Chick-fil-A Does Damage Control
Trying to do some damage control after President Dan Cathy said marriage equality activists are "inviting God's judgment on our nation," Chick-fil-A today posted the above Facebook message saying the "independent" franchises treat all customers with "honor, dignity and respect — regardless of their belief, race, creed, sexual orientation or gender."
Think this message will win over those who have sworn off the company over Cathy's consistently anti-gay politics?
(h/t Joe. My. God.)
This is a modern day version of "No gays allowed!" except if you want to give us your money to devote to causes that hurt your freedoms
Posted by: GlobalLook | Jul 19, 2012 3:04:13 PM
Pluck 'em, there are many other fatty chicken places in this world. Don't need that greasy crap clogging up your arteries.
Posted by: Gregoire | Jul 19, 2012 3:11:32 PM
This ship has sailed. Any damage control is way too late in coming. It sucks when the President of your company is the craziest one on the payroll.
Posted by: Jack M | Jul 19, 2012 3:15:42 PM
Every gay, lesbian, trans and bisexual person in this country needs to actively speak against Chik Fil A. Be it on your facebook, twitter, tumblr, yelp... Speak up and speak loud and STAND UP FOR YOUR CONVICTIONS!
We need to make an example out of Chik Fil A so other companies who may be tempted to do the same can know there will be a backlash. Otherwise, if Chik Fil A goes unscratched after these homophobic displays and all is forgotten and forgiven, other big corporations will join the anti gay bandwagon and you can expect NOM and the like to walk away with hundreds of millions a year from various big name donors
Posted by: ForAll | Jul 19, 2012 3:30:31 PM
not one nickel
Posted by: trj | Jul 19, 2012 3:31:58 PM
It's so interesting watching a bigoted company awkwardly try to apologize. They think they've aced this because they've included some pro-equality buzzwords but they haven't said anything about how this will be rectified. Translation: "We regret that this has blown up in our face but it will be business as usual."
Posted by: Steve | Jul 19, 2012 3:32:48 PM
If they'd said they welcome black people in their stores, but don't mind us while we give money to the KKK, very few people wouldn't be disgusted or horrified. I think we're getting closer to that point with giving to anti-gay hate groups, but not quite yet.
Posted by: Andrew K | Jul 19, 2012 3:33:22 PM
Another news source, either Queerty or Joe My God, has a tweet from Cathy thanking some news organization for their article saying how it really lit up the LGBT community. It was a spiteful tweet, showing his true colors.
And, yes, whenever I went to the restaurant there were tons of gay boys working there. It's a shame.
Posted by: Michael | Jul 19, 2012 3:43:48 PM
They tell us that we're going to Hell, but still gladly accept our money.
Looks like Chik-Fail-A wants its chicken sandwich and eat it too.
Posted by: FuryOfFirestorm | Jul 19, 2012 3:48:57 PM
This is why I was GLAD that Dan Cathy made his statement. All along they've denied they were anti-gay but at least this way they were honest about it.
There have been several articles written about the "corporate culture" at Chik-Fil-A, specifically how religion plays a part in it, and that extends to franchisees. Their franchisee meetings have been likened to tent-revivals and according to those articles the Cathy family doesn't sell a franchise unless the buyer is ideologically in line with them.
So no, this little bit of damage control double-speak doesn't change my mind at all. They're just going back to their earlier position of pretended they aren't anti-gay while funding virulently anti-gay groups like NOM and Focus On The Family.
Posted by: Caliban | Jul 19, 2012 4:02:07 PM
Damage control??? Just got home from Chick-fil-A where cars had filled the drive thru and were stacked back in the shopping center parking lot. Curious, I went inside to order and found that most everyone in the place was there because of what Mr. Cathy said yesterday. I was there long after the usual lunch rush and I was told unusually large crowds had been there since early morning Damage control??
Posted by: Jean | Jul 19, 2012 4:04:12 PM
Yeah, OK Jean! You asked everybody? Give me a break! Nice try.
Posted by: REALLY | Jul 19, 2012 4:14:43 PM
OK, so I NEVER comment on any of these blogs so I'm not sure if my input has any affect on the situation but here goes...
Raised Southern Baptist in Atlanta I had my share of the CFA culture shoved down my throat throughout childhood. Truett Cathy spoke at my church several times and the most obvious, visible Christian characteristic that they espouse is the closing of all company activity/restaurants on Sundays. Or, so it would seem. I happen to know that they still do LARGE catering jobs on Sundays for major sports activities (SEC football games) and that on Sundays they have maintenance crews work on the restaurant kitchens, building exteriors/interiors, etc. These maintenance crews may be consultants, etc. however, they are still being taken away from their families and working on the Sabbath. What a joke to be so hypocritical and use this Sunday closing as a marketing tool. The real tools are the Cathy's who rake in money from naive Christian people who eat there because it's "the only real Christian fast food option". I truly wish I could expose CFA on this and there are tons of opportunities to do so...if anyone notices work being performed on one of their locations on Sunday then PLEASE take pics of it and make sure you show that the restaurant is closed so everyone knows it's Sunday, then post these all over the internet and Facebook!
Posted by: sdf | Jul 19, 2012 4:15:34 PM
We're not very christian the other six days a week, but we try to reedem ourselves on Sunday. That should make God happy! Hypocrites.
Posted by: REALLY | Jul 19, 2012 4:19:49 PM
I think we need to organize another protest at the Hollywood location. There's thousands if not millions of gay and gay allies in the area. No reason for a known anti gay instituition to be making profit right in the heart of our city without us voicing our displeasure
I hope a local gay group around L.A gets on it!!!
Posted by: Billy | Jul 19, 2012 4:25:53 PM
Amazing that these whores still expect us to give us their money when the man who runs them says point blank that he is more than happy to give to discriminatory causes and organizations.
Choke on your chicken. I hope everyone who believe in equality, everyone who has a gay friend, brother, sister or other relative, walks past your stores and your profits tumble putting you out of business. Your company sucks because the leader of your company sucks. And no amount of "give us your money" is going to change that.
Posted by: Bart | Jul 19, 2012 4:26:20 PM
Looks to me like they're feeling the heat. Good. Hate never sells.
Posted by: VoenixRising | Jul 19, 2012 4:36:07 PM
Looks to me like they're feeling the heat. Good. Hate never sells.
Posted by: VoenixRising | Jul 19, 2012 4:36:15 PM
I think the city of West Hollywood should organize a rally at the Hollywood location. It would attract attention, get media involved, and send a loud message. Seeing how Chik Fil A constantly likes to deliver their homophobic message, it's time we respond united with one loud voice too.
Posted by: Los Angelino | Jul 19, 2012 4:41:19 PM
The LGBT Center in L.A is right near the Hollywood and highland location and could easily execute an effective protest. I see protests outside of stores and restauarnts ALL the time in this city, you guys are right. No reason not to have one against this bigoted establishment
Hoping people get on it and post info to various protests at stores here on towleroad
Posted by: StickSinger | Jul 19, 2012 4:43:41 PM
What we need is a massive nation wide protest outside every store across the country.
I agree that we need to finally make OUR mark agaist businesses that hate us. How many times have we seen christian conservatives attack Chaz Bono for getting employed, Ellen Degeneres for getting a job, or companies boycotted for supporting us? That makes the news and scares companies from vocally supporting us. It's time we arrange our own push back!
Posted by: AvanteGarde | Jul 19, 2012 4:46:28 PM
Towleroad- can you post a schedule of protests outside restaurants if they become available?
Posted by: JL | Jul 19, 2012 4:47:31 PM
Think I'll go get me a Chargrilled Chick Fil A with a side fruit cup....mmmm....
Get a life, guys. Not everyone thinks the way you think. Yes, some more screeching and crying will certainly do your movement lots of favors. Sheesh.
Posted by: Over It! | Jul 19, 2012 4:48:11 PM
Think I'll go get me a Chargrilled Chick Fil A with a side fruit cup....mmmm....
Get a life, guys. Not everyone thinks the way you think. Yes, some more screeching and crying will certainly do your movement lots of favors. Sheesh.
Posted by: Over It! | Jul 19, 2012 4:48:16 PM
Go back to "Free Republic" "Over It" (Over WHAT?)
http://fablog.ehrensteinland.com/2012/07/19/aint-nobody-here-but-us-chick-fil-as/
Posted by: David Ehrenstein | Jul 19, 2012 4:52:15 PM