Chick Fil A- Did You Go Today?

ETA: Here's what caused the bru-ha-ha..
http://www.dailyfinance.com/2012/07/20/will-chick-fil-a-p...

Here's the Target Bru-ha-ha from 2 years ago...remember THAT boycott??
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/27/target-homophobi...

Here's stuff on Wal-Mart.

http://www.walmartstores.com/CommunityGiving/8917.aspx
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T.:

I went. My question is - where were all these people who want to Boycott Chick-Fil-A six months ago when Obama was against gay marriage?

Chick-Fil-A took a stance on something - they have since the day they opened their doors. They are NOT discriminating against hiring gay people. They are just against promoting it. They are NOT alienating a group of people. They are NOT not serving a group of people. ALL are welcome.

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I don't think he was trying to alienate anyone. The owner of the company had the right to say what he felt and believed. Suddenly, because he exercised his first amendment right, his company gets slammed. It's not like he's saying, "We refuse to serve the LGBT community." He was simply saying what he believes.

Free Speech

Free to choose

The CEO was asked a question and he answered it truthfully, what is wrong with that; SOME MEDIA a$$hole ran with it to sabotage a person and his companies. Shame on this journalist for exploiting this man.

When an Alderman (Joe Moreno) in Chicago tells a Franshise Owner she cannot open her Chick Fil A franchise business because the CEO doesn't support gay marriage, there is something wrong. ONE person is going to withhold letting a business open is just beyond reprehensible. Why aren't people outraged over this????????

Let this franchise open and if people don't want to eat their then that's their decision. But being a citizen of Chicago, I am appalled that one person is openly blocking a business just because he doesn't like his stance on gay marriage.

There has NEVER been a block from any Conservatives to not let a Home Deopt, JC Penney or Sears open stores knowing how many billions of dollars they give to lobbyist & so forth to support their stance on LGBT.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/25/joe-moreno-chica...

Oh! I think you'll really like this :-)

http://www.upworthy.com/i-dont-care-about-chicken-i-care-...

(...the little videos are worth a watch)
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I am a big believer in freedom of speech. Mr. Cathy gets to think and say whatever he wants to.

I'm not going to purchase fast food from a business that donates millions of dollars to groups with anti-gay agendas, especially because I have other culinary options to pick from.

It's not because I'm against free speech. It's that, just like Mr. Cathy gets to choose to be homophobic in language and dollar, I get to not support homophobia and inequality. And in this case, I don't want my dollars to eventually end up funding homophobic platforms and actions.

yes we went and we waited over an hour in the drive through. The line to get inside was out the door and down the street! We were happy that so many people came out to support a great business

I went and it was delicious!
I do think this whole situation has gotten so out of hand. Mayors of two major US Cities encouraging a boycott of Chick-fil-A? Mayors sign oaths supporting our constitution. Our constitution outlines our freedom of speech and religion. Is everyone forgetting President Obama was anti-gay marriage up until VERY recently? Should we have boycotted him from entering a city until he changed his views? Doesn't that sound silly?
I support our rights, I support a business that is vocal about their beliefs. And I love their food too. :)

First, it's Chick-Fil-A, not Chick Filet. So to me that shows you don't know enough about the company to even know the name, let alone spend money there ever.

Disheartened by people supporting someone for speaking their mind, really? The media asked the CEO of an extremely Christian company what he thought of gay marriage and he answered in refernce to his religion - why is he being slammed for that?

He is not alienating any group of people. He simply said he believes in the biblical terms of marriage. He serves all people, no matter their race, religion, gender, etc. Where are you getting that information from that he alienates a group of people? He didn't alienate gays by saying he doesn't support gay marriage, he just doesn't personally support it - he is no different than half of the country.

I absolutely ate Chick-Fil-A yesterday. I went for breakfast and lunch. We would have gone for dinner had the wait to get to the register not been 90 minutes long! I was SO excited to see that. Thank God America is a free country.

I am conservative and my husband is liberal (and an Obama fan - ugh), but we both agreed to support Chick-Fil-A yesterday. Freedom of Speech is not a right we are willing to give up so easily.

I think the ignorance of some people on the politics of companies is unreal. If you are going to boycott Chick-Fil-A because of their political beliefs, go research every company you provide funds to. Then see where you are left. It's America for a reason.

It depends on what your beliefs are. It is my belief that everyone is entitled to have their opinions on gay marriage and it is my belief that everyone should be allowed free speech to speak that opinion. I also believe that so long as you do not run a business discriminating against people that you don't believe are doing the right thing then the media should leave your business alone!!

That is what pisses me off about everyone going on about how the owner feels, who cares! They don't discriminate against their customers or their employees!

If I had known this was national stand behind Chick Fil a's owners rights to have beliefs then damn straight I would be there eating chicken! Hell it makes the cows happy.

This was not a business decision, perhaps someone needs to explain that to you so you understand. This is his personal beliefs! So long as he conducts his business in a nondiscriminatory way people need to get over themselves.

Please.
Until people investigate the business practices of every company or brand they buy, it's just a show of ignorance!

Do people KNOW the political stances of Target, Walmart, Nike and UnderArmour? Doubtful.

The whole thing has been blown out of proportion.
I support gay marriage, but if I want a chicken sandwich, I'll get O..

I drove by O. on the way to do some shopping and couldn't imagine why people would stand in a line like I saw. Now I really think they were morons.

I saw a great quote: straight people opposing gay marriage is like being mad at someone eating a donut when you're on a diet.

To the people that stood on the lines today--sorry about the hour of your life you'll never get back. It wasn't necessary.

I boycott Jamba Juice. The owners spend hundreds of thousands in lobbying/funding antigay legislation. So I don't let my money help them out.

Do I believe Jamba Juice has the right to spend money where've they durn well please? Sure. But since I DO know, I dont buy

The same way I don't buy from Ku Klux Klan supporting companies.

Nor others that I disagree with.

Free market, means I can do this.

Do I know what all companies spend their profits on? Heck no. But since hen I do know, and I *can*, I vote with my feet.

The 'can' is important. I don't like walmarts business practices. Here, I don't shop at Walmart. 300 mi to the nearest store? Durn straight, I'll shop at WalMart. Broke? I don't let my son not eat, because I have enough money for evil empire, but not enough for moral high ground. And I certain don't begrudge others for making the same choice I would in the same situation. SO TOO, the Multinationals are owned by an increasingly smaller circle of board members. One frequently has no real idea WHO actually owns what, nor what their agendas are or what they're funding.

Starfish principle: I do what I can, when I can, as I feel is best at that moment in time.

People that did go for that reason were totally suckered. And the CEO is laughing all the way to the bank. Nothing says "prove your beliefs" like spending some hard earned money on nasty fat-fried chicken. So ridiculous.

I'm not eating there any more.

Yes, the CEO has the right to his opinion... and he has a right to voice that opinion. I have absolutely NO problem with that! I am friends with people who are gay, along with people who are absolutely against gay marriage. We simply agree to disagree, and move on with our lives...

BUT... In this case, they don't only voice their opinions... they donate some of their profits to organizations that actively try to stop gay marriage. That is NOT freedom of speech... that is them trying to trample the rights of other Americans, and something I can't support.

Like others have said... I can't boycott everything that doesn't agree with me... Some, I simply don't know their values... Some, I don't have much of a choice because of cost issues or whatever... BUT when I DO know that they have gone beyond voicing an opinion into actually hurting people... that's where I draw the line.

Do I think that the $10.00 I didn't spend there will make a difference? Not really... but I do feel slightly better that MY money isn't going towards the suppression of human rights for the LGBT community.

Chick-Fil-A didn't create or promote their "Appreciation Day," which is actually about free speech. Even people who support gay marriage were there, according to what SoCal news stations are reporting, and they say it is because they feel that in America we all have the right to express our beliefs and have them respected, whether we agree or not. The majority of the people who are angry with them for their beliefs, and their guts to stand by them, expect respect for their views, but don't want to give it.

Chick-Fil-A isn't getting into the political arena, but the media is trying to make it seem so. They welcome everyone who chooses to eat/buy at their restaurants, they don't check sexual orientations at the door before allowing entrance or try to alienate any group of people.

They said it was business as usual in their restaurants today, and oh, yes, 8 of us had lunch there today. And the pictures I am seeing on FB don't strike me as being political, but rather expressions of free speech.

I believe gays are entitled to civil unions in order to give them equal rights of a married person. I am neutral to whether it is called marriage Or something else. I however take great offense to the mayor of Chicago stating that he will not allow chick fil a to open a restaurant in Chicago because of the Chick Fil A's company president believes that marriage should be between a man and a woman. Rahm Emanuel should look no further than the mirror to see who the bigot is. I am wondering if Rahm will cease to allow Muslims who also believe marriage is between and a man and a woman to not open businesses in Chicago.
Yes, I ate at Chick Fil A today and I don't even eat fast food.

Edit - where was the outrage when Obama stated he believed marriage was between a man and a woman when ask this same question in 2008? The hypocrisy from the left is unfortunately so typical.

I went.
Not specifically because of the COO's stance on traditional family values (although that seems to be what the media has tried to spin it into), but more because of the big city liberal mayors who told CFA not to come to their cities. Really? Our unemployment rate is WHAT? And you do NOT want a successful business that treats its employees well to build and open a store in your city?!
Ohh.. that's right. There is plenty of "government aid" to provide for those who can't find jobs....

Show me where this business has discriminated in its hiring practices. Show me where they have discriminated in serving customers.
Show me where the company has done anything illegal.
The mayors should be HAPPY to have them come to their city, bringing new jobs and tax revenue with them. But no.... apparently they don't NEED jobs in their town.

If they have no customers in that town (the individual's right to patronize the business or not) then it will have been a poor business decision by the company, and they would have had to deal with the consequences of that. In the meantime, they STILL would have spent capital in the town and provided construction jobs. But those who are so fair minded that nobody has a right to a different opinion would rather keep the unemployed, well... unemployed. Nice.

Yeah. I went.

I cannot believe so many people are proud of their own bigotry.

When a large segment of our society is being denied rights under our constitution because others don't agree with the way they live it is not a political issue it's a civil rights issue.

The Chik-filet owner has the right to beleive whatever he wants. All you who support his declaration have the right to beleive whatever you want. Just remember that you support denying certain Americans rights the next time you're screaming about yours being taken away.

We haven't gone to Chik-fil-a in a long time. I'd rather save my money for companies that won't turn around and donate it to groups trying to make my brothers-in-law second class citizens.

Sorry to all the supporters, but eating at a fast food restaurant, regardless of their stance on ANYTHING, isn't supporting Biblical values. You are just funneling money into a corporate machine. If you really want to support Biblical values, read James 1:27, where it says "Pure religion is this, to support widows and orphans in their distress......." I wish everyone today would have put their money toward a cause that rescues children and adults from the horrors of human trafficking, or a cause that provides food, clothing, blankets, or adaptive equipment to help babies who are dying in cribs in orphanages.
My friend has such a ministry. She and her team train orphanage workers in special therapy to prevent infants and toddlers in the orphanage from drowning in the fluid that fills their lungs from lack of being held.

Support Biblical values, put down your giant sandwich, your glass of sugary soda, and your waffle fries and support a ministry that helps people who, without the compassion of others, would die.

Just my two cents!

I totally support their right to put their money where their mouths are -- I want to be able to avoid Chik-Fil-A because I don't like their politics, so they should be able to go show their support that way too. I prefer them standing on a long line to buy crappy fast food, rather than objecting all over the media that The Gays aren't Tolerating Their Intolerance, I find that far more disheartening.

ETA:
I get frustrated when people talk about his first amendment rights, because no one is arguing his right to state his beliefs. He has every right to state his beliefs, you do too, we all do. Avoiding the business as a result of his statement of his beliefs does absolutely nothing to his first amendment rights. The Constitution has nothing to do with this. This is about business and viral messages and the digital age where politicians, celebrities, business leaders and spokespeople are more closely scrutinized. Don't want people to know your politics or religious beliefs and have those beliefs associated with your business? Then keep them separate. Don't give business money to political efforts, and don't give interviews that you aren't willing to share with absolutely everyone. The free market means we get to decide where we put our money, and if we don't want to patronize a business who we think is affecting an issue we care about, then so be it. And we get to tell our friends about it, and we get to try to convince others about our efforts. That's business.

I have not eaten in years because i knew that they not only do not like Gay marriage.. they also are the largest contributor to a radical group that wants to ship Gays out of our country? WTH?

It is interesting to me that so much of their profits are fighting gay rights. Just seems odd to me.

I would love to harness their evil for good. Imagine all of that energy going towards something positive..

President Obama has said, after getting to know and work with Gay couples, he realized that they deserve to have the same opportunity to marry.

He had never really been witness to Gay couples before. It was his daughters who questioned him about his thoughts and got him to think about how he had been wrong. I respect that. Takes guts to admit.

Many of the African American Communities and the churches are opposed to "Gays" they Believe it is "a choice"..

Anyone who has a family member that is gay, knows this is not true. You are born gay. It is not their choice. Just as it is not your choice how your children will grow up and what their sexual choices may be.

I loved chik -fil -a when I worked retail in the malls. . I liked that it was cooked with peanut oil, because we cannot tolerate canola oil, makes us ill.
So our daughter found this recipe.
http://hilahcooking.com/chick-fil-a-copycat/

It almost makes me sad that I don't eat that fast food (for nutritional, ecological reasons) so I can't effectively withdraw my dollars from this company. Besides wasn't Huckabee big into healthy eating after his major weight loss? Way to support discrimination and poor health. Great example to set for our kids.

Nope. We have boycotted Chick-fil-a. I don't support prejudice and discrimination. When businesses put their religious/political views on the table it will cause a division. I was always taught not to discuss politics and religion in public - Chick-fil-a should have done the same.

I think some of you are forgetting that Mr. Cathy was asked a personal question to which he answered honestly. Yes, he is a Christian and does not believe in same sex marriage. Everyone is entitled to their own believes!! If you are seriously going to boycott any business because the owner does not share your religious believes, sexual preference, race, and on and on..ask yourself..who's the bigot? Many people supported Chick Fil A today not because they are against gay marriage but because they believe in freedom of choice!!

It was very much about the freedom of speech, not so much about gay marriage.
We ALL have the right to support what we want to dont we?
Chic Filet managed to turn a negative situation into a positive one.
It would be nice if more things could end up like that.

I totally agree with you! And for those posting that they don't ask all businesses they buy from what their stance on gay marriage is, the point is that Chick Fil A made it a point to let their stance be known so they will have the natural consequences from it. Now that I know their stance, I will not support their business, but that does not mean I will go around asking everyone. I rarely ever ate there anyway, btw :), maybe once a year.

Nope, because its gross and expensive. Lets have dinner with a bunch of bigots! Yaaaay! Sounds like a good time. Sike!

I would have if I had the opportunity. I am not against gays or lesbians or anything. I do not support religions; I am atheist. But I do love chicken! And I love CFA.

I do not care if someone is gay/lesbian/whatever. I do not care if you go to church. You do what you want to do; I will do what I want to do.

I do think that this man's words were taken WAY off. They asked him a question and he answered with how he felt. He is a Christian and believes in Christian ideas. Where was the surprise in that?

We have a local "celebrity" who is gay. He posted a YouTube video & even spoke to media today about how he still supports CFA. He thinks that we are all free to believe what we want, and he can have chicken :)

Amen sista! The posts on FB struck my nerve too. They claim to be just protecting the owner's freedom of speech but at the same time they are totally knocking down the other side in the process. Two wrongs don't make a right. Who are we to judge!

Don't get me started on all of the people who take pieces of the bible and apply it to their life while casting the rest aside. I wonder how many of these anti gay marriage people are divorced or have sex on their period or countless other things that the bible says is "wrong." Oh maybe they conveniently forgot to read that part since they couldn't apply it to judge others.

@ Divine Designers - What are you talking about???
"I have to tell you that over the course of several years as I have talked to friends and family and neighbors when I think about members of my own staff who are in incredibly committed monogamous relationships, same-sex relationships, who are raising kids together, when I think about those soldiers or airmen or marines or sailors who are out there fighting on my behalf and yet feel constrained, even now that Don't Ask Don't Tell is gone, because they are not able to commit themselves in a marriage, at a certain point I've just concluded that for me personally it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same sex couples should be able to get married." — ABC News interview, May 9, 2012 Mr. President, Barack Obama.
Listen, I support gay marriage. I have no issue with it. I get really cranky when people start to say that a certain group should not have basic rights, and I believe that being able to marry the one you love is a basic right.
But, I also believe that this man, this owner of Chick -Fil-A has every right to say and believe as he does.
Do I agree with him? Absolutely not.
But I believe that he has the right to believe as he does and express it.
I have the right to chose where I go to eat, and I will NEVER eat at a Chick-Fil-A.
L. (which, is kind of a moot point since I don't think there are any in WA state)

Absolutely. I think it is AWESOME that so many people went to Chick fil a to show their support for freedom of speech and Mr. Cathy's right to share what he believes.

Edited: It is as if they (the left) are saying unless you believe what we believe, you have no right to speak freely and we will rip you to shreds if you do. I think it is quite evident that intolerance to others viewpoints goes both ways. And the mayors who said they will block the company from moving in... First, they can't do that legally and second if that is allowed then it could go the other way and conservative states/cities could do the same to companies who support liberals. Since we are the United States of America, (not the Communist States of America) we should all agree that would be ridiculous and wrong. No one should support such a ludicrous idea. We are free to speak. ALL of us and it isn't limited to which political party you belong to or which religious beliefs you agree or disagree with.

Here is what I don't understand. Why should people who don't believe in gay marriages have to hide it? We all have a right to our own views. I believe in gay marriage but I don't believe in the attack on Chick-Fil-A. He was asked a question by the media and he answered it in a respectable fashion. Should he had not told the truth? Would that had made people happier? Why isit ok for gay people to attack Chick-Fil-A because of their beliefs but it was not ok for him to state his beliefs? It goes both ways.

I've just read a couple of responses - but some of you've missed the point. The owner of Chick-fil-a spoke openly about his personal feelings. He did not say that he hates gay people, that anyone isn't welcome to work for his company OR eat at his restaurant (everyone is welcomed). He exercised what is called Free Speech - 1st amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America. And believe it or not, that does apply to conservative speech too.

What came next is that a few political people, namely mayors in large towns, said they are going to run the company out of their town. HUH? That is the issue. The mayor can't run off a company (hello, jobs, revenue...) because of the personal beliefs of the owner. That violates free speech, right? I hope you're all following the point here.

So, the appreciation day had to do with the fact that government is trying to run businesses into the ground based on the personal beliefs of the owner. The company follows the same rules as most businesses, EOE and willing to have customers of all kinds - they haven't and don't plan to discriminate. People wanted to say, "Hey goverment, hey politicians, hey media - THIS IS THE USA! It is NOT ok to crucify a company and try to ruin them because their value system or beliefs are different than yours.".

Why is it ok to bash conservative views in this country? It's not ok to talk about church, but your pastor can "God Damn this country" and that is ok. It's not ok to talk about marriage in the biblical sense, but let's throw a party for gay marriage? It's ok to have our high school kids look like they have a gig at the corner getting paid by the job, but not ok to say the pledge or a moment of silence in school?

I love every nice and decent person I meet. I don't care if you are gay, I don't care if you are purple. I do care if you hate everyone around you, want to destroy my Constitution, my value system or make out in front of my child (regardless of your gender, age, race). Why? Because I have the right to my values too.

So - I support Chick-fil-a! Why - because they didn't do anything wrong. And we live in a country where you can STILL state your opinion. We don't live in a country (yet) were the government is allowed to put your business out of business because the government doesn't like what you said. I bet all the people who work for Chick - love working there - who else in the fast food industry gets to be off on Sunday to spend their time with their family????

And, since the economy is doing so well, and jobs are so plentiful for everyone (sarcasim), it's just a good idea not to run good businesses out of business. Some of us are sick and tired of being pushed around and, more importanty, of our Constitution being held in such low regard.

Just find it very ironic that the same people who are boycotting Chik fil A are probably going to vote again for President Obama. I believe he said just about the same thing as Mr. Cathy.

“I believe that marriage is the union between a man and a woman. Now, for me as a Christian — for me — for me as a Christian, it is also a sacred union. God’s in the mix.” - April 17, 2008, while running for president, defining marriage at the Saddleback Presidential Forum.

I absolutely supported Chik-Fil-A yesterday. You bet!!!! I do not believe in gay marriage. I believe that marriage is between a man and a woman. If you are gay, I have no issue with that. That is NOT what this was about. This is about a CEO who was asked his thoughts on a Christian radio station his opinion on gay marriage. He stated he has no issues with gays, he has the issue with gay marriage.

In addition, I and any other person has the right to express their opinions without being called callous, bigoted, heartless, homophobe. I am fed up with the name calling.

As for the Dixie Chicks, it is their right to say what they want, it is my right to not buy their CDs.

Thank you Momof4. Ditto your answer.

I will never eat at Chick Filet. They have a right to their opinion, and I have a right to never eat there. Although, I believe there will be a lawsuit soon for discrimination, if there isn't one already, and I hope Chick Filet looses. Not that any gay person in their right mind would ever apply for employment there.

@MamaDuck - I gave you a flower and I wish I could have pushed the button 100 more times.

Yep, I was there with my 3 boys. My moms' group will be going there once a month.

ETA: T., I don't think he was choosing to alienate a group of people. He was asked a specific question about his personal beliefs, and he answered it honestly. Would you have preferred for him to have LIED to the reporter or pretend that he doesn't believe what he does? I have much more respect for someone who can OWN their position on issues than for someone who sits the fence.

Nope, but I did donate to GLAAD.

He is free to express his personal beliefs until the cows (and chickens) come home.
But I won't knowingly spend money at a business when I know that a portion of their profits go to organizations like Family Research Council that do harm to people I love.

Not that they will miss my business. I didn't eat there before this. I'm not a fan of fast food in general.

Just for everyone who said they don't discriminate this is just the CEO's views, they should know that Chik Fil A has been sued multiple times for religious and gender discrimination. It's not hard to find out...before you support you should research,,,beyond what comes up in your facebook timeline

Women have been fired after giving birth because Chik Fil A believes mom should be stay at home moms a muslim man was fired for not participating in company wide prayer times..I beleive this CEO has the right to believe and speak about whatever he chooses and I have a right to not believe and not spend my money with him which he in turn spends on certified hate groups..But to say they do not discriminate is reckless and ignorant..

I did not go today nor can I "eat" there due to my allergies. Anyhow; I support gays, bi-sexual people, transgender, and everything else in between. I have many honest, loving friends who are either bi or gay. I have no problem with it at all. Whatever people do, who they like or what they like is totally up to the person. Its sad people judge gay people for whom they have sex with, but they won't judge a man and woman for having sex. I am not gay or bi myself, but I respect everyone's privacy gay, straight or bi or anything else.

I believe in God and religion. I do read the Bible, but I do not agree with everything. Sex is sex. Oh well if people can't get over two men or two girls or whatever the case may be. Everyone can choose the lifestyle they want.

I think this country needs to start focusing on under age sex with teens! It is sad to see 14 year old girls who are pregnant. Sorry, but I feel any type of sex or sexual contact should be for adults. Yes, it is everyone's choice to have sex or not have sex, but I don't agree with teens having sex.

On another note; I am happy to see celebrities such as Neil Patrick Harris who is openly gay. He is a great man. I'm sure he's helped other men out there who are gay but couldn't be open about it. I would also like to add he's pretty darn hot too! :P

I think people need to stop judging others in all honesty about sex, race, religion, and whatnot. I just wish for everyone to accept everyone but that will never happen and its sad. Its time to start loving one another! (No I'm not a hippy).

That's just my thoughts...:)

Please don't bash my posting!

nah, but i boycotted 'em several years ago when i found out they donated hefty sums to anti-choice groups.
doesn't hurt that the last thing i got from them was a 'hand-spun' milkshake. sounded so good, and was so boring.
i ain't suffering by passing them up.
;) khairete
S.

Honestly, I applaud anyone who stands up for what they believe in, even if I don't readily agree with them. No, I didn't go to Chick Fil A yesterday for several reasons.

1. I don't really like their food. Never have see what the fuss is all about
2. I hate crowds.
3. I am a Democrat and am pretty sure if I get around that many Republicans I will burst into flames. (kidding of course, some of my best friends are Republicans!) lol

Really, it's just one persons opinion. If people would have just rolled their eyes and moved on, then none of this would have happened.

Nope, I do not like their food at all so I don't waist my money there!!! It has nothing to do with their stance; their food is just NASTY!!!

I support Freedom of Speech. I also support Gay Marriage.

Did I go to Chik-Fil-A yesterday? No. Because I can't STAND the food there.

Do I think people were there to really support freedom of speech? I think some were...but mostly they went to stand up for their religious beliefs.I think that yesterday was/is more about religion than it was freedom of speech.

Why would someone spend 2.5 hours in life for a damn chicken sandwich? I'll tell you why...because it wasn't about freedom of speech yesterday it was about religious beliefs. I saw more on FB about "Supporting my Christinaity" than I saw "Supporting Freedom of Speech" .

Again, just my opinion.

Ditto, pretty much.

I totally know their history and have no problem with that stance. I would prefer that he say it aloud to having him just think it. What I don't like is the idea of people going out of their way to show their support for suppressing and oppressing other people. I think that people who made plans to go on that particular day and stand in line were being mean-spirited.

Believe what you will, but what the hell does it matter to you and your life if two people--neither of whom you would ever marry--want to marry each other? Do these same people speak against hetero couples who have "arrangements" instead of "marriages"?

We don't eat fast food. Too many hormones, GMOs, MSG etc. Plus it's just not good for you. The Fast Food Machine in this country has helped to ruin our food industry and bring about AFOs and other inhumane treatment of animals.

I don't eat at Chick Fil A because of the chickens. We only eat local, organic-fed, free-range chickens. We support organic farmers and local organizations.

I've never asked my local farmer what his stance on gay marriage is. I don't really care. He takes good care of the chickens and he runs a good business. He's ethical (as far as I can tell) and he sells me a good product. I've toured his farm.

I can't imagine running around asking all the business I patronize what their stance on Gay Marriage is and then deciding based on that whether to go there or not!

I can't imagine the families of the children I teach gymnastics to asking me what my stance is on Gay Marriage and then deciding whether to enroll their kids or not.

I choose the businesses I patronize based on business ethics, service and product results. Their personal beliefs are their own.

This is why I did not go to Chick Fil A. I am all for free speech. Dan Cathy can have any type of opinion he wants, just like I can. I DO NOT agree with the fact that they donate money to organizations that are anti-gay. These organizations don't just speak their opinion...they act on their beliefs. Look at the FRC..they are a HATE group. Freedom of speech is one thing....helping fund a hate group is another. The hate and bigotry in this world makes me sick.

http://www.policymic.com/articles/12219/all-the-anti-gay-...

I think the whole situation is ridiculous. The guy stated his opinion. He stated that he is Christian etc they marry husband wife. Great, his opinion as he sees it. I could not care less. However, being from Chicago and raised close to the neighborhood that the alderman wants to stop them from moving in, seriously? Oy, and then the mayor backed him up. So if another business wants to bring in major jobs, and said they do not back gay marraige, or couples living together without benefit of marraige or what have you (so many things to choose from) would he want them out? What if Boeing or Motorola said that? What if Obama said that the guy from CFA said? Would he stop backing him because he is not "the chicago way". Sigh. Politics.
BTW, I have no Chick-Fil-A near me and if it was, I would not have gone just because. I did cook chicken yesterday and in my opinion, it was healthier.

I went! I believe people should be able to speak publicly about their views and I support anyone that has the same view I have.

What I think is lacking is any attempt to understand why people believe that marriage between a man and a women is sacred. I know why those on both sides of the issue believe what they believe. I have been on both sides of the issue. After much study of history and theology I cam to be where I am. I am thankful that I was curious enough to learn. No decision ever affects just the one person or even two.

I think Chick-fil-a made a wonderful decision to stand where they stand. In the long run I believe they will come out on top. I think it takes more strength to stand their ground and not pander to what others may believe.

I Dont; care what stance they have (well yes I do, I dont like people who hate other people)
but the main reason I didnt go (even if I did agree, which I dont) is;

what does a chain business need an appreciation day? they are not hurting for money and do not need e to go out of my way to support them. Sure I go to chains on occassio but when it suits M.. if any business needs an apprection day it's the local businesses that are hurting because of the huge corporate businesses; so if I want to support anyone purposefully and go out of my way it will be a local farmer, artisan and so on

BTW he can have his beliefs, but I wont fund hate organizations an knowing he's using part of his money to fund that if there is another option then chick-fil-a when I'm in a rush I will use that
ETA if he was J. anti gay himself and didnt fun hate groups I'd still go. He can have his opinion but I dont want to support funding it

It's just aggravating. I'm annoyed that people gave them a hard time about it, and that C-Filet made an issue about it. I don't care what my burger place believes, as long as they hire and serve everyone. Bringing it up started something that didn't need to be started and got publicity going, and the extremist protesters didn't help either. People can believe what they choose, as long as they RESPECT other people believes.

I just don't understand why "Love thy neighbor" is so difficult a concept for some people.

If you want to marry, I truly don't care. That is between your partner and in the end your faith. That is not my place to judge. But it is my place to teach my children MY values and not be verbally attacked for having MY beliefs. Yet somehow, if I’m asked a PERSONAL question and I answer honestly, I’m anti-this, anti-that, hate-this, hate-that – for simply sharing a different view? Frankly, I wouldn’t support any organization that is ANTI-anything. And I don’t believe anyone who shares the same views would do that either. Yes, there are crazies out there. But not every Muslim advocate Jihads (actually, MOST Muslims don’t). So don’t generalize Christians as anti-Gays or haters. Mr. Cathy was asked a personal question, and he answered by referencing his personal beliefs. He wasn’t speaking “against” anyone. People argue that Chik-Fil-A funds organizations that take away the rights of the LGBT community to have a civil union. But never talk about how the LGBT community funds organizations that take away the rights of Christians to support the institution of marriage between a man and a woman. How is it different?
Personally, gay marriage is going to be legal. It’s inevitable. Why don't everyone just go home and live their own lives?? You are responsible for you. Period.

Thankfully there are only two of these in my entire state so I have never even seen the restaurant never mind eaten there. Gay people are equal here - it's nice to see that when this chain has tried to come here recently (e.g. Northeastern University) they are run out of town.

As a consumer, I would be miffed if part of the business I gave a company went towards discriminatory charities the way the C-F-A has given millions to charities that support the owner's anti-gay agenda.

i absolutely stayed out of it.

my personal opinion is my business...i suppose theirs is theirs (although i don't happen to agree...) but as a business they have to expect that if they are outspoken about an opinion, yes it will effect business. but i don't go there because they are overpriced lol. i went once, with i think $4 or $5 in my pocket, and literally could not afford lunch lol. and i was on my 30 minute lunch break and extremely short on time, so it kinda ticked me off lol. this was a long time ago. but i never went back. i'm stubborn like that lol.

a part of me admires them for having conviction. i mean this is america and they have a right to run their business how they want. we as americans have a right to do business there, or not.

but another part of me is scared...really...that this is still in our world. a radio host put it this way. this is just like people were walking around 50 years ago waving signs supporting segregation...it's not about anything except basic human rights. that's it. not matter how anyone tries to spin it.

if someone is not LGBT, then LGBT rights is not about them. has NOTHING to do with them. they are simply choosing to judge and persecute.

okay. i guess...it's america...right? they have a legal right to do it. doesn't mean i have to agree with it.

not sure i'd go out of my way to avoid them if a large group wanted to go there...(the closest one is pretty far away from me, and as i said, is overpriced) but i'm certainly never going to go out of my way to do business with them.

I am a Christian, I support gay marriage and I also support Mr. Cathy saying whatever he wants to say about his personal beliefs. (Wasn't that also the President's stance about 6 months ago?)

I didn't go there because, yuk, their chicken is fast-food gross. I wouldn't stand in line two minutes for it, let alone two hours.

I did go there to eat on Wednesday. I don’t care as much about the marriage issue as I care about freedom of speech. They cannot show that he has ever discriminated against an employee or in his hiring practices. In all of his scholarship programs, there was never an issue with discrimination either. If there was one, no one complained. My husband comes from a country where you can’t speak your mind or the government comes after you, and I don’t want our country to be like that. For mayors and governors saying an American business won’t get permits because of their opinions, even though they have broken no laws, is wrong. Being tolerant is about handling the opposite opinion with respect and acceptance. We also get to make our choice, if we don’t like the opinion, don’t go there. Same with tv, if you don’t like what is on or who is on, turn the channel. N.

I'm surprised at how many people seem to support this company, so maybe I don't have the facts straight. But I'm pro gay marriage, and I don't even know where a Chic Fil A is in my area.

to answer your question.. no. But we don't have one anywhere near us. I have never been to one.

But here is my thoughts on this whole thing.. This is my personal opinion so take it for what its worth..

I think there should be equal rights for everyone. No two people are the same and never will be. For me personally it comes down to prejudice, and being prejudice is not right. Some day we are all going to be a part of history in the books. Just like it was with the "blacks and whites" before this is all over and done with there is going to be some names that will some day be well known household names just like Abraham Lincoln for ending slavery, Rosa Parks for taking a stand on the bus, Martin Luther King Jr for his fight on civil rights.

Other people tried to say that one group was better than another because of one reason or another.. well it was shown that is not true.

We are all humans, who are capable of love and need to be treated equally. I wish this would click with some!

It doesn't matter if we are male, female, young, middle aged or elderly. we are all colored.. white, pink, black, brown, tan, olive. We also come as short, tall, "average" height, thin, thick or in between, straight, bi, gay, lesbian, trans. poor, middle class, rich.... we are all equal and we should be treated that way!

Well...

This is the first I heard of this...

I do not have a local 'chick'...

But when seeking fast food elsewhere...I will avoid...

Geesh

michele/cat

***PLUS...they use peanut oil...***

Just saying

Every person has their own opinions on "hot" topics. Does that mean that you stop buying a product, or talking to a person, or frequenting a business because of ONE person's opinion, that differs from your own? Chances are we ALL know someone whose opinion differs than our own on a "hot" topic - would you cut off your mom, sister, BFF, child's teacher, etc., etc., because of this? We all have opinions or beliefs. So, do we just only associate with those that think exactly like us? I just don't get it, honestly. It's chicken. His religion has taught him that gar marriage is wrong. Boycotting chicken isn't going to do a damn thing, but give Chick-Fil-A more business & press. I mean, they company is closed on Sunday - it's well known as a religious based company. Is his opinion that much of a surprise?!

I agree with this guy:
http://www.owldolatrous.com/?p=288

I hate their chicken anyway. I'll stick with Wendy's.

The owner answered the question asked. He didn't bash anyone nor did he say he would not serve the LGBT community. I feel that most people want those with christian/religious morals and values to keep quiet while they speak their minds on each and every topic. That is very unfair in my opinion. Many are claiming freedom of speech but only if you agree with them. Really?! I didn't go to chick-fil-a although I wanted to but the one in our town was over run with supporters. But I will continue to frequent their restaurants. I don't shove my beliefs down any one's throat but if you ask me a question, I'm also going to answer it accordingly. So for those who want to boycott, will you also boycott the companies that provide the supplies to Chick-fil-a, soda, paper products, cleaning products, equipment, building contractors?

What's the question? Did I miss it?

No, I didn't go. The owners of Chick Fil A are free to believe what they want, though I think it sucks that they push their religious beliefs into the political arena and onto other people. I won't go there specifically to support that.

However, I don't plan to stop going there altogether either. If we boycotted every business and person we disagreed with, we'd have nowhere to go.

No damn it,i went to the mall to buy school clothes and I really wanted Chick Filet but that didn't happen I had no idea what was going on till a manager tells her employees about it at the store i'm at so I walk out and the line was so freakin long why wait astand for what you believe and still have to pay for your food Chick Filet had the buisness today,btw I don't care what others think is right or wrong I go about my buisness and eat what I like regardless.

We rarely eat at Chick Filet.
I find their chicken to be a bit dry.
If I go out to eat, I go where I like the food, not to make a political statement.
Since when does sexual orientation make a difference in how a meal tastes?
I'm thinking really hard here and I'm drawing a blank on finding any profession where it makes a difference who people have sex with.
There is a separation of professional lives and what goes on in their own private bedroom or at least there should be.
As long as they aren't getting in on right in the kitchen where the food prep is underway, I just don't care.

When all is said and done? This is a GREAT way for Chick-fil-a to get gobs of free publicity.