Chick-Fil-A Does not support equality in same sex marriages...

[mikey3000]

So I am stopping my financial support of Chick-Fil-A and will boycot them...

http://www.goodasyou.org/good_as_you/chickfila-controversy/

[shaver6]

Yes...Chick-Fil-A...always has been a conservative, right wing corporation, right out of the heart of the "bible belt". So what their policy is ....doesn't surprise me. They pissed me off the first time I went there on a Sunday....and they were CLOSED :mad:

[Falke]

If they want those views, fine. Just don't let it interfere with the happiness of others whom do not follow their code, which they are doing. It all boils down to this: I will not bitch that you are closed on Sundays if you will not bitch about me marrying the person I love.


Then again, as was shown... backing political groups using a business, be it large or small, is never a good idea and always seems to backfire. All I have to say is Target anyone?

[weskain77]

They make chicken sandwiches- they aren't a political action group. It's sad when you need your fast food joint to actively support a certain political agenda. Get over it.

[12voltman59]

It has not been a secret that the owners of Chik-Fil-A are fundamentalist Christians, so it should be no surprise that they would not like anything to do with homosexuality.

While I don't agree with their positions on this and other things---I don't have a problem that they feel this way---and even though I don't agree with them---I do buy their products from time to time and have no plans to stop doing so---at least from that perspective--even though I may not eat their food as much in the future more out of an to attempt to eat more healthy more of the time. Their food is hardly good for you in terms of health and that is the prime reason I don't eat their food all that much and plan to do so less in the future.

[1bimmwis]

Well said, Volty!

[tenni]

Mikey
You must have this business and we do not? I've never heard of them. I suspect that this might become a court case here and a violation of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms but I'm not sure. You may not refuse service to someone based upon their ethnicity, race, physical or mental ability, sex (orientation), and some other sections from section 15 of the Charter. The company may not refuse to sell their chicken sandwiches to same sex couples but this seminar situation exclusion of same sex couples may be legal or not. It would be an interesting Supreme Court case here.

Ministers whose religion objects to same sex marriages may refuse to marry same sex couples but same sex couples must be married by Justices of the Peace here as these Justices are public servants. (churches have freedom of religion behind them to counter discriminating based on sex) Would this business be permitted to discriminate in a "service" that they provide not connected to their chicken sandwich service? It might depend upon how publicly available this seminar is?

[mikey3000]

That's my point. They'll gladly serve and make a profit of the LGBTQ community, but excluce us from their other practices. We are enabling them to spread their biggotry. That's why I'll stop supporthig them.

[tenni]

Mikey
I think that it is commendable for you to take this stand.

What is unclear to me is if this chicken sandwich company is offering these marriage retreats in Canada? There is a huge difference constitutionally when dealing with same sex marriages in Canada compared to the US. It may be legal in the US to discriminate in this manner but I am doubting that it would be legal in Canada (not sure though). Still it is commendable for you to take this position.

[mikey3000]

There are none in Canada that I'm aware of. Since I travel to the states often, I just won't go there any more. And I thought it's best I tell them why too. I wrote them a nice letter explaining my stance. Doubt I'll hear back.

[bi42guy1958]

My view on this....................I like the food, although a little pricey. I'm not going to stop buying what I like because an establishment doesn't share my views. If you stop and think about it, everything you buy comes from another person or corporation, be it food, clothes, gas, entertainment. Do you think all these other people share your views on YOUR sexuality? We do live in America and this is supposedly a free country, so we are free to think the way we see fit, just as I'm not condemning you for the way you think, just stating my views which I have the right to do. :)

[tenni]

biguy
It seems to be not about freedom but about discrimination to me. Do you support companies that discriminate based on sexual orientation? If the taste of the sandwich is so important to you over discriminating based on sexual orientation then so be it. That is where freedom of choice comes in to play. Would you support them if they offered a service but not to disabled people, certain ethnic/racial groups, certain religions, people of a certain age, etc.? If you do, then are you a bigot for doing so? You get to decide.

[AidanS57]

I never really liked them anyway but I gotta ask is it actually gonna make a difference? People eat when they are hungry, they aren't thinking that this business did this or that business did that. They are just thinking decent food for a decent price.

It's like not watching movies cause certain actors or actresses are idiots offscreen. What's that got to do with the quality of the film? I don't like the fact Jackson Browne beat Daryl Hannah but does that stop me singing along with "Running on Empty"? Nope. Sometimes no matter how much you want to take a stand it's just not worth it in the long wrong to deprive yourself in the hopes they might notice a dent in the bottom line. :2cents:

Aidan

[mikey3000]

But with their financial backing of the Pennsylvania Family Institute, they are not merely "not supporting" your rights, thay are actively campaining against them. They are not neutral. Is a good chicken burger really worth it?

I believe a boycot can make a difference, that's only if you really care enough about your rights.

[tenni]

Boycotts and protests can work if enough people boycott. The same boycott approach has been used by these fundamentalists against certain television programmes who support same sex marriage. Similar to the thread on Sexuality and Children, change happen when sufficient numbers in a society support the position. People in Tunisia, and maybe Egypt are busy showing that numbers who protest or boycott can work.

You go..Mikey...:bigrin:

[shaver6]

If I remember correctly....I think it was probably 20 years ago, The Carl's Jr company stirred up a boycott, when they gave financial support in California towards anti-gay causes.... You know if I owned a business..and I wanted it to be a sucessful business, I would not express any policitical, religious or controversial opinions to the public. Because no matter what you want to support...or be against....someone...who buys your product, is going to be pissed off, and decide not to do business with you anymore.

[void()]

"That's my point. They'll gladly serve and make a profit of the LGBTQ community, but excluce us from their other practices. We are enabling them to spread their biggotry. "

They serve product to customers. What other business do they exclude bisexual folks from?

If they want to worship the holy pine cone and be ignorant, fine. I'll either buy their product or not based on need, desire.

This is like the argument of an artist oh say author being homosexual or not. It ultimately doesn't matter, Dorian Gray was a good story. Do I care if Oscar Wilde was purple? No.

The product serves the need, if it does so well, then the rest doesn't matter. As far as us enabling, if not us the next customer and so on. No, I'm not saying it's futile but ...

At any given, have a good one and run it slow.

"So big the oceans and skies -- stars laugh, waves whisper, world keeps turning."

[AidanS57]

Exactly, Void. I don't particularly like their product but every once in awhile I get a craving and when I get a craving, I don't stop and think "Now what has the parent corporation done that might offend me?" I just go and order and enjoy my cholesterol shooting up a couple points and resign myself to eating healthier for a few meals.

Aidan

[niftyshellshock]

I haven't had chik fil a in two weeks and I think I'll go and buy some just because of the OP.

[Bicuriousity]

Me too, i hate boycotting things. Heres to more chick fil a. The more i hear a restaurants name mentioned the more i want to eat it, even when i heard taco bell dint use real mest one day, the next nigt i was eating it. Subliminal hypnosis.

[DuckiesDarling]

I won't run out and buy it, but I also won't run away from buying it. Interesting sentiment, Mikey, but really in the end who are you hurting? The workers at the individual restaurants who might be *gasp* LGBT. You can not hold the franchises responsible for what a corporate office does, but if you choose to not eat Chik-Fil-A that is your choice and quite honestly you'll prolly be healthier for it :tong:

[_Joe_]

If you want to get technical, you should boycott anything that comes from China.


GOOD LUCK WITH THAT!


Boycott by convienence has always puzzled me, because there's worse things out there that many simply turn a blind eye on.

[darkeyes]

I have always boycotted things of which I disapprove and always will.. from when very young. It is true that to some degree we may injure the ordinary workers, but is that the point? We have to look at the bigger picture and ask ourselves if what we want and like is something we should have and support when the producer does something of which we disapprove or acts against our own interests... we should always consider who that company may be injuring and stuff their products..

[void()]

"we should always consider who that company may be injuring and stuff their products"

Not to sound hypocritical or wish wash but on one hand I agree with you, to a degree.

Then I stop and consider at times we're told even breathing kills you, we all got cancer inside, all those really cool designer drugs are good for you. Oh wait, the ones we see on the telly here. We got ones for depression, sleep loss, weight gain, stop smoking, women's problems ... and all of them tell you they could cause worsening symptoms or near fetal or fetal allergies. But sure, we need to rush right out and spend our stipends meager that they are for a whole buffet of capsulized death. "Blue pill or red, Neo?" "Give me the invisible purple one, please!" :)

It really contorts this weary mind to ponder who does what to whom. If not this one, then that one. And I know this does not justify being convenient and simply saying, "it fills the bill, run with it." But you do best with what you have, too. Sometimes practical is all we can get.

Void wanders along pondering how irises developed if fates decreed only we see.

[mikey3000]

I do too. I feel that if I don't try to change things, I have no right to complain when things go wrong. But that's just me. Some people prefer a really yummy chicken burger to equal human rights. To each their own I guess. :eek:

[Long Duck Dong]

where is the boycott most of the usa thread :tong::tong::tong:

[DuckiesDarling]

Mikey, it's not about not standing up for rights, but it's about standing up for rights in a way that doesn't hurt the very people whose rights you want to stand up for.

Like I said, I applaud the stance, I just don't think it's the way to go.

[tenni]

I think that it is a little troubling to find people on a bisexual website making statements about employees of this business suffering and giving more weight to that than supporting same sex marriage equality. I would suspect that it is indicative of their own personal needs. If they are bisexual, I would suspect that they do not see their rights as being interfered with. They do not see themselves in a same sex marriage or wanting this right for themselves. There seems to be a lack of real empathy for anyone who wants same sex marriage equality. It doesn't really bother them that this business is doing seminars of what they are calling biblical marriages between a man and a woman and not permitting those in same sex marriages.

I may be wrong but there are reasons why this is not important to them. They may just be ultra conservative people who do not believe in standing up for their rights or the rights of discriminated people. They do not believe in equality for GLBT people very strongly. Now, myself, I don't know if I would boycott as I can not. I probably would boycott as there is no life saving need for anyone to buy a chicken sandwich. I don't care how damn good it tastes.

If you do not believe in boycotting this product, how are you going to make this company not discriminate against same sex married couples?

[mikey3000]

Mikey, it's not about not standing up for rights, but it's about standing up for rights in a way that doesn't hurt the very people whose rights you want to stand up for.

Like I said, I applaud the stance, I just don't think it's the way to go.

Ok, so let's look at it this way. Would it be ok to buy their food if they were supporting a white supremicist group? Superiority is superiority, whether it be race or religion or sexual orientation, no?

[DuckiesDarling]

Ok, so let's look at it this way. Would it be ok to buy their food if they were supporting a white supremicist group? Superiority is superiority, whether it be race or religion or sexual orientation, no?

Yes. And before you blast me, I'll tell you why. What the local restaurant does is offer a service I am free to take or leave. They are not in my face flying an agenda. I don't walk into a Chick-Fil-A and get slammed with banners promoting man and woman=marriage. I walk in and see large pictures of a chicken sandwich.

I will not take away their right to operate a business because the parent corporation may say something I don't agree with. Double edged sword of free speech again. I don't have to like what they say I just have to like the food they serve to buy it.

And Mikey the Dalai Lama is also opposed to same sex marriage are you going to demand all Buddhist Temples in Canada be removed?

[mikey3000]

:eek: Wow. Nuf said. And the Dhali Lama isn't making $$ off people to further an agenda. Hardly the same, DD.

So really, what you are saying is that discrimination is ok if you don't see it first hand and it doesn't effect you. Ok then. Good to know.

[tenni]

"Yes. And before you blast me, I'll tell you why. What the local restaurant does is offer a service I am free to take or leave. They are not in my face flying an agenda. I don't walk into a Chick-Fil-A and get slammed with banners promoting man and woman=marriage. I walk in and see large pictures of a chicken sandwich."

hmm
Why does this remind me of an old television show about a prisoner of war camp in Nazi Germany. The Nazi sergeant kept saying "I see nothing. I see nothing" even as the prisoners were doing all kinds of things against what should have been going on. Regardless whether this company posts banners opposing equal rights for same sex married couples or not, DD and others know their position now. Still you argue to permit and support such a company.. hypocrite,

[Long Duck Dong]

Ok, so let's look at it this way. Would it be ok to buy their food if they were supporting a white supremicist group? Superiority is superiority, whether it be race or religion or sexual orientation, no?

boycott the oil companies, china, the middle east, 95% of electonics and electrics, fishing companies, fast food joints, corporate business and the taxation dept cos they all support groups that are not about equal rights....and that is just the tip of the iceberg

a example is sealord fisheries in nz... they are involved with whaling cos the company is a shareholder in the outfit doing the whaling..... now whaling provides chemicals for perfume, medical treatments etc and employs people......
the same company is also a part of the canadian and american fisheries, and the same company is maori owned in NZ... by the same group of people that are known to be anti white people.....

we may pick and choose our fights, but we turn a blind eye to most of what goes on, cos we like our net, computers, cellphones, cars, food etc.....

so you canadians, how about boycotting your own fisheries for being involved in whaling.....

[DuckiesDarling]

"Yes. And before you blast me, I'll tell you why. What the local restaurant does is offer a service I am free to take or leave. They are not in my face flying an agenda. I don't walk into a Chick-Fil-A and get slammed with banners promoting man and woman=marriage. I walk in and see large pictures of a chicken sandwich."

hmm
Why does this remind me of an old television show about a prisoner of war camp in Nazi Germany. The Nazi sergeant kept saying "I see nothing. I see nothing" even as the prisoners were doing all kinds of things against what should have been going on. Regardless whether this company posts banners opposing equal rights for same sex married couples or not, DD and others know their position now. Still you argue to permit and support such a company.. hypocrite,

No hypocritical is to think the boycotting of a chicken sandwich is gonna solve the problem of people opposing same sex marriage. Even gay rights groups such as the Queer Union at NYU are saying to go after Chick Fil A because of this is hypocritical because it would only say other companies are fine with their stances. Wake up and smell the coffee, the world allows for more than one opinion no matter how many YOU may disagree with.

[Long Duck Dong]

"Yes. And before you blast me, I'll tell you why. What the local restaurant does is offer a service I am free to take or leave. They are not in my face flying an agenda. I don't walk into a Chick-Fil-A and get slammed with banners promoting man and woman=marriage. I walk in and see large pictures of a chicken sandwich."

hmm
Why does this remind me of an old television show about a prisoner of war camp in Nazi Germany. The Nazi sergeant kept saying "I see nothing. I see nothing" even as the prisoners were doing all kinds of things against what should have been going on. Regardless whether this company posts banners opposing equal rights for same sex married couples or not, DD and others know their position now. Still you argue to permit and support such a company.. hypocrite,

hogans heroes..... and it was sgt schultz..... he knew and saw nothing cos it would cost him and the people he cared about..... cos to say anything would have cost lives and he was not interested in becoming part of the war machine.......

yeah i support sgt schultz, cos for his silence, many survived....

[Long Duck Dong]

ok.... having read a number of sites..... I have noticed something

chick fil A is the villain, they supply food, scholarships and funding...yet they are not a group that is directly involved in active anti lgbt protests or activism
while the top people may express themselves in a manner that the lgbt have a issue with..... they are expressing it quietly.....
but they have a stance of pro marriage between man and woman and traditional family values

the groups they are funding, and giving food to.... are more vocal... they have websites and stances that are clearly anti lgbt, they oppose lgbt marriage, they are created for the purpose of upholding the christian views as the only way and the correct way and that lgbt are wrong and immoral

so based around my reading.... we are going to stop eating food cos a pro christian business is giving food and funding to the groups that are the active lgbt opponents......

that makes about as much sense as pulling kids out of school cos the teachers are teaching lessons that we do not agree with, even tho our issue is with the people making the lesson criteria....

it leads me to question if we are really on the right track.... our opposition is the people that oppose laws giving the lgbt equal rights......and there is a call to stop eating chicken nuggets and waffles cos that will annoy the people that are pro christian principals.....

is that not like saying, omg, I am gonna stop eating meat cos muslims turn the animal to face mecca.... and that is gonna stop the muslim radicals in their tracks ????

I can sit here and boycott a company that is not even in my country.... but I like to piss off the anti lgbt people, not their catering service..... so why are we not doing that ?????

[darkeyes]

We pick our fights do we not? We have to.. Duckie and those who argue that if we dug deep enough we could find something about which to disapprove in almost every company and every service we can think of and is available to us are right.. unfortunately we cannot boycott everything or everyone or we would be a tadge hungry, ill dressed, badly shod, living in hovels..we would be technologically in a right mess (some would argue no bad thing) and people would die in droves and no doubt we would be much worse off than we are..

Yet sometimes we have no alternative but to act in both our interests and those of others.. we look at our world and see what we believe from our own perspective is something we simply cannot tolerate.. Apart from the fact the quality of its goods is appalling, Primark is as good an example as any, who use what is almost slave labour in the Indian sub continent to produce their goods and where those workers work in the most squalid and appalling conditions imaginable.. sometimes we must make a stand against what we see as injustice and abuse of human beings, human rights, the environment, our health and other issues.. each of us must make such decisions in accord with our conscience. Sometimes our actions may affect adversely other ordinary people just as they do if we strike, or through civil disobedience close down a city centre and prevent people from working, or through a boycott hit a company's business.. everything depends on how deeply we feel and how passionately we believe in the issue, and another question to ask.. is it for the greater good?

Whatever we do and however we act it is by defintion a subjective judgement based on our own beliefs and our view of the world.. sometimes to make change in those who have the power, influence and wealth, there is no alternative but through our actions, to adversely affect ordinary people.. unless we do so, then we will never have change.. it is regrettable.. but in the end both desirable and unavoidable.. each of us makes our own judgement about what is in our interests.. very often we act against the interests of others in other ways.. by boycotting a political party for instance in an election and voting for its opponent(s).. just as occurred in the UK last year, the change of government means millions are adversely affected because of the sea change in social and economic thought which is going on in our country.. we support our country in a war, by definition has to adversely affect someone.. or we do not support .. everything comes down to how we think, feel and believe, and every decision we take potentially will affect adversely many people.. the question we must ask ourselves whatever we decide on both great and small issues.. will what I am doing or propose to do make our world better? Unfortunately, whatever our answer to that question, then someone is likely to get hurt..