Caution: This is a really sensitive topic, one that brings out very strong opinions. If you’re going to comment, please do so in a polite, respectful manner. I don’t want to have to disable commenting on this post because a few people choose to act like assholes.
Let me be clear right from the start: I 100%, completely, undoubtedly support gay marriage. If two people love each other enough to want to commit themselves to one another for the rest of their lives, I think they should be able to do just that. I don’t care if that’s two women, two men, one man and one woman who used to be a man, or a man and a woman. It makes absolutely no difference to me who someone happens to want to marry. Because when it all comes down to it, their marriage has absolutely no bearing on my marriage. At all. Ever. In any way.
A nontraditional marriage doesn’t nullify my wedding vows or make them any less sacred. You know what does that? Cheating. Abuse. Lying. Stealing money. The Bachelor and The Bachelorette and all the other reality shows that make a mockery out of dating and marriage. Kim Kardashian, Britney Spears and all the other celebrities who treat marriage as if it’s the latest red carpet accessory. Not two people of the same sex wanted to be able to legally declare each other as spouses and be afforded all the same benefits as a straight couple.
Okay, with that out of the way, I now need to say this: The whole Chick-Fil-A/Gay marriage controversy is absolutely fucking ridiculous. Who gives a shit that the president of a privately held, fast food chicken company (who has never once kept their beliefs a secret) doesn’t support gay marriage? I certainly don’t. His opinion isn’t going to change my mind anymore than my boycotting his restaurants is going to change his.
Why do we care so much? Why isn’t he allowed to believe what he wants to believe just like those of us who support gay marriage? Is his statement really going to have that much influence over legislation in states that have already approved it (or their placating ilk, civil unions)? No. And what really burns me up is that before this controversy emerged, North Carolina voters passed a damn Constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. Why wasn’t there more of an uproar or news coverage over that? Why didn’t the Muppets (who I absolutely adore) stop selling their products in that entire state or refuse to allow showing of any future movies? Why weren’t people going ballistic on Facebook over that? Where were the snarky statements and rants and calls for boycotts of North Carolina tourism? Where were state and local representatives calling out North Carolina voters for their stupidity?
I couldn’t find them. (Note: I realize that the previous paragraph was filled with a lot of questions. They’re mainly rhetorical but if you have a good answer, please feel free to share).
What is it about chicken that is making people go crazy this time? I don’t have the answer and quite frankly, I’ve stopped trying to come up with one. To me, all it illustrates is how messed up our country’s thinking is that the owner of a chicken company has more clout than a state constitution. The fact that one or two statements from a man with antiquated views who’s made his money (and not even his money, really. It’s his father’s company) off of waffle fries and fried chicken can incite this kind of riot is absolutely asinine. And despite boycotts and organized protests and other tactics people are using to express their frustration (or support) with this man, it boils down to this: this is his opinion and he is entitled to it. He’s clearly proud of his stance and doesn’t seem bothered by the fact that his company’s bottom line may suffer. He doesn’t seem put off enough that his views are ostracizing customers. In fact, he’s been very quiet since this whole controversy began. But is he at home, contemplating what he said and rethinking his position to help boost his company’s sinking reputation?
I highly doubt it. Because in his mind, he didn’t say anything wrong. He was asked a question and he answered it. I don’t think he predicted this kind of uproar and honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s happy with all the publicity that’s ensued as a result. Good or bad, Chick-Fil-A is now a household name, even in parts of the country that don’t have one of their restaurants.
It’s just a shame that it’s over something that shouldn’t even be an issue anymore.
Jana,
I wish I could answer your questions! I’m with you. It seems there are more important issues to address in the U.S. than the right to get married. Like you said, it’s asinine.
-Christian L.
Christian L. recently posted…How to Improve Your Credit with a Personal Loan
I totally 100% support gay marriage as well. Let me answer another question, FB and twitter did blow up (albeit briefly) expressing their outrage over the vote in N. Carolina. I do believe as a privately owned company he has a right to express his beliefs. Even though I wasn’t crazy about their food, I probably would think twice about eating there, just as a chose not to eat Domino’s Pizza because they publicly are against a woman’s right to choose. But that is my personal belief, and I won’t tell anyone NOT to eat at either of those places, because they have a right to do whatever they like as well. I do think/hope eventually people who are against gay marriage will know that although they don’t believe it in themselves, that they don’t have the right to tell someone how to live there life. But these kinds of things take time, and I do believe we are making progress…although sometimes (looking at you N. Carolina) we take a step backwards.
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I support gay marriage absolutely!!! The fact that certain people in the government want to focus on who can and can’t get married is ridiculous.
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I thank you for having a level head. I personally don’t agree with gay marriage. Just my beliefs as a Christian. If the country votes to go that way I will still support this country. I don’t get it either though. Because you are right. There was more hoopla over this than any state outlawing it.
“A nontraditional marriage doesn’t nullify my wedding vows or make them any less sacred. You know what does that? Cheating. Abuse. Lying. Stealing money. The Bachelor and The Bachelorette and all the other reality shows that make a mockery out of dating and marriage. Kim Kardashian, Britney Spears and all the other celebrities who treat marriage as if it’s the latest red carpet accessory. ” … YES!!!
AND
“Why isn’t he allowed to believe what he wants to believe just like those of us who support gay marriage?” .. YES!!
I love this post and your ability to use your words wisely 🙂
Jenniemarie @ Another Housewife recently posted…The Hundred Dresses Book Review
Because Chick-Fil-A is a household name people feel it has clout here in the south. It’s their clever marketing tactics that remains embedded it people’s minds. And it’s because politicians have gotten involved in the support and to appreciate Chick-Fil-A…I like eating at Chick-Fil-A, but I didn’t know politicians where going to to use it as a publicity stunt…smh.
http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/08/01/usa-gaymarriage-chickfila-idINL2E8J19AM20120801
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Supporting Chick-fil-A is all about freedom of speech and our Constitutional rights.
To answer your rhetorical questions as a resident of one of the more liberal cities in North Carolina – there was an enormous campaign in advance of the vote and huge backlash after, both in the national media and in my local social media. To me it felt like it went on forever, although it was probably about as long as this Chick-fil-A nonsense. I actually felt really defensive about all the national attention on my adopted state, even though I voted against the amendment.
Emily @ evolvingPF recently posted…How to Cut Your Food Spending – What’s Your Personality?
Bravo for even putting this out there! I think it’s good that it’s getting so much attention — I keep hearing about it here and I believe I am at least 2000 miles from the nearest Chick Filla (oof! gave up on my spelling there!). The more often gay marriage comes up, the better. The more we talk about it, the better. I think for every fast food president, there’s a JCPenny president and a Target president and a Starbucks president, who are willing to come out of the woodwork in support of gay marriage.
Kathleen @ Frugal Portland recently posted…State of my Debts: August Check in
It worked great for Chic fil a. They made a ton of money yesterday! Regardless I agree that we shouldn’t care what one person thinks and it was all blown out of proportion but that is what media does. Made for a good story because lots of people are talking. No media is bad media.
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Every once in a while a scandal is good and healthy for every business. Media gives people what they want and that is “Bread and Circuses”.
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As others have said, there was a pretty big blow up about the North Carolina Constitutional ammendment (my father’s family lives there, so I saw lots of it).
I agree that the owner is allowed to say what he wants. He’s even allowed to donate money to any organization he wants, even ones that claim that gays are less than human.
At the same time, I am perfectly free to say what I want. And I am allowed to spend my money in any way I want, and that includes not giving any of my money to someone whose beliefs are not only antithetical to my own, but who spends that money with the intention of denigrating other humans.
Boycotts, are, in fact, one of the oldest and most used forms of free speech. (And for the record, the conservative American Family Association uses boycotts all the time against companies that support gay rights.)
shanendoah@The Dog Ate My Wallet recently posted…The State of My Blogging
My best friend is gay. Both of us are from the same country. And let me tell you, our former country does not accept homosexuals at all. They proclaim them sick, child molesters and pedophiles. The US, even though it does slides back into the stone age from time to time, is much more ahead of my former homeland.
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