By David Selberg, Executive Director of the Pacific Pride Foundation.
In a time filled with hope and progress for the LGBT community, it is disheartening to see Chick-fil-A opening its doors in Santa Barbara. Here’s why:
- As part of its corporate policy, all Chick-fil-A franchises are required to pay half of their net profits back to Chick-fil-A, Inc., in part, to support its WinShape Foundation. This Foundation has donated nearly $5 million to aggressively anti-gay organizations such as Family Research Council, Eagle Forum, and Exodus International – groups that support, among other things, gay “reparative therapy” for youth and Uganda’s “Kill the Gays” bill.
- This is not a “live and let live” issue by any stretch of the imagination, which is the way some defenders of the restaurant chain have tried to position it. Real people are being harmed. This has nothing to do with free speech, or personal beliefs and values. People making that argument are missing the point; Santa Barbara dollars are now directly helping to finance anti-gay organizations.
- While local franchise owner Carol Ruiz seems to believe corporate giving to hate groups has slowed or stopped, Chick-fil-A’s President/CEO Dan Cathy counters that assertion in this recent statement: “There continues to be erroneous implications in the media that Chick-fil-A changed our practices and prioritie … Chick-fil-A made no such concessions, and we remain true to who we are and who we have been.”
- Yes, people have the right to eat where they want. Santa Barbara consumers also have a right to know what their dollars are supporting and make informed decisions. I have faith in my city, that when all the information is out there, many will choose to eat elsewhere.
- The LGBT fight is not just for equal protection under the law, but also for our dignity and recognition as a valid and valued segment of society. However, this is not a fight we can win on our own. We need the support of our friends, family members, neighbors, community, and city. We are certainly not trying to tell anyone what to do, as some have suggested. We are simply asking people to learn the facts and to consider the consequences of spending money at Chick-fil-A.
While “standing in line” with us may not lead to a chicken sandwich, we can promise our gratitude and nothing less than a better world for future generations.
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If they got good chicken that is all that matters.
Have you ever bought gasoline exported by a country that is a member of OPEC? If so, by Mr. Selberg’s logic, you are supporting nations that view homosexuality as a crime punishable by death.
+10
Yes, because we live in an OPEC nation. Oh wait….
Go on…
So we have to be tollerant and accept your lifestyle and beliefs but you do not have to be tollerant and accept others. Kettle meet pot.
+20
I don’t support Dan Cathy’s positions and I don’t care who marries who, but when I read an overwrought screed like this, it makes me want to get in line for some chicken (and I rarely eath this type of stuff)
I don’t have to “recognize” anyone as anything purely based on their sexuality. If you want dignity, then stop harping on this wedge issue and actually BE a valued member of society.
Anyone who reads this article should also check out the column below by the founder of Campus Pride stating that real change has in fact happened at Chik-fil-a
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/shane-l-windmeyer/dan-cathy-chick-fil-a_b_2564379.html
Let me get this straight. He hates this company because of their behavior so they should not be allowed in this town. This story line has played out before and Selberg was on the other end of the hate. Did you not learn anything from the past. From your presence here you will see that this type of hate does not work. You need a direction of attack.
These reactions are counter productive. Just go check out the lines.
True Dat. Drove by an 12:30 to try and put my money where my mouth was, but the line was onto State and they had an employee trying to control traffic. It’s not about “hate”, it’s about normal people sick of other people telling them what to do and now even think. If you can’t convince me of your position on marriage or even something as ridiculous as “single use” plastic bags, then either your position stinks or your argument stinks and you should stop trying to legislate and blackmail and boycott your stinky position into the majority.
Made the mistake of taking upper State Street last night. The entire right lane was backed up to Hitchcock with people trying to get into Chick A Fil.
http://i.qkme.me/3szp80.jpg
“Lifestyle”?
Really? Just what does that even mean?