Mandel Ngan / AFP - Getty Images
A Chick-fil-A logo is seen on a take out bag at one of its restaurants on July 28, 2012 in Bethesda, Maryland. Chick-fil-A, with more than 1,600 outlets mainly in the southern United States, has become the target of gay rights activists and their allies after president Dan Cathy came out against same-sex marriage.
COMMENTARY
by Marie Whitaker
I love the chicken at Chick-fil-A. I eat the chicken, I am not trying to marry it or Dan Cathy, the president of the company who ignited a firestorm when he was quoted saying, “We are very much supportive of the family… the Biblical definition of the family unit.”
Cathy opposes same-sex marriage. Although I don’t agree with him, I am happy he is standing by what he believes. The danger of his beliefs for a man who operates one of America’s favorite fast-food chains is that now his company has become the center of controversy.
I happen not to care what Mr. Cathy thinks about Adam and Adam saying “I do.”
Yet, now my friends are asking, “How can you still eat at Chick-fil-A?” Here are four reasons why:
1. Slippery slope: No shoes, no shirts, sinners – no service
Mr. Cathy is entitled to his personal beliefs (and we have the right to shop elsewhere). But how far into the family business is he willing to take his Biblical principles? Is he willing to apply it to everyone equally, and not just same-sex couples? Should the sign on the door say “no shirt, no shoes, sinners, no service?” If every gay person were colored pink, and easily identified, perhaps Mr. Cathy and his overly eager, painfully pleasant, acned army behind the counter, would be able to turn people away based on sexual orientation. In reality, it’s harder to do.
Meanwhile, what about anyone else not living according to Mr. Cathy’s reading of the Bible? If someone works on Sunday, should they be denied service at Chick-fil-A during the week? Mr. Cathy believes in one marriage for life: saying of his company, “we are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives.” What about those who failed at their first marriage and are now working on wife number two, three or four? What if you are a liar, can you go to Chick-fil-A to have your perverse tongue cut-out? In Leviticus it says touching the skin of a pig makes one unclean. Should football players who love to toss the pigskin around be denied service? Or is it okay to play football only at the Chick-fil-A Bowl because that game starts with an invocation?
The answer, to all of that, is that Chick-fil-A is not turning away sinners at the door, or stoning them to death in the parking lots, because it would cost the company customers. So I have no expectation of being turned away.
2. Why be “happily invisible”?
There was a time not that long ago in this country when African-Americans were denied service based on the color of our skin. Although the ‘colored only’ sections no longer exist, I know when and where I am not welcome. There are many places that serve me simply because they no longer have the right to deny people who look like me. At those places, you are waiting for service and you are skipped or overlooked or followed around the store. Many of my friends are now avoiding Chick-fil-A, in remembrance of that history.
But if I want the diet lemonade as only Chick-fil-A can make it, I am going to Chick-fil-A to buy it. To avoid places where I am not warmly received would make me “happily invisible,” and allow them to easily ignore my existence. Many have sacrificed so I could have the freedom to spend my money where I choose. The sit-ins were not about what was on the menu, those protests were about the freedom to choose. I am not giving that right up because Mr. Cathy sits so easily and comfortably in judgment of others.
3. #hatechicken: Tweets vs. economics
To the mayors of Chicago, Boston and San Francisco who are ready and willing to keep Chick-fil-A out of their cities, where does that line you are drawing end? What if the next Mayor decides to close down “gay-friendly” shops that welcome customers with their rainbow flags? New York’s Mayor Bloomberg believes it is “inappropriate for a city government or a state government or the federal government to look at somebody’s political views and decide whether or not they can live in the city, or operate a business in the city.” And while I wonder if Mayor Bloomberg would still welcome Chick-fil-A if the company sold 32-ounce sugary drinks, I agree with him on principle.
It might seem politically expedient to tweet #hatechicken as one mayor did on Friday, however it would probably be more meaningful to constituents if those mayors attracted more businesses willing to bring jobs into their cities. Instead of closing the door on Chick-fil-A, perhaps a closer look at the demographics of those working behind the counter might be warranted.
If African-Americans are still the last hired and first fired, our unemployment numbers will not change. Mayors should be busily working to make sure that fair employment practices are actually being followed. Of course that might be more work than most of our elected officials want to handle. And why bother when tweeting requires so little thought and only 140 characters?
4. A dangerous game of chicken
The majority of Chick-fil-A’s 1,600 restaurants are located in the Bible belt. I happen to like the fact that they are all closed on Sundays. Mr. Cathy I am sure spends his Sundays much in the way I spend mine: with family. And no matter what rights Mr. Cathy might want to deny my friends and family, his type of bigotry will not change who I am, who I love and even what I eat. Who knew a simple chicken sandwich could be so complicated.
Chick-fil-A issued a statement last week saying that “going forward, our intent is to leave the policy debate over same-sex marriage to the government and political arena.” That statement comes too late, because a very dangerous game of chicken is already underway.
Now Mr. Cathy and Chick-fil-A are in the middle of the road and on each side, supporters and opponents have them in their crosshairs. Supporters of Mr. Cathy and his stand against same-sex marriage will have an “Appreciation Day” on August 1st. Opponents of the restaurant and those who support same-sex marriage are planning a ‘kiss-in’ August 3rd.
Mr. Cathy has used about $10 million to fund conservative groups who actively oppose same-sex marriage. I never wanted to put this much thought into chicken, waffle fries and coleslaw, but like Mr. Cathy, I too am free to do what I want with my money. The next time I treat myself to the chain’s sinful but tasteful fried chicken and white bread, I will give triple the money I spend to the marriage equality effort. What I am not willing to freely give up is my right to go anywhere, even into places where people like me are not welcomed.
Marie Whitaker is a pen name. She is an author and occasional contributor to theGrio and msnbc.com.
Leave a Comment:
Respectfully, I am not gay but just as I would not support a racist business, I now walk past Chick-fil-a. While you tolerate him, he would deny your pursuit of happiness and he used his role at that very same business to do so.
Your argument is weak. You could donate far more to Equality efforts by not eating there because he will no longer have 10 million to give away.
For so many, being married adds a sense of completion to their lives. Even if you disagree with gay marriage, its almost impossible to demonstrate how it negatively impacts others. And for me, that fact demonstrates how many can use religion to justify hate. For there is no justification for spending 10 million dollars to stop gay marriage when people are starving, losing their homes or dying because they can't afford healthcare.
Thank you for sharing but instead of ridiculing these mayors you should be thanking them. Their actions raise awareness and may bring about the political will to legalize gay marriage. Your in action is much more troubling.
I assume Chick-fil-a paid for this article...nice integrity author. I am black and do you know why I tend not to spend money with racist establishments? So that I am not taking my hard earned money to support someone who is bigoted towards me. And in the USA you are actively support campaign funds that go to denying your rights as a citizen, you duf. Wake up and write an apology for such a silly article. Where would be be if black people supported the klan, the GOP, or companies that were against the Civil rights bill of 1965??????
I would have to agree with you. Smells like this person was paid off to write this. Or the person is lying about being gay. So both goes hand n hand.
....and what would you say to Rosa Parks and the Montgomery bus boycott...."it's too far to walk?"
TL;DR: Protesting is too hard and I love chicken too much to give up one single chain restaurant for a good cause.
Well, I will start by saying that's your prerogative. After all, it's a free country, or so we claim. However, in this post citizen united world where corporations like Chick Fil A can contribute unlimited amounts of cash to superpacs with anonymity, you may want to reconsider your position. The reason superpac backers insist on anonymity is simply because if most folks knew they were funding candidates and policies not in their best interest, then they would stop patronizing and therefore funding them. Mr. Cathy screwed up by inadvertently running his mouth and letting the political cat out of the bag. With the vitriolic political climate nowadays, it's hard to imagine Dan Cathy not contributing to candidates and policies that are not in your best interest. That's hardly worth some fried chicken in my eyes, just sayin.
I don't know that women or if it is a woman or a Lesbian on top of that but I will say that whom ever it is, is stupid. It said that next the Mayor will close down a Gay Friendly shops???? All the Mayor I heard speak spoke against discrimination, why would this person say the opposite of what is being said. I'm sure this Lesbian is being paid to write this nonsense column for that chicken shack place.
It's as if they are saying you filthy trifling gay folks are not good enough to eat here and yet how is it that they so called gay women is getting in and eating, if she's lying to them saying she is heterosexual how do we know this whole article is not a lie?
It seems as if this so called Lesbian is not Gay Friendly her self, Besides what black woman calls herself GAY, they use the term Lesbian who ever the thing is seems like another man hater hiding behind the Gay Agenda.
This person is stupid, and how smart for them to find to only gay black woman who will lie the the owner of a discriminates food chain about her not being a Lesbian to write this dumb column. This is a disgrace not only to educated Lesbians, but to Black women period. First of all I don't know too many real Lesbian woman that would called themselves Gay, and on that note, how is it that this person can get in and dine when there in a no homo sign posted, so if she/he/it is lying to them to eat, how do we know that it is not lying to us also?
This person that claims to be gay seems as if it has an anti gay agenda of its own and is calling for all stupid chicken loving coons to side with it and the owner of that chicken shack and keep the stereo-type alive that black people can not do with out chicken.. funny how they found themselves a chickien loving coon the spread the word calling for other ignorant coons to get this hing to jump off. The person that wrote that mess, loves chicken like she love Massah.
Massah can call me a black dirty dyke but I will eat his chicken and love it. Massah can lynch me any day but I shole hopes I can get some of dat chicken before he does. LOL.
I will end on this note, that chicken shack had to right to refuse service to anyone but they do not have the right as a public business to discriminate against anyone one group of people. And who in the world eats chicken so much that they would sit inside of a place where they are not wanted.
Every one is entitled to their opinion, and this is mine of that person.
I guess the aspartame in their diet lemonade tastes so much better than the aspartame elsewhere that one abandons all morals. This chick is a plant, especially considering the greatest inconvenience is eating at KFC or Popeye's or Church's instead. It seems the author would be fine with colored water fountains in a pinch because the water was the same, anyway.
Rubbish.
"with liberty and justice for ALL!" Prejudice has no place in any American establishment, especially not in a business place, where you want to ATTRACT customers, NOT push them AWAY! Dan Cathy obviously doesn't belong in business that needs all of us "imperfect" PEOPLE for customers. I think that GOD will be the judge of our consciences, NOT someone like Dan Cathy! Shall WE ALL now judge "perfect" Dan Cathy, who must believe he's lily white??
Come on! Dan Cathy isn't saying that he hates gays, he is simply stating his beliefs and he has every right to do so, just as we all do. Would you support something that you didn't necessarily believe in? Of course not. Chick Fil A's employees treat everyone with the upmost respect and welcomes every individual regardless of their race, sexual orientation, or religion. Rest assured, Chick Fil A isn't going anywhere. :)