Soon after Pasadena was named America’s second “gayest” city by Matthew Breen of Advocate.com, it became known that Chick-fil-A chose to open a new location on Colorado Boulevard. It may not sit well with some, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with this.
Chick-fil-A CEO Dan Cathy is not moving into our gay-friendly city with the intention of spreading hatred. He just wants to sell his delicious chicken.
Cathy has already opened locations in 11 (soon to be 12) of the cities listed in Breen’s story titled, “2014’s Gayest Cities in America.” Cities on this list include chart-topping Washington D.C. and No. 23 Tampa, Florida, with 26 locations in the city or within a 20 mile radius. Most notably, the fifth most homosexual-friendly city, Atlanta, has a whopping 68 locations a 20 mile radius.
NCAA football fans also may have noticed that the Chick-fil-A bowl game takes place in Atlanta as well.
It is also a little outdated to call for a boycott of Chick-fil-A because of where Cathy chooses to donate his money. In September of 2011, Chick-fil-A stated that it would stop donating to anti-gay organizations. According to their tax forms, they were telling the truth. Chick-fil-A then released the following statement:
“Over the past three years alone, Chick-fil-A has given more than $68 million in contributions to over 700 different educational and charitable organizations around the country, in addition to providing millions of dollars in food donations. While we evaluate individual donations on an annual basis, our giving is focused on three key areas: youth and education, leadership and family enrichment and serving the local communities in which we operate. Our intent is to not support political or social agendas. This has been the case for more than 60 years. The Chick-fil-A culture and service tradition in our restaurants is to treat every person with honor, dignity and respect and to serve great food with genuine hospitality.”
Cathy is entitled to his views, just as the residents of Pasadena and its surrounding neighborhoods should be free to protest Chick-fil-A’s presence in their city. However, this would be as effective as a boycott of the Sochi Olympics due to the Soviet war in Afghanistan. The battle is already won. It’s time to leave the past in the past, and just enjoy the chicken.
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All politics and religion aside…”What about the consumer?” I happen to love all foods and eat constantly. I even eat chicken and yes….I have been known to patronize this restaurant chain as well. Yes I am a bit “fluffy”, but don’t really care about health and the size of my shadow. In fact I dislike health clubs, organic organizations and diet companies. I am the founding president of the PCC chapter of “Whale Watchers” and am proud of it. Leave this little food chain alone!
I’m not sure I’ve ever read something so asinine as this opinion piece. To fact check the article, chick-fil-a still funds organizations that funnel money to anti gay and ex gay organizations. Though direct funding has ceased, indirect funding continues.
Cathy is indeed entitled to his opinion. However it absolutely acceptable that local organizations such as PACCD say that they don’t want a neighbor which funds these kind of anti gay and anti human rights causes. The issue is not where Mr Cathy donates his money but where his organization donates it.
“Just enjoy the chicken”? Yes, let’s open a discourse on the exploitation of animals and how it relates to human rights, please.