Beachwood Chick-Fil-A Attracts Gay Marriage Opponents
Locals flocked to Beachwood Place Mall Wednesday to support restaurant president Dan Cathy's statement that he does not endorse gay marriage.
Customers lined up at Chick-Fil-A at the Beachwood Place Mall Wednesday as part of an organized effort to support the company after its president said that he does not condone gay marriage.
Teens Alessaia Fiucci and Shannon Roberts said they were eating at Chick-Fil-A to support Dan Cathy, who said in an interview earlier this month that he supports the “Biblical definition of the family unit,” adding,
"I think we are inviting God's judgment on our nation when we shake our fist at Him and say, 'We know better than you as to what constitutes a marriage,' and I pray God's mercy on our generation that has such a prideful, arrogant attitude to think that we have the audacity to try to redefine what marriage is about.”
See more from The Huffington Post: Dan Cathy, Chick-Fil-A President, On Anti-Gay Stance
“[I’m here] because I’m a Christian and I love the Lord and the Bible says that this isn’t allowed,” said Fiucci.
“I came here simply to support the president’s right to speak his mind," said Jim Lucas. "And it doesn’t make too much difference if I believe what he believes or not, but I believe he’s got the right to speak out.“
The line for the fast-food chicken extended through the food court at 7 p.m. Wednesday with a couple dozen hungry people.
The effort, called Chick-Fil-A Appreciation Day, was sparked by former Arkansas governor and Fox News host Mike Huckabee.
He wrote on his Facebook page:
“Let's affirm a business that operates on Christian principles and whose executives are willing to take a stand for the Godly values we espouse by simply showing up and eating at Chick Fil-A on Wednesday, August 1.”
Since the dispute began, politicians on both sides of the debate have taken stances: the mayors of Boston and Chicago have signaled disapproval for the stance, even going so far as to suggest the the chain should not try to open in their cities.
Other politicians, like Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-S.C.) and Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) have joined Huckabee’s campaign, Tweeting and posting photos of their own fast-food meals Wednesday.
To counter today's show of support, one woman has organized National Same-Sex Kiss Day for this Friday, Aug. 3, when she encourages same-sex couples to kiss at their local Chick-Fil-A.
Kyle Baird said he had two reasons for buying Chick-Fil-A on Wednesday. “I’m a lawyer and I’m Christian and I share the belief about traditional marriage,” he said, “but also, as someone who believes in freedom of speech and freedom of religion, I think it’s appalling what these cities are trying to do. It’s just not their place.”
“I don’t really know much about it, except that he expressed himself, and people see it as being a hate crime,” said Aaron Hemphill, a high school freshman who was eating with his grandfather. “I feel he said what he felt was right.”
At least one customer was not there to make a political or religious statement.
“It’s sad that the food that I enjoy eating has turned political. I don’t think that it should matter,” said Christine Jones. “If I want to eat Chick-Fil-A I should be able to without it meaning anything.”
And she had one more good reason to eat what she wants: “I’m pregnant.”
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Sandie Angart
10:08 pm on Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Well for me it is not that he doesn't believe in same sex marriage. However the fact he has donated over $2 million to Anti-Gay groups is very disturbing. I don't care what you believe, the fact is, it is NEVER okay to promote bigotry!
TB Player
1:33 am on Thursday, August 2, 2012
Because his religious views differ from yours, you feel he has no right to his Religious Beliefs or Right to Free speech??? Thats tolerance in action... The message is irrelevant, it is more of an excuse, actually, to spout your hatred. He still has his rights.
DC
4:28 pm on Friday, August 3, 2012
It's easy folks, eat where you want and Mr. Cathy has his right to express his opinion about family and put his money where he wants. I think the REAL hate is showing itself and hint...it's not from Chick-fil-a. JMO
TB Player
1:31 am on Thursday, August 2, 2012
TO the truly mentally incompetent - Being pro Traditional Marriage is NOT Anti-Gay. A non traditional marriage would also include Siblings... Polygamists... Animal lovers... YOU CHOOSE to focus your hate as a Gay issue.
Ralph Solonitz
8:28 am on Thursday, August 2, 2012
when someone donates millions to anti gay causes they are taking the road to intolerance...
Jeff H
10:28 am on Thursday, August 2, 2012
I agree completely.
Nina Woolf
10:15 am on Thursday, August 2, 2012
The CEO can believe what he wants - what's the big deal? And whether he donates money out of his own pocket or on behalf of his company - again, Free Speech. And as long as that money goes to some sort of Christian organizations, rather than a politician that may have influence over political process - all's right with the world.
With that said, just like equal-rights advocates wouldn't think about forcing gay marriage onto conservatives by making them marry each other -- perhaps those who believe in traditional marriage shouldn't try to force their opinion onto others by campaigning to outlaw same-sex marriage?
Jeff H
10:27 am on Thursday, August 2, 2012
Opposition to Chick-Fil-A is not based solely on what Dan Cathy said. More importantly, it's about how they spend their money.
Chick-Fil-A has spent millions of dollars funding anti-gay organizations, including the Family Research Council, which lobbied Congress to NOT condemn Uganda for proposing the "kill the gays" bill, which would have made being gay a crime punishable by ... wait for it ... death. Getting the word out about Chick-Fil-A's antigay spending is the central purpose of the current boycott. I really don't care what their CEO says, and he has a right to say it, just as the boycotters have a right to speak their own minds. But I will not spend my hard-earned money to help his company fund causes that would crush human rights, and I think everyone should know the facts about what Chick-Fil-A has been up to.
Jeff H
10:39 am on Thursday, August 2, 2012
I am very much in favor of traditional marriage. I would like to be in a traditional marriage with my same-sex partner of 17 years. But the law does not allow that, and as a result, my partner and I miss out on all the emotional and financial benefits afforded to legally married couples. For example, if my partner predeceases me, I will not be allowed to collect a Social Security survivors benefit. Only surviving spouses qualify. For that and many other reasons, my partner and I should be permitted to enter into a legal and yes, "traditional" marriage.
kgd77
10:59 am on Thursday, August 2, 2012
Many many people have avoided eating at CFA for years because Chick-fil-A's WinShape Foundation donates millions to groups who actively lobby to deny equal rights; specifically Marriage & Family Foundation, Exodus International & Family Research Council. There have been high-profile protests against CFA and these donations since at least 2009.
Dan Cathy's recent comments simply brought these donations to the attention of many more people and in doing so millions more have decided not to give their money to CFA. No one denies his right to say what he wants. Or give money to organizations he wants. He has every right to believe what he does and donate where he wants. Consumers have every right to scrutinize him for it and choose not to spend their money at his stores.
It's really no different from the boycott of Home Depot or Starbucks by people who don't agree with their corporate donations. Conversely, many people choose to spend their money at business that support things they agree with. It's all part of living in a capitalistic, competitive economy.
This entire episode has proven to me that "stupid is as stupid does". It took the Christian conservatives nearly 4 years to notice the boycotts and now they've tried to turn it into a freedom of speech issue. Just makes them look like idiots, in my opinion.
John@gmail.com
3:15 pm on Thursday, August 2, 2012
Boycotting isn't a freedom of speech issue, when public officials (representing the government) say that they want to prevent the company from being in their city because of an idea the corporation supports, it becomes a freedom of speech issue because the government is discriminating against them for something they said.
Nikki Ferrell
1:09 pm on Friday, August 3, 2012
A comment has been deleted for violating our Terms of Service, which you can refer to at beachwood.patch.com/terms
Please keep it clean and respectful, friends.
Jeff H
1:47 pm on Friday, August 3, 2012
Thank you. Particularly because I'm gay, that vicious and hateful comment you deleted made me feel a bit sick to my stomach.
Sandie Angart
2:02 pm on Friday, August 3, 2012
Yes thank you for deleting that. I am straight and that comment made me sick.
I guess I am a little naive. It shocked me that someone would post something so hateful!
Nikki Ferrell
2:41 pm on Friday, August 3, 2012
And, of course, if you guys see comments that you feel violate our terms, feel free to "Flag as Inappropriate" in the top right corner of the comment. We try to watch closely, but it always helps to have extra eyes!
Ralph Solonitz
1:18 pm on Friday, August 3, 2012
My God says eating at chick -fill-A is a sin.
Glinda Smith
1:38 pm on Tuesday, August 7, 2012
To all of you who say the Bible does not condone same-sex marriage I have these questions: Do you not eat shellfish? Do you own slaves? Do you believe those who commit adultery should be killed? Do you believe that a divorced person who remarries commits adultery? These are all things that are in the Bible, that you seem to selectively interpret.
Jeff H
2:21 pm on Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Those are very good questions.