I'm Gay and I support Chick-fil-A
CNN PRODUCER NOTE CVNeutron,
a gay man from California, supports Chick-fil-A and says, 'This is my
attempt at keeping my own cause in check. He elaborates on his stance:
'I do not support their beliefs and disagree with their funding of
groups that are well known to be anti-gay activists. Personally they
have never treated me any different as a gay man and I will continue to
do business with them so long as that holds true.'
My name is
Matt. I'm approaching 20 years old. I am a liberal and a supporter of
Barack Obama in 2012. What's more is that I am gay and I support
Chick-Fil-A.
Within
the last two weeks the fast food chain has undergone renewed
controversy for it's stance on same sex marriage. I've noted that many
liberals frame the issue as Chick-Fil-A being a organization that
supports anti-gay hate groups and the conservatives frame it as liberals
and gays attacking a organizations' right to freedom of speech merely
because the company doesn't share the same beliefs. In a sense both
parties are wrong. Here's what happened: Dan Cathy, the CEO of
Chick-Fil-A recently said his organization was "guilty as charged" in
that they support the biblical definition of a marriage, between a man
and a woman. This sparked many people to come out and call for the
boycott of Chick-Fil-A. Numerous mayors of prominent cities in America
announced that Chick-Fil-A was no longer allowed in their city because
they didn't share their beliefs. Former Presidential Candidate Mike
Huckabee proclaimed August 1st a day of appreciation for the fast food
chain.
The
first issue to address is the First Amendment rights. Everyone these
days is a constitutional scholar so I think it goes without saying that
our constitution guarantee's us the freedom of speech and the freedom of
religion in that section. The issue becomes, where do you draw the
limits on the two. It is my strong belief that corporations are not
people and thereby they do not have entitlements under the regular
Constitution of the United States unless it specifically says this
applies to businesses (which it doesn't). However, those running the
corporations (like Dan Cathy CEO of Chick-Fil-A) have a right to express
their beliefs. It has always been an area that causes me to respect
Chick-Fil-A when they close on Sundays for the only purpose of retaining
personal convictions over profit motives. Mr. Cathy has been unfairly
attacked for his statement that he doesn't support same-sex marriage. As
a gay man I say let him not support gays. When the gay community and
gay activist groups push on anti-gay people and organizations to change
their minds and opinions via bullying or forced involvement I fear it
would make whatever accomplishments taste cheap like a greasy
coin.Ultimately the acceptance of the gay community and the right of
gays to marry will not be achieved through violent means, physical and
verbal, but through peaceful and honest negotiations.
The
term "marriage" holds a significant value to most people and is seen as
sacred based on it's religious usage. The bible often refers to
marriage as between a man and a woman. I think it would be fair to term
the "marriage" between a man and a man or a woman and a woman as
something different but also to ensure that they receive the same
responsibilities and benefits. Sometimes we have to accept small gains
so that ultimately larger ones can be made. The old argument of "If we
allow gays to marry then there will be sex between people and animals
and people will marry their dogs" has been exhausted and proven false.
Chick-Fil-A
has a right to do business in any city they want. It is the right of
the people of that city to boycott the company if they don't believe in
it's practices. For example I don't agree with Wal-Mart's treatment of
it's employees so I don't shop there, the same should be applied to
Chick-Fil-A if people have a problem with them. I would ask this of my
fellow gays, How would you feel if Governor Jan Brewer of Arizona, a
well known Republican and Christian, told all gay business owners and
workers that they could not get a job in the state because their beliefs
did not match the beliefs of the state? We would call it unfair and a
violation of our civil rights. Why then is it okay for a mayor to tell a
company they cannot open business in the city simply because our
beliefs differ?
No.
I'm a gay man. I love Chick-Fil-A as a place to get good tasting food. I
do not support their beliefs and disagree with their funding of groups
that are well known to be anti-gay activists. Personally they have never
treated me any different as a gay man and I will continue to do
business with them so long as that holds true.
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