favour of gay marriage, but tbh I really don't care that much one way or another. These kiss-ins and other protests are just making me think that a lot of gay rights activists are attention-seeking idiots. There is one blogger** here in Philly who is boasting that her brother is going to be sitting down streaming porn every time he goes into a Chick-Fil-A. This kind of crap is just stupid and is reinforcing the negative stereotype of the sex-obsessed attention-craving homosexual that the anti-gay lobby depends heavily on.

* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._state_constitutional_amendments_banning_same-sex_unions_by_type

** http://www.alittlelucidity.com/2012/07/chick-fell-atio.html

IrishAm

Chick-Fil-A is vile. The kip makes KFC seem like haute cuisine.

No such thing as bad publicity, seems like they got what they wanted.

Wompa1

There's a Chick-Fil-A across from my apartment. 2 weeks after I moved in I tried to go there on a Sunday and it was closed. I asked the guys at work and they explained it was closed because it was started by devout Mormons. My g/f went for a job in one and the management all seemed to be Mormon at least in that branch...so I don't see why it's a huge suprise that they actually hold Mormon beliefs. Let them off.

Naomi00

This is such an old story. Why post about it now?

Links234

Wompa1 wrote: »

so I don't see why it's a huge suprise that they actually hold Mormon beliefs. Let them off.

it's not about their beliefs, it's about them donating millions to hate groups

Overheal

I was happy to kinda skirt this issue, thinking it was all a bit silly, until I read this. Really it was the comments made by the delivery driver (below) that really pissed me off:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/01/chick-fil-a-anti-gay-controversy-employees-speak-out_n_1729968.html

Elected officials have urged Chick-fil-A to stay out of their cities, the Jim Henson Company has severed ties, and gay rights groups are organizing national protests against the fried chicken chain. But at the Chick-fil-A where Andrew works in northern Alabama, business has been booming over the past few weeks.
On Wednesday -- dubbed "Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day" by former presidential candidate Mike Huckabee -- lines are stretching out the front door and the parking lot is packed with customers coming out to support company chief executive Dan Cathy, who recently came out against same-sex marriage with statements that have polarized lovers of the fast-food chain.
Andrew, a gay 24-year-old who has been working at the northern Alabama Chick-fil-A since January, sat in his car smoking a cigarette and watching the crowd during a break earlier Wednesday.
"I call it hater appreciation day," said Andrew, who asked that his last name be withheld out of fear he'd be fired. "It's very, very depressing."
Chick-fil-A has long come under fire from activists for giving millions to groups that advocate against gay rights and even support ex-gay therapy, but the fire has ratcheted up in recent weeks, following interviews in which Cathy said he was “guilty as charged” of supporting “the biblical definition of the family unit" and that gay marriage invites "God's judgment on our nation."
Now, Chick-fil-A sits at the center of furious debate over same-sex marriage, gay rights and free speech, with politicians, activists, and newspaper editorial boards weighing in from all sides.
The company has remained mostly silent on the issue. On the company's Facebook page, a post declares, "The Chick-fil-A culture and service tradition in our restaurants is to treat every person with honor, dignity and respect – regardless of their belief, race, creed, sexual orientation or gender." (On the page, the company also maintains that it severed ties with the Jim Henson Company, first). The company did not respond to multiple requests for comment from The Huffington Post, and Dan Cathy has not given any subsequent interviews since the controversy began.
Another group staying mostly silent on the issue are the gay, lesbian and bisexual employees who staff the restaurants. They say that, like most employees of the company, they aren't allowed to speak to the press.
For these employees, the last couple of weeks have been very difficult.
One gay employee who works at Chick-fil-A headquarters in Atlanta, Ga., and asked to remain anonymous for fear of losing his job, says he is getting it from both sides. On the one hand, there is the customer who came in and said he supported Dan Cathy and then "continues to say something truly homophobic, e.g. 'I'm so glad you don't support the queers, I can eat in peace,'" the employee, who is 23 and has worked for Chick-fil-A since he was 16, wrote in an email. On the other hand, he continued, "I was yelled at for being a god-loving, conservative, homophobic Christian while walking some food out to a guest in a mall dining room."
He disagrees with Cathy's views, but the reaction from the public has been just as hard to swallow.
"It seems like very few people have stopped to think about who actually works for Chick-fil-A and what those people's opinions are," he wrote. "They are putting us in a pot and coming to support us or hate us based on something they heard and assume we agree with."
Gabriel Aguiniga, a gay employee at a Chick-fil-A in Colorado, also said the hardest part hasn't been hearing Cathy's comments. Instead, "[it's] constantly having people come up to you and say, 'I support your company, because your company hates the gays,'" Aguiniga, 18, wrote in an email. "It really takes a toll on me."
Management is encouraging employees at the stores to remain neutral, no matter what customers say, according to multiple workers interviewed by The Huffington Post.
"Our managers have recommended just saying 'Thank you for your business' if a customer says they agree with Cathy’s comments, rather than agreeing or disagreeing with them," K, an openly gay Chick-fil-A employee in Louisiana, told HuffPost in an email.
But staying neutral can be difficult when it feels like the world is passing judgment on everyone associated with the company.
"Now, anyone that works there is stuck with a stigma of being homophobic, even when many of us are far from it," K said. One of her coworkers, who supports same-sex marriage, has had people say things like, “Don’t give me that hate sh*t,” and “I hope you choke on that chicken," while she was handing out samples.
But for K, the hardest part hasn't been the actions of customers and protesters, it's the money the company gives to anti-gay groups.
"At the end of the day part of our profits still go towards Dan Cathy, and subsequently, all the organizations he supports," she said. K is now actively searching for work elsewhere. Many of her coworkers, she said, are looking for new jobs, too.
The groups Chick-fil-A gives to include the Family Research Council and Exodus International, according to Equality Matters, an initiative associated with the progressive Watchdog group, Media Matters. The Family Research Council is designated as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, while Exodus International is a Christian Ministry that has long endorsed ex-gay therapy, a controversial practice of "curing" gay people that mainstream mental health organizations have disavowed. (In recent months, the president of Exodus has tried to distance his group from the idea that gay people can be "cured.")
Several of the gay and lesbian employees interviewed by The Huffington Post said that they liked their work, and had never witnessed incidents of homophobia or discrimination on the job. But Chick-fil-A restaurants are operated by independent owners, and employee experience can vary widely depending on the person running a particular chain.
Kellie, a 23-year-old gay woman from Georgia who also requested her last name be withheld for fear of being outed in the press, worked at two different Chick-fil-A locations in Georgia. She loved working at the first location, she said, where nobody ever said anything homophobic or discriminatory. But at the second location, in Atlanta, "there was a lot of general homophobia." Managers would frequently make homophobic jokes, she said, and she felt that if she were to tell her colleagues she was gay, she would be fired. Eventually, she quit.
Another former employee, who worked at the Chick-fil-A in Chicago, said he thought the culture of the company encouraged homophobia.
"It's a very monochromatic, white, male driven company," said Andrew Mullen, a gay 26-year-old who quit his job last winter after less than a year with the company. Once, Andrew recalled, a company operator leading an employee training session, saw two men kissing on the patio outside the restaurant and proclaimed to the group he was leading that he thought it was "disgusting." Mullen later told the person in charge of corporate training about the incident, and the man was fired. "[This person] was very apologetic for it, and there are a few people here like that, but from what I saw, it's a predominantly pro-ignorant culture."
But the gay employee who works at headquarters in Atlanta disagreed with this assessment. Aside from the occasional homophobic joke or comment outside of working hours, he said, his experience with the company has been "extremely positive."
Asked in June, Andrew, the employee in Alabama, would have said his experience was positive, too. He had never explicitly told any of his colleagues he was gay, but he felt comfortable at work and liked the operator of his store. But recently, Andrew says the atmosphere at work has grown nearly intolerable. Although plenty of his coworkers have said they don't agree with Cathy's views, on "Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day," one colleague told him proudly that his friends would be eating the fried chicken sandwiches for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Last week, when he went out to the parking lot to help a trucker (not directly employed by Chick-fil-A) unload a shipment of goods, the trucker turned to Andrew confidentially and said, "If I see one more f@ggot at a Chick-fil-A protesting, I'm going to be sick."
"I just looked at him and said, 'I don't want to hear that,'" Andrew recalled. "I thought, Chick-fil-A doesn't promote hatred, we don't cuss and we don't hate," he continued. But experiences over the last couple of weeks have shifted his views: "Honestly, I really wish they would just go out of business, I do."

This would have been a pretty tame issue, but sure a bunch of failed Republican candidates now-come FOX news affiliates decided to turn it into another episode to divide the population up. "Oh we've been to harmonious with eachother this summer. Let's pick a fight with the f@gs and see how the polls look in November"

Wompa1

Links234 wrote: »

it's not about their beliefs, it's about them donating millions to hate groups

The story has been about for nearly 2 weeks. When it first broke it wasn't about them donating to charities, it was about the guys interview and that's what kicked everything off. I have no idea what the charities or groups are that they donate to and wouldn't trust the media to represent them properly. I'm very skeptical of all media, including Anderson Cooper who was a guy I admired and trusted until his coverage of the Trayvon Martin shooting. DTA. Don't Trust Anyone.

I also didn't believe that Ron Paul was aware of the hate rag he was published in being a hate rag. Don't believe everything you read.

Manic Moran

CNN reporting they had a record sales day on Wednesday.

I have no particular issues with the chain. The food isn't bad, and sometimes they will have facilities where other companies do not. Their adverts make me laugh too...

With respect to the mayor, he can say what he wants, but unless the city code is written in a manner which happens to prohibit fast food joints specialising in chicken which also donates to anti-gay-marriage lobbying groups, which is unlikely and I suspect un constitutional, there isn't much weight to the statement.

EZ24GET

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion also entitled to give their own money to who ever they like. I think the person who asked the question at the interview had a good idea beforehand what the answer would be.It isn't against the law to disagree as far as I know.

JupiterKid

Gay people have as much a right to protest outside and picket these Chick-Fil-A outlets as their CEO has to make homophobic statements and donate money to anti-gay organisations.

You see, free speech is never completely free. There is a thing called incitement to hatred. With rights also come responsibilities.

EZ24GET

sure they can as long as they obey the law. Don't think they'll be changing any ones mind, but they can protest if they want, and they don't have to buy the chicken, but I think a lot of folks will judging by the turn out for appreciation day. Also I have a bit of a problem with banning a business because they don't agree with you. but that would be an argument for the voters in those places.
Are you really serious when you say that because a man doesn't believe in same sex marriage he is enticing hatred? If you believe that then those who disagree with certain Christian beliefs have been enciting hatred for years.Just because you speak your mind and express a different view does not mean you hate anyone. I dearly love a lot of folks who don't share my views or live their lives as I would like.

Jay D

Same sex attention seekers more like.

When are we going to go all Pride like and go around preaching how much we are prud to fancy the opposite sex?

Drama Queen attention seeking ho's.

Mod

Infracted.

JupiterKid

Jay D wrote: »

Same sex attention seekers more like.

When are we going to go all Pride like and go around preaching how much we are prud to fancy the opposite sex?

Drama Queen attention seeking ho's.

Disgusting homophobia right there.:mad:

Post reported.

Jay D

JupiterKid wrote: »

Disgusting homophobia right there.:mad:

Post reported.

Well done.

I suppose I should have elaborated and said (for dramatic individuals like yourself) that opportunities to make a point are jumped upon, just like this one here.

My question then would be, is there really any need for this?

I am not homophobic as any of my friends and family would know, given I have family and friends who are practicing gays and I have never had any issue with being around them, on nights out or whatever. I've even managed to attend pubs strictly catering for gays. Would be pretty strange for a homophobic I know.

I hope that clears things up, JumpedupKid

Kev_2012

JupiterKid wrote: »

Disgusting homophobia right there.:mad:

Post reported.

Apart from the last line, that user has a completely valid point.

Everywhere you look these days, there is pro-homosexual propaganda, through parades and media.

It's very annoying. It would be the same with anything. We get it, now please stop shoving it in our faces every 2 seconds.

The amount of pages I've unliked on Facebook because of this constant posting of pictures about gay marriage and stupid quotes is ridiculous.

Some of us just really don't care and don't want to be involved in ye're cause so stop going on about it.

Jay D

Kev_2012 wrote: »

Apart from the last line, that user has a completely valid point.

Everywhere you look these days, there is pro-homosexual propaganda, through parades and media.

It's very annoying. It would be the same with anything. We get it, now please stop shoving it in our faces every 2 seconds.

The amount of pages I've unliked on Facebook because of this constant posting of pictures about gay marriage and stupid quotes is ridiculous.

Some of us just really don't care and don't want to be involved in ye're cause so stop going on about it.

My sentiments exactly.

The amount of bloody pages - like if you're against (whatever). Usually just viral seeking plebs running a certain group/page and the image/issue is not always concerned with homosexuality, just something they think will gain a lot of "do-gooder" symphaty etc and boost likes.

My last line, if used for anything else would have been accepted in a half jokingly or semi funny way. In this context however it doesn't seem to fly. I still don't feel it's in any way homophobic.

Tipsy McSwagger

If the owner was donating money to the KKK or anti semite groups there would be a mass boycott by everyone. But because he is donating to anti-gay groups this is seen as acceptable by religious nuts who hate homosexuals and do so in the name of Jesus.

Medusa22

Kev_2012 wrote: »

Apart from the last line, that user has a completely valid point.

Everywhere you look these days, there is pro-homosexual propaganda, through parades and media.

It's very annoying. It would be the same with anything. We get it, now please stop shoving it in our faces every 2 seconds.

The amount of pages I've unliked on Facebook because of this constant posting of pictures about gay marriage and stupid quotes is ridiculous.

Some of us just really don't care and don't want to be involved in ye're cause so stop going on about it.

I see you have edited your post, previously you said that you had friends that were ''practicing gay''....you seem so comfortable with that
Have you ever thought that these people are campaigning for the same rights as straight people? Gay people in Ireland can have a civil partnership but that does not give them the same rights and entitlements as a married couple.

Kev_2012

Tipsy McSwagger wrote: »

If the owner was donating money to the KKK or anti semite groups there would be a mass boycott by everyone. But because he is donating to anti-gay groups this is seen as acceptable by religious nuts who hate homosexuals and do so in the name of Jesus.

I'm genuinely asking, because I'm not religious, does the bible say anything racist in it? and also, does it explicitly say that marriage is between a man and a woman? I'm pretty sure the former is inaccurate (unless you use Mississippi Burning references and twist it.) Just interested about the marriage thing.

Medusa22 wrote: »

I see you have edited your post, previously you said that you had friends that were ''practicing gay''....you seem so comfortable with that
Have you ever thought that these people are campaigning for the same rights as straight people? Gay people in Ireland can have a civil partnership but that does not give them the same rights and entitlements as a married couple.

Think you may have the wrong posted quoted there buddy!

Medusa22

Kev_2012 wrote: »

I'm genuinely asking, because I'm not religious, does the bible say anything racist in it? and also, does it explicitly say that marriage is between a man and a woman? I'm pretty sure the former is inaccurate (unless you use Mississippi Burning references and twist it.) Just interested about the marriage thing.



Think you may have the wrong posted quoted there buddy!

Ah crap, anyway, same sentiment from the both of ye so it still stands!

Kev_2012

Medusa22 wrote: »

Ah crap, anyway, same sentiment from the both of ye so it still stands!

Just wondering what kind of right does civil partnership not entitle them to compared to marriage?

Medusa22

Kev_2012 wrote: »

Just wondering what kind of right does civil partnership not entitle them to compared to marriage?

http://www.marriagequality.ie/getinformed/marriage/faqs.html

hooradiation

Kev_2012 wrote: »

Apart from the last line, that user has a completely valid point.

Not even slightly.

Kev_2012 wrote: »

Everywhere you look these days, there is pro-homosexual propaganda, through parades and media.

It's very annoying. It would be the same with anything. We get it, now please stop shoving it in our faces every 2 seconds.

Have a nice wee think, if it's not going to strain you too much. If the call for equal rights is being "shoved in your face every two seconds" what might that suggest to you on the subject of equal rights being achieved?

Go on, give it a try. You might be surprised at the very obvious answer that seems to have eluded you thus far.

Medusa22

hooradiation wrote: »

Not even slightly.



Have a nice wee think, if it's not going to strain you too much. If the call for equal rights is being "shoved in your face every two seconds" what might that suggest to you on the subject of equal rights being achieved?

Go on, give it a try. You might be surprised at the very obvious answer that seems to have eluded you thus far.

I fully agree! That's what I was trying to say but I quoted the wrong person!

Kev_2012

hooradiation wrote: »

Not even slightly.

Go ahead, please do expand! Short snappy responses with no reasoning whatsoever don't really cut it in discussion.

Have a nice wee think, if it's not going to strain you too much. If the call for equal rights is being "shoved in your face every two seconds" what might that suggest to you on the subject of equal rights being achieved?

Go on, give it a try. You might be surprised at the very obvious answer that seems to have eluded you thus far.

Why don't they go and annoy the people who make this legislation? I can't do f*ck all for it (not that I care) and either can facebook. I tend to stay away from things that annoy me, but they are making it f*cking difficult. If I have a problem I don't make it the world's problem so don't you try and tell me that putting pictures of 2 men kissing and a starving child and asking which shocked you more all over the net is going to do any good.

I have several things I'd like to change about the world personally, but I'm not gonna rally about it.

Rubber_Soul

Jay D wrote: »

Same sex attention seekers more like.

When are we going to go all Pride like and go around preaching how much we are prud to fancy the opposite sex?

Drama Queen attention seeking ho's.

Mod

Infracted.

I imagine that'll happen when people start hurling insults at you for holding someone of the opposite sex hand as you're walking down the street.

Or when a young straight lad is afraid to tell his parents about his heterosexuality in fear that they'll disown him.

Or when some young hetero girl decides to kill herself to stop all the gay kids in her school bullying her after finding out she fancies blokes.

Kev_2012

StarshipPooper wrote: »

I imagine that'll happen when people start hurling insults at you for holding someone of the opposite sex hand as you're walking down the street.

Or when a young straight lad is afraid to tell his parents about his heterosexuality in fear that they'll disown him.

Or when some young hetero girl decides to kill herself to stop all the gay kids in her school bullying her after finding out she fancies blokes.

In fairness, heterosexuality is the norm, so your point is a bit ridiculous.

seamus

Kev_2012 wrote: »

I have several things I'd like to change about the world personally, but I'm not gonna rally about it.

That's because they don't affect you personally. Think about your favourite pasttime - let's say you enjoy going to the pub. Now imagine that you were banned from going to the pub because your name is Kevin.
No reason, the publicans have just decided that they don't like Kevins, and you are banned from every pub in the country. When you ask for reasons, you're told, "Letting in Kevins will lower the standard of our pubs and cause the degradation of the atmosphere".
The government backs this and makes it illegal for anyone named Kevin to get a pub licence. So your only option is to drink at home.

So when all your mates and practically everyone else in the country (bar the other Kevins) are going to the pub and you're made stand outside because your name is Kevin, do you think you'd find yourself banding together with the other Kevins and protesting about it then?

Rubber_Soul

Kev_2012 wrote: »

In fairness, heterosexuality is the norm, so your point is a bit ridiculous.

In what way is it ridiculous?

Jay D was asking a retarded question as to why there aren't straight pride parades and claiming gay people are just attention seeking. Maybe if straight people had to face some of the obstacles that gay people do there would be.

hooradiation

Kev_2012 wrote: »

Go ahead, please do expand! Short snappy responses with no reasoning whatsoever don't really cut it in discussion.

I'm not sure what more needs to be said about the attitude of "oh ok, we're being shitty to a section of our population, but how dare they be so damn uppity about it".
Well, aside from fuck that attitude. That probably needs to be said some more.

Kev_2012 wrote: »

Why don't they go and annoy the people who make this legislation?

What makes you think that they don't? However change like this can only come when people are aware that there is an injustice. Hence why you're going to continue to be "annoyed".

Kev_2012 wrote: »

I can't do f*ck all for it (not that I care) and either can facebook. I tend to stay away from things that annoy me, but they are making it f*cking difficult.

Awww, you poor lamb. How very dare they inconvenience you. The scoundrels.

Kev_2012 wrote: »

If I have a problem I don't make it the world's problem

When your not afforded the same rights as your fellow citizens based on your sexual orientation then guess what, that IS the worlds problem.

Leaving aside your "I am an Island" fuckwittery, when the problem is that of a lack of rights, how do you suppose you not make it "the worlds problem"
Wish really hard?

Jesus wept, are you really this oblivious to what is actually happening, or are you just desperately trying to hold onto this fantasy that your mild annoyance at people trying to secure the same rights you enjoy trumps their attempts to secure it?

Kev_2012 wrote: »

I have several things I'd like to change about the world personally, but I'm not gonna rally about it.

Then your apathy is your problem, don't get all shitty when people display the drive you lack.

Tipsy McSwagger

seamus wrote: »

That's because they don't affect you personally. Think about your favourite pasttime - let's say you enjoy going to the pub. Now imagine that you were banned from going to the pub because your name is Kevin.
No reason, the publicans have just decided that they don't like Kevins, and you are banned from every pub in the country. When you ask for reasons, you're told, "Letting in Kevins will lower the standard of our pubs and cause the degradation of the atmosphere".
The government backs this and makes it illegal for anyone named Kevin to get a pub licence. So your only option is to drink at home.

So when all your mates and practically everyone else in the country (bar the other Kevins) are going to the pub and you're made stand outside because your name is Kevin, do you think you'd find yourself banding together with the other Kevins and protesting about it then?

Brilliant post. I think I will refer to homosexuals as 'Kevins' from now on:)

Bannasidhe

Many here have criticised the mayor of Chicago for condemning the CEO of Chick-a. They have stated that the CEO has the right to express an opinion and the mayor should butt out of wagging the finger at corporations as what they do is outside his remit.

So - what about this statement made by the Governor of Mississippi?

Governor condemns Mississippi church's refusal to allow black couple to marry
Friday, August 03, 2012 - 08:22 AM

Mississippi's governor has described the refusal by a predominantly white church to allow a black couple to get married there as "unfortunate".

Phil Bryant said the state should encourage the union of any couple - as long as they were a man and a woman.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/world/governor-condemns-mississippi-churchs-refusal-to-allow-black-couple-to-marry-561685.html

Is the Governor not blurring the line between church and state? Doesn't the congregation of the First Baptist Church of Crystal Springs have the right to decide who can and who cannot get married in their church and expect the civil administration to mind it's own business?

Jay D

StarshipPooper wrote: »

In what way is it ridiculous?

Jay D was asking a retarded question as to why there aren't straight pride parades and claiming gay people are just attention seeking. Maybe if straight people had to face some of the obstacles that gay people do there would be.

Funny how you went to the trouble of answering a "retarded" question then isn't it?

I've no beefs with anyone, but I do feel the constant jump on the bandwagon to make any case about themselves they can is ott.

Lelantos

mikemac1 wrote: »

Medusa22 wrote: »

In any case, I'm sure that publicly announcing his stance will cause a loss of earnings and that pleases me greatly. If people want to boycott the restaurant and stage a ''kiss-in'' then they are perfectly entitled to do so.

Don't be so sure

Business may go down in some places but it will rise in others

Seems to be doing well in Arkansas

Hundreds of residents in Bryan and College Station waited in line for more than an hour to get their meal in support of Cathy.

"He just had his right to voice his opinion and his values. I feel like being out here and being a part of this and showing that that's what we should all be able to do as Americans,” said Lori Novosad, a Chick-fil-A customer.

http://www.kbtx.com/home/headlines/Chick-fil-A-GainsLoses-Customers-After-Controversial-Comment-164683176.html

Mike Huckabee (remember him) drumming up some support.

This is what people should bear in mind. The amount of support groups for this company, online forums etc backing their stance is frightening! This is what right thinking people should be appalled at, that homophobic bigotry is on the rise amongst o called christian groups

B.A._Baracus

Heard about this briefly the other day....
So the president of this fast food chain said he believes same sex marriage is wrong. However has never stated that homosexual people are not welcome in the fast food restaurant, nor has he made fun of them.... so he was just voicing his opinions? as a person. Nothing to do with the company.


So people then protested outside a few restaurants because "that was too far" ... but what about personal opinions?

I personally dont have any issue with two people getting married. But if someone else doesnt agree with that. Who am I to say their wrong? live and let live. Are we meant to argue / protest / whatever with everyone who doesnt think the same? :rolleyes:

Bannasidhe

B.A._Baracus wrote: »

Heard about this briefly the other day....
So the president of this fast food chain said he believes same sex marriage is wrong. However has never stated that homosexual people are not welcome in the fast food restaurant, nor has he made fun of them.... so he was just voicing his opinions? as a person. Nothing to do with the company.


So people then protested outside a few restaurants because "that was too far" ... but what about personal opinions?

I personally dont have any issue with two people getting married. But if someone else doesnt agree with that. Who am I to say their wrong? live and let live. Are we meant to argue / protest / whatever with everyone who doesnt think the same? :rolleyes:

So the president of this fast food chain said he believes same sex marriage is wrong and is donating millions of dollars to anti-gay marriage groups. So he has taken it beyond expression of an opinion and into lobbying and advocating for discrimination against people based on their sexual orientation. Different bucket of chicken altogether.

Yes, he has the 'right' to do this but then people also have the 'right' to boycott and protest.

Had he made such comments based on race or religion and donated millions to white supremacists or anti-Semitic lobby groups there would justifiably be outrage. I fail to see why the fact that his opposition is to homosexuals should be treated with any less contempt.

EZ24GET

The Cathy family is owner of the restaurants so he is more than just a president although that is his title. I don't believe he has broken any laws nor does he "hate" anyone.Disagreeing ( on this or any subject) with you does not cause me to hate you. If my disagreement causes you to hate me then you have a problem. I think Mr Cathy has a right to his opinion as does anyone. I have not seen any attempts to prevent demonstrations of protest nor support of his personal values. Both seemed to go on as planned, although I did view (on TV) several instances of hate messages spray painted on some of the restaurants, it doesn't necessarily mean it was in protest some people will latch on to any group just to create a little mischief. Surely if you held opposing beliefs and you owned a profitable company you would be entitled to spread your profits where you wished? I don't believe anyone else has the right to demand your money go to support things you don't believe in. The company itself has always been deemed a Christian family oriented business, never open on Sundays in respect and obeyance of the ten commandments. I don't want to focus on the religious asspects but it is the Southern Baptist church that is the center of the Cathy family beliefs and values so it is hard to ignore. I understand from friends who live in the area that the Cathy family donates to lots of organizations and supports various charities certainly not focused on what some would call anti- gay institutions. Here is a lin to the Cathy Family page if anyone would care to read a little of it. I guess I've said all that just to say this. I think we are demonizing this man unfairly. If his opinions differ from yours wouldn't it be better to change his opinion with education and rational actions? Just my opinion but yelling "hater" and demanding he fall in line to your belief makes you look pretty hateful to me. Bottom line: his company. His beliefs, His opinion, His money=His rights. Buy your chicken from whoever you want, donate your money where you wish, speak your opinions when your opinions are asked and you are free to "hate" who you want.
Well, forgot he link didn't I - sorry =http://www.cathyfamily.com/

Gbear

EZ24GET wrote: »

The Cathy family is owner of the restaurants so he is more than just a president although that is his title. I don't believe he has broken any laws nor does he "hate" anyone.Disagreeing ( on this or any subject) with you does not cause me to hate you. If my disagreement causes you to hate me then you have a problem. I think Mr Cathy has a right to his opinion as does anyone. I have not seen any attempts to prevent demonstrations of protest nor support of his personal values. Both seemed to go on as planned, although I did view (on TV) several instances of hate messages spray painted on some of the restaurants, it doesn't necessarily mean it was in protest some people will latch on to any group just to create a little mischief. Surely if you held opposing beliefs and you owned a profitable company you would be entitled to spread your profits where you wished? I don't believe anyone else has the right to demand your money go to support things you don't believe in. The company itself has always been deemed a Christian family oriented business, never open on Sundays in respect and obeyance of the ten commandments. I don't want to focus on the religious asspects but it is the Southern Baptist church that is the center of the Cathy family beliefs and values so it is hard to ignore. I understand from friends who live in the area that the Cathy family donates to lots of organizations and supports various charities certainly not focused on what some would call anti- gay institutions. Here is a lin to the Cathy Family page if anyone would care to read a little of it. I guess I've said all that just to say this. I think we are demonizing this man unfairly. If his opinions differ from yours wouldn't it be better to change his opinion with education and rational actions? Just my opinion but yelling "hater" and demanding he fall in line to your belief makes you look pretty hateful to me. Bottom line: his company. His beliefs, His opinion, His money=His rights. Buy your chicken from whoever you want, donate your money where you wish, speak your opinions when your opinions are asked and you are free to "hate" who you want.
Well, forgot he link didn't I - sorry =http://www.cathyfamily.com/

First of all, please write in paragraphs. I'd say alot of people just didn't read that because it's a big giant block of text.

If people don't approve of gay marriage that's fine. Even if they actually hate gay people, that's fine too.

The problem isn't the expression of the opinion (although, again, if you replace "gay" with "black" can you imagine the sh1tstorm?) it's the active donation to anti-gay lobby groups.
These groups aren't going around saying "we dislike gays. YOU HEARD ME" - they're actively campaigning for the denial of rights to a section of the population.

It doesn't matter a f*ck what your opinions are on somebody, whether they're gay or black or a religious fundamentalist, their rights are not up for debate.

hooradiation

I don't know who decided to spin it as "kindly old man likes traditional marriage, teh gays are getting upset at his opinion" but they've done a masterful job considering just how many people seem to think that's the entire crux of the issue.

That or they just don't really care to know what they're talking about before opening their noise flaps.

EZ24GET

Rights are not up to debate and if my government deems it appropriate to legalize same sex marriage then so be it.

Abortion has been legalized here so that law stands I have the right to agree or disagree. I also have the right to support organizations who oppose the law and offer (or try to offer) alternative means of dealing with unwanted pregnancies. I also have the right to support abortion clinics and organizations that make it easier to obtain an abortion -as to my own personal beliefs. That's my right.

No one is asking for an apology from gay rights activists because they are standing up for their beliefs. This is what they hold in their hearts to be true. They should continue in their beliefs.

No one should ask Mr. Cathy to give up his opinion and beliefs either. The fact that he doesn't believe same sex marriage is right is not breaking any law.

The problem seems to be that this is a man of some substance who gives his money away. If he had no money he wouldn't even have been asked his opinion. He is a Christian. ( and I realize that you will find varying beliefs among Christians too) Is it his right to give away his money where he wants?

The KKK which is an anti-black and anti-semantic organization (and in my opinion based in hatred) are still legal in this country. You can legally donate money to this organization too. Your money is your money.

As for "rights", That is still up for grabs. Some states have legalized same sex marriages the majority have not. At some point the right to marry will be defined, up until that point, and even beyond it, citizens will be able to express their opinion and support whichever side they believe in. That is each persons right.

Bannasidhe

hooradiation wrote: »

I don't know who decided to spin it as "kindly old man likes traditional marriage, teh gays are getting upset at his opinion" but they've done a masterful job considering just how many people seem to think that's the entire crux of the issue.

That or they just don't really care to know what they're talking about before opening their noise flaps.

Or they are the kind of people who believe extending equal rights to others somehow means they will have less rights when in fact what they will not have is preferential treatment. Which I suppose is worthy of protesting if one thinks one is inherently superior to other members of the human race.

mikemac1

EZ24GET wrote: »

The KKK which is an anti-black and anti-semantic organization (and in my opinion based in hatred) are still legal in this country.

anti-Catholic too

Or papists as they say

YoungTrouble

I don't agree with gay 'people' either.It is called freedom of speech.

EZ24GET

I have a question. So don't everyone jump on me all at once for not knowing this already.

Is same sex marriage legal in Ireland? What countries of the world have legalized same sex marriages?

I am thinking (could be wrong, may have been more recent additions) that only 8 of the 50 states have legalized same sex marriages.

mikemac1

A tad lazy

The list of countries is here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Same-sex_marriage_legislation_around_the_world

mickydoomsux

I'm completely pro-gay marriage but i think that if the owners of this particular chain want to be against it then that is their choice and they have to live with the consequences of their stance the same as any of us have to live with our stance on the issue.

So what if they are donating money to anti-campaign bodies? It's their money and their opinion. No one can tell them that they are "wrong".

We have become so PC nowadays that there are now widely accepted "wrong opinions". That's a very scary thought.

Bannasidhe

YoungTrouble wrote: »

I don't agree with gay 'people' either.It is called freedom of speech.

You registered just to say that? You must have little to be troubling you.

Why is people in inverted commas? Are you implying if one is gay one is not a person?

EZ24GET

yes suppose i am a bit lazy, but I was sure someone would know and be helpful.:) thank you.;)

It would appear that considering all those people and places that have not legalized same sex marriages, other than Mr. Cathy was of the same opinion ?

MagicMarker

If this guy wants to hold stupid opinions and give his money to other stupid people who hold the same stupid opinions, then he has the right to do it. Just like other people have the right to have a problem with it and protest against it.

Nothing new here, the world is still spinning and some people are still stupid. Business as usual.