Police in California have arrested a man this week for spray-painting “Taste likes hate” on the side of a Chick-fil-A restaurant in West Hollywood. The graffiti was accompanied by an image of a cow holding a paint brushâa dig at the company’s “Eat Mor Chikin” campaign.
Artist Manuel Castro was arrested on Wednesday after taking credit for the work in a Huffington Post interview. It’s believed he tagged the building last Friday, during “National Same-Sex Kiss Day.”
In his interview, Castro, 30, explained he was trying to start a discussion about “tolerance and acceptance”:
“I didnât use violence. I used paint. Artists for centuries have expressed their opinions through this medium and I am no different,” he said. “I am happy to pay for the costs of repainting the wall, but I am not ânor will I ever be â happy to sit quietly at the back of the bus.”
Well, at least he used proper spelling, something Chick-fil-A seems to have a problem with.
Photos: Sandy Mazza/Daily Breeze, Torrance Police Department
Felix
This is malicious prosecution with a ridiculously high bail. It is homophobia in the justice system trying to silence any dissent. How can we help this guy?
Kiro
Lol I don’t think there’s anything wrong with arresting someone for writing defamatory vandalism on someone else’s property.
As ignorant and wrong as they are, they are entitled to run their business as they see fit. If you want to protest it, then do the gay community a favor and don’t break the law in doing so.
Cory
NO it’s not Felix this guy vandalized public property.
Cory
NO itâs not Felix this guy vandalized public property. This gives all gay men and LGBT people bad name, and if you want to really hurt CFA don’t do silly things like vandalizing their property or going to those stupid kiss ins but don’t eat there.
Felix
oooh, bad gay, he broke a rule. They won’t “love” us now. lol.
LandStander
@Cory: Yes, because clearly the way to get equal rights is to sit back quietly, and wait until the majority pass them out, distributing them equally to all citizens. That’s how it happened for all the other minorities right? lol
LaTeesha
Ten years I owned a restaurant. I spent thousands of dollars during that time because I had to repaint the building due to graffiti. I couldn’t even get the police to come out and take a police report. They told me to stop by the station and fill out a form. Of course, they never did anything with them. They never investigated the vandalism and they certainly never made an arrest. Maybe if I’d been a Chick-Fil-A’hole the police would have investigated the vandalism to my building. Sounds like the cops in this town are playing favorites. Free chicken sandwiches for themselves?
Dave
@LandStander: Yeah, because Chick Fil A is in Congress right now making anti-gay legislation and passing out free chicken sandwiches, right?
@Cory: Agreed.
Clockwerk
Graf is a menace.
Give him 80 hours of community service.
When will you people learn to recognize right from wrong?
Hyhybt
I expect the reason he’s being charged with vandalism is that he committed vandalism, no more and no less.
fofomazuzu
@Clockwerk: It’s called civil disobedience.
Thanh My
@Felix: You can help. Going to jail along with him and your pathetic queer friends.
Chong
“after taking credit for the work in a Huffington Post interview”
C’mon, man.
@Dave: Are you not familiar with the Family Research Council? What about Focus on the Family and Exodus International? Three organizations that receive donations by Chick-fil-A. Coincidentally, three organizations that lobby for anti-gay legislation.
J Stratford
@Dave:
Yes, Chick Fil A gives money to those who lobby Congress and the States to take away our rights. How uninformed can you be? Or are you just lying through your teeth?
Booker
@Felix: Felix, maybe you don’t care if “they” love us now, but “they” will be voting in, I believe, three more marriage equality referendums just this year. Maybe not so “lol”.
Booker
@fofomazuzu: Yes, it’s civil disobedience, which I respect; but part of civil disobedience, as Gandhi told us, is accepting the legal consequences for it (at one of his trials, he requested the maximum sentence, saying he deserved it for he did–although he also said he’d do it again)
Gay Angel
Welcome to the wonderful world of Equality.
Alexi3
I won’t go so far as to say defaceing someone elses property is right, but, clearly this is a very selectively prosecuted “crime”. What surprises me most is that there even is a Chic-fil-a franchise in West Hollywood that must be making a profit.
B
Re No. 8 · Hyhybt wrote, “I expect the reason heâs being charged with vandalism is that he committed vandalism, no more and no less.”
I hope the D.A. has some physical evidence (the L.A. Times article claimed there was more evidence but did not give any details) – if lying to the press was a crime, in nearly all instances the president, vice president, and most if not all congresspersons and senators would be in jail.
Marjorie 0120
@LandStander:
Cory’s right kids, you can’t break the law, make yourself obnoxious and expect to reap respect in return.
Gays will get what they want but, by not by trying to bully the public. All that does is generate disdain, makes the haters feel justified. You’re going to like me or else will not work.
Can we not follow the example of MLK, his plan worked, so far other then some Hollyweirdos you folks are batting zero with America. Did you learn nothing from the Chick-fil-A demonstration? The owner did nothing but air his religious views to a religious org. by answering a question he was asked. He did not discriminate against anyone and he should lose everything for daring to express his personal views, his right to free speech offended you?
Your reaction did not reflect well on the gay community, you may if you wish call him a hater, but your actions show the world who is hating. You can come here to this site and justify bad behaviors to each other, but you’re singing to the choir. The people who must see you in the light of normalcy (if you want to be seen as normal), is the average American Joe and his family. It’s the truth and you all know it.
Now you can all call me names and say terrible things about me, that will be easier than soul searching and recognising truth when you read it.
gattsuru
I expect a lot of the difference is because few graffiti artists post a confession on Facebook or Huffington Post. It happens, but it’s a bit of a distinguishing characteristic here. Not my place to say if these sorts of protest acts are a good idea or not, but if you’re going to do them, you’ve got to be ready to deal with the results.
20k might seem like a lot, but bail in the United States is rather biased toward high numbers to start with, especially in coastal states like California, and especially because California charges fairly high fines for convicted vandalism.
Chuck
This guy vandalized private property and made us all look like idiots. I still can’t believe the number of queens on here defending asses like this.
F Stratford
The whole idea that we should be model citizens to be accepted is wack. Look at the Asians, the so-called model minority, they don’t get any political respect, representation or what not. The only way that they got equal rights was through partnering and supporting “angry” minorities.
Unfortunately LGBTs have no other sexual/gender minorities to partner with – we have no choice but to be angry and nice at the same time to get equality.
F Stratford
@Marjorie 0120:
And don’t call us kids like your old age gives you wisdom. Your generation has done its job. Let the new blood lead the way. This is a new fight and your one-sided strategy won’t work. We don’t want pity. We want our rights recognized.
The old people who are generally (statistics show) haters can’t live forever…
Their kids and their grandchildren should confront them with their fake Christian beliefs. The sooner the better. bel
F Stratford
Case in point. Cheneys nd bush’s kids could’ve done a lot if they spoke up when those two were in power. But they played nice. What did it get us? A big nothing.
It took lawsuits and demonstrations and one on one family gatherings, often acrimonious around the dining table to change things for the better.
Artists – street art or not – have a role to play. Calling them holllyweird like you are better than them by calling them names is just a disgrace. If you are yellow or afraid of a little bit of roughness – let the others do the work on the other end, and then you do your part. Good cop bad cop. Everyone has a role to play to advance our cause.
B
No. 20 · F Stratford wrote, “@Marjorie 0120: And donât call us kids like your old age gives you wisdom. Your generation has done its job. Let the new blood lead the way. This is a new fight and your one-sided strategy wonât work. We donât want pity. We want our rights recognized.”
Calm down (both of you). In a previous case of social unrest, I heard a very smart guy (he worked on the Manhattan Project) point out that you really need two groups to make progress. You need a bunch of young radicals agitating in the streets plus a group of “experts” who can explain what people really want and how to make progress in ways that the politicians can actually implement.
What happens is that the politicians generally run in fire-drill mode – they ignore a problem until it is a crisis and then try to do something. They run in that mode because they are flooded with demands to the point where they can only process the most critical ones. So, what happens is that once the “young radicals” get their attention, you need some very experienced people there to throw the politicians a “life preserver” that they can grasp. If you don’t have both in place simultaneously, the politicians just decide the problem is intractable and move on to something they might be able to handle. It’s easier to get reelected if you can claim you are doing something useful and they are going to pick the low-hanging fruit whenever possible.
For the “radicals”, a lot of youthful energy and enthusiasm is a big plus. But you also need the experts – people with years of experience who can put together a believable solution that the politicians can use. Both are complementary. It’s OK for a group of 20 somethings to try things and go off in the wrong direction or simply make a lot of noise – you don’t learn if you aren’t willing to try things and make mistakes. But you also need people with lots of experience who can avoid what (with 20 or more years of experience) are obviously errors and who know what you need to put together a real solution for a complex issue. So, let’s avoid the mistake of writing each other off. It’s really a group effort and you need a mix of skills and abilities to come out ahead.
jeff m
@Marjorie 0120: marjorie, this site is for gay men. sign off for good…..
DTG
The painter is an idiot. In the end, his little tantrum didn’t do anything but get him arrested and fined. Good job. LOL
I ADORE it when phony activists go on self-righteous tangents and wind up shooting themselves in the foot. Happens every time. Just like that guy who bullied the Chick-fil-A employee. His ass got fired for it and no one is looking at him as a hero.
Bottom line is that if you’re so appalled by CFA, their politics and don’t like where their money is going, then don’t eat there. I think what people are more upset about is how many supporters they have.
Mk ultra
Some of you, it must feel good but take the huge stick out of your asses.
This is gonna reflect badly on the community?
Get over yourselves! No one even cares!
It’s the hugest non-issue of the year. Some artist spray paints some graffiti and you act like a gay billionaire just announced he has been donating millions to have the rights of your fellow Americans restricted.
Concentrate more on the billion dollar fast chicken restaurant and the pretty chunk of those billions that they spend on fighting to have you put in your place. It’s not good enough to just “not eat there”. We need to constantly repeat the fact that they hate gays. Yes hate. No softer word will do. After all, if you want to deny another person, a fellow citizen their freedom and place place powerful punishment on them simply because you say “you have a disagrerment with them”, what is hate if not that? They may deny it but the old adage stays true : actions speak louder than words. Their millions of dollars of hate shout volumes.
Schlukitz
Anyone remember the Boston Tea Party?
Timmeeeyyy!!!
@B:
Well said. MLK was effective in part because Malcolm X existed. Malcolm X gave MLK a chance to say (in effect) to politicians,”Look, we have to move forward, you cannot stop this movement. And if you don’t deal with people like me, you’ll have to deal with Malcolm X’s brand of self-determination and self-defense.”
Barry Battle
You gotta love how Queerty calls this guy an “artist.”
@Cory:
@Dave: Cory, Dave: Guys like us deal in facts and logic, not in emotions like the majority of people on this site. If someone vandalized Lady Gaga’s residence or business out of protest to her music, I have no doubt these same folks who love seeing criminal acts committed against Chick-Fil-A would be screaming “Hate crime.” They don’t just want things their way, they wants things both ways and every which way—and free.
Cheers
Barry
Scobar
@Schlukitz: You’re a Tea Partier?
The Real Mike in Asheville
@Cory: So silly you are! And, BTW, the hatin’ words were graffiti’ed on private, not public, property.
The Real Mike in Asheville
@Thanh My: Hmmm, and you are cruising gay web sites because…..troll, closet case, or closet case troll?
The Real Mike in Asheville
@Chuck: I certainly don’t feel like I am now treated any different than before some dude spray painted a simple anti-hate message. YOU ARE RIDICULOUS!
Marjorie 0120
@jeff m:
I’ve searched the site over and no where except in your post does it say for gay men only. I was under the impression that it was a public site for discussing issues relevant to the LGBT community. It’s open to the public. Some come to contribute ideas, share experiences, other just to read, sadly some to gather what they consider scandalous material to use against the community.
I wish I was filled with wisdom but like everybody else I can only share info gathered during my life. “Kids” is a form of endearment where I come from and certainly wasn’t meant to offend anyone or imply superiority on my part. It may imply senority, I was gay before many of you were a twinkle in your Dad’s eye. I can see how far forward the community has moved since my younger days. I’ve been around long enough to know that you can’t threaten people into liking, respecting or accepting your cause. You have to stay in the public eye, demonstrate and temper your argument without hysteria and grossly overstated claims. F. Stratford is right, racially motivated movements could call on other minorities to stand with them, this community must stand alone, and every voice counts. To attempt to silence those who’s approach is different than yours will be your defeat, you either work together or fall togather.
Hyhybt
@Schlukitz: No, most of us aren’t that old đ I do know, though, that it was aimed at the government even if the tea and ship involved were private property… and that it was in a time building to war. Surely we’re not going to go that route over THIS.
XoMoDe
I hope this petty vandal gets what he has coming to him. Like somebody destroying his property. Don’t like Chick-Fil-A…don’t eat there.
Schlukitz
@Hyhybt:
I referenced the Boston Tea Party merely as an illustration of the right of the citizenry to protest. And history is strewn with similar incidents of civil-disobedience including and not limited to the war with England that followed the Tea Party.
I hate to be the bearer of bad tiding but we are, indeed, involved in a war. The only ambiguity, is whether it should be called a “culture war” or a “War of hatred.” đ
My money is on the latter.
Schlukitz
@Scobar:
Nope. My money is on Obama.
I am not one for shooting myself in the foot by voting against my self interests. LOL
B
No. 28 · Barry Battle wrote, ‘You gotta love how Queerty calls this guy an âartist.â’
If the Queerty guy who called him an artist draws as badly as I do, I can see why!
At least he can draw a much better ‘cow’ than I can, judging from the news photos taken before it was all painted over.
About the only thing I could paint and pass off as art is “white on white”, but it would literally be a completely white canvas, not something like Kazimir Malevich’s painting with that name. In my case, it would be very astute of me to present a canvas without any paint on it at all – why take a chance of leaving some evidence of my lack of skill when I can pretend to be making a “statement”! You know, like John Cage’s composition that consisted only of rests – the musicians sat there counting, so they’d know when to put down their instruments, leaving the audience to notice all the background sounds.
tim
The Chick-Fil-A was in Torrance (South Bay), the tagger was from West Hollywood.
-Tim in LA
URDUMB
@Felix: “ooh bad guy….” Take a sh*t Felix and you’ll feel better!
If the little piece of trash wanted to express himself all he needed to do was squeeze his over-sized tits!
Paint it on you own house, or car, or the side of the card board box you live in!
URDUMB
@fofomazuzu: #9… It’s called keeping your damn hands off other people’s property. Since you have none I’m sure the concept is hard for you to comprehend!
Triple S
@Barry Battle: I’m with you too
dvlaries
I guess I’ve never actually been inside a Chick Fil-A because I don’t understand the cows in the cartoons and satire that’s come with the uproar. Is the dump also a hamburger place…?
Hyhybt
@dvlaries: They don’t sell hamburgers; that’s the point of the ads’ using cows. (And none I’ve ever been in would qualify as a “dump” by any useful meaning of the word.)