After previously failing to convince the gays that his company didn’t hate them, Chick-fil-A’s president and COO Dan Cathy is back with a new statement, clearly unhappy this little scandal — where a supposedly independent restaurant location opted to donate free food to a pro-discrimination conference — isn’t over. Alas, this time there’s no video, just text, so allow us to give you clearly conflicting parts.
Item: “In recent weeks, we have been accused of being anti-gay. We have no agenda against anyone.”
Item: “Chick-fil-A has a long history of trying to encourage and strengthen marriages and families, both within our Chick-fil-A system and with our customers.”
Item: “Chick-fil-A’s Corporate Purpose is ‘To glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us, and to have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A.'”
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Item: “[W]e will not champion any political agendas on marriage and family. This decision has been made, and we understand the importance of it. At the same time, we will continue to offer resources to strengthen marriages and families. To do anything different would be inconsistent with our purpose and belief in Biblical principles.”
Now, if you’re playing along at home, grab your magic decoder ring and your invisible ink pen, and start connecting the dots: Chick-fil-A’s corporate mission is to encourage the strength of marriages, but it is not anti-gay, even when it donates free goods to organizations that promote marriages in an anti-gay way. Cathy wants to have his delicious chikin and eat it too. Sorry, bub. Doesn’t work that way.
GregorVonK
Well, aside from the issue of bigotry (or non-bigotry or non-non-bigotry), isn’t this the kind of mess businesses create for themselves when they start mixing their biz AND their politics (or religion).
No one would CARE about Cathy’s belief system if he didn’t talk it up…or make donations to politically motivated groups. What does his Christianity (or his BRAND of Christianity) have to do w/ selling chicken sandwiches?
It’s absolutely absurd for a chicken joint to assume that it can or should take on the task of “trying to encourage and strengthen marriages and families, both within our Chick-fil-A system and with our customers.” Uh, the state of your customers marriages (if any) is none of your damn business, Mr C. And you better be careful about sticking your beak into the personal lives of your EMPLOYEES too before you get slapped with a hefty lawsuit.
On the plus side (for them), this free PR may have a real upside. I never heard of this company before this particular dust-up. I wish I still hadn’t but there you are.
Shannon1981
Already knew this place was bad news.I haven’t eaten at Chik Fil A in years. They regularly give money to Focus on the Family, which is a REALLY homophobic group(though I am sure anyone on this board already knows this).
And @GregorVonk is right. What the hell does marriage and families have to do with selling chicken? I don’t give a damn what anyone believes. That is their right. But when their rights to believe as they do spill over onto mine, we have a problem. Nothing this man or anyone associated with his company says or does will ever convince me he and his followers aren’t anti gay. End of story.
the crustybastard
“[W]e will not champion any political agendas on marriage and family [but] we will continue to assist those who do.”
Noted.
Maria
Supporting the Focus on the Family is worse than supporting Stormfront. Toss in Uganda, and these companies have genocide on their resumes. I would like to know which other companies are supporters of such organizations as I want to make damned certain not one penny of my money goes to them. Btw, I’m a straight woman w/two kids, and this goes beyond all of that. Why this stuff makes the news on gay sites but not on general sites I’ll never, ever understand. These people have blood on their hands.
ChattyKathy
Hawking heart disease and stomach cancer to the masses. God’s work indeed…
justiceontherocks
All five comments ahead of me are spot on.
fradiavolo
“Chick-fil-A President Dan Cathy Again Confuses ‘Not Being A Bigot’ With ‘Being A Bigot'”
He also seems to confuse selling chicken with peddling chicken shit.
BenFrankly
What a relief. I’ve always felt like I should eat Chick fillet but everytime I tried it I wanted to vomit. Now, knowing that they are as I always suspected, a bunch of relgious nut cases hell bent on subjugating a portion of humanity I can in clear conscience never eat there again and actively politic for a boycott of their disgustng food.
My child told me they were evil MFer’s and it turns out she was right.
Lucas
Uhh, there are gay marriages and gay families too, right? The statement from Chick-Fil-A would be consistent with a belief that ALL families and ALL marriages should be strengthened, including gay ones. None of you seem to think that’s what he means, and it probably isn’t, but the statement itself does not preclude this possibility.
jake
@ChattyKathy: I was thinking the same thing and you beat me to the committ. God is glorified by selling deep fried fast food, because they are closed for business on Sunday??? What is next, sandwitch wrappers with bible verses?
Str8Edge
Never ate at this place, but I been told their chicken is mad good. I won’t be eating there though after reading about this.
Bennett
OMG BUT THEIR SAMMICHES ARE SO GOOD.
DavyJones
Who said he’s defining “marriages” and “families” to be of the man/woman type? Seems you’re putting a few words in his mouth there to make these statements contradictory…
DavyJones
Dan Cathy is a good and just man, its a rare employer who gives every employee Sunday off. Shame on queerty for its anti christian biases.
Shannon1981
@DavyJones: Shame on you for supporting obvious homophobia.
dommyluc
I need to have a T-shirt made that says Chick-ful-a-Shit!
mark
But what if this boycott does not work? Boycott’s are almost always a fools errand. Even with South Africa we know it was not the sanctions that brought South Africa down but rather the isolation, and there is a difference. Gays are making these chicken guys, who make awesome sandwiches, victims and heros in the conservative world. Have you not already seen the “eat at chick-filet” christian campaigns..
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Is the gay community out hunting?
lovesamerica
You are all so bad, such big talkers and bashers of Chick. Are they bothering you? Are you so in-tolerant of others? Yes, the liberals who preach tolerance and acceptance at it again! Ban Chick fil A! NOW!! They are a danger, they will turn you into Christians, they will force you to eat chicken and you will start reciting bible verses. LOL! You are all such hypocrites! I think I will have some Chick Fil A for lunch today with that kickin polynesian sauce! Stop being haters!
lovesamerica
@dommyluc:
Don’t forget to add, “..and so am I”
justiceontherocks
@lovesamerica: Another ass hat who “lovesamerica” only if all of America is exactly like him.
Have fun at the chicken place adding to your 75% body fat.
Oh, and on the intolerant thing – I am very intolerant of people who treat me like a second class citizen. I am thoroughly, utterly and completely intolerant of that.
Shannon1981
@justiceontherocks: I second that.
scott ny'er
@Maria: Thanks! It’s nice to know there are people out there like you.
@lovesamerica: [Rolls eyes.] Grab a clue.
Cam
But part of their corporate arm donates to their charitable arm that DOES send money to anti-gay organizations…so how exactly is that NOT funding anti-gay issues?
oh, and…
No. 18 · lovesamerica said…
You are all so bad, such big talkers and bashers of Chick. Are they bothering you? Are you so in-tolerant of others? Yes, the liberals who preach tolerance and acceptance at it again!
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Did you really say….”Are they bothering you?” Really? When their fundraising arm is donating money to organizations that want to make the way I live illegal…um, YEAH, they ARE bothering me. If somebody passed a law that said people couldn’t go to church on Sunday, and MacDonalds was a huge supporter of them, I have a feeling that you wouldn’t be TOLERANT of their “OPINION”…
Something ceases to merely be an “Opinion” when people are trying to force others to live their lives by it.
chickenisgood
@lovesamerica:
mikey
@davyjones
Actions speak louder then words. You can say all day long that you don’t hate/dislike anyone. but, when you support a group of people that do. people can see through the BS and lies.
That being said, I believe any company has a right to their own opinion. but people will get pissed. expect repercussions.
And why did they drop there support? did there pocket book get pinched a little too hard? Or, may They love money just a little bit more then Jesus? aaahhh! the power of greed.
P.S. isn’t there food like loaded with MSG or something?
mikey
@dommyluc: Dude!!! Thats fuckin funny! I want one.
william
@lovesamerica: As opposed to the Crazy Right Wingers that think if you allow gay marriage, people will start marrying dogs… It goes both ways…