From calls for a boycott to pledges of support, Chick-fil-A president Dan Cathy’s recent comments supporting traditional marriage have prompted strong reactions from groups on both sides of the issue.
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Cathy’s remarks earlier this week to a Baptist website, in which he affirmed the Atlanta-based company’s belief in “the biblical definition of the family unit,” went viral Wednesday. Supporters and opponents of gay unions immediately weighed in.
“We know that it might not be popular with everyone, but thank the Lord, we live in a country where we can share our values and operate on biblical principles,” Cathy told the Baptist Press.
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As of Friday afternoon, more than 2,100 people had signed a pledge at Causes.com to boycott Chick-fil-A. The petition was sponsored by the Trevor Project, a national organization focused on suicide prevention efforts for LGBT youth.
“As customers, we can no longer stomach your intolerance and disrespect for countless LGBT citizens,” the pledge reads. “Until your company’s values reflect the freedoms and dignities that all American citizens are due, we will no longer eat at Chick-fil-A!”
Boston Mayor Thomas Menino told the Boston Herald he would work to block Chick-fil-A from opening a restaurant in the city. “You can’t have a business in the city of Boston that discriminates against a population,” Menino said.
Several conservative organizations released statements of support for Cathy. The National Organization for Marriage, for example, called the son of Chick-fil-A founder Truett Cathy “a corporate hero for marriage.”
The company appeared to be trying to move beyond the issue, saying on its Facebook page that it would “leave the policy
This article originally appeared on: http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/Latest-News-Wires/2012/0721/Chick-fil-A-Gay-marriage-debate-and-fast-food-chicken-Yup
Susie says:
While perhaps not the wisest choice by the CEO, his opinion is a valid expression thanks to America’s freedom of beliefs, speech, and religion. What I do not like about the media reaction to this is their word twisting, which changes support of traditional marriage into discrimination against homosexuals. These two things are vastly different. That is the same thing as saying a person who is pro-life discriminates against a person who has had an abortion. In order to discriminate, Chick Fil-A would have to not hire or not serve a person because they are homosexual. At this time, I am unaware of this ever having happened. This is a privately owned company, and they may support any organizations they want.