Thursday, January 6, 2011

Chick-fil-A Can Eat Me

Yesterday's post, "Chick-Fil-A a Big Ol' Homophobe?" ruffled a lot of feathers and today I have learned that the company has removed their logo from the banners advertising "The Art of Marriage" retreat in Pennsylvania. Again, the conference was some kind of retreat that was going to teach husbands and wives how to strengthen their marriage based on the teachings of the Bible. Or something like that. While the organization offering the retreat, Pennsylvania Family Institute, may not be specifically anti-gay, they do stand behind the idea that marriage is between one man and one woman. So, yeah, it's just kind of anti-gay in a backhanded way. Chick-Fil-A must have gotten sick of all the bloggers and Tweeters mentioning their name in association with them because they are no longer listed as a sponsor. But I'm sure they still support it. The Advocate says that in the past Chick-Fil-A has given tons of dollars to Focus on the Family which was founded by the whack job Reverend James Dobson. That organization is straight up anti-gay and even supports those programs where they claim to turn gay people straight. (And on a side note, is there anything sadder than seeing a "straight" man claiming how thankful he is to no longer be a homosexual even as he rests his hand uncomfortably on the leg of his his wife who always either looks like a lesbian or a fag hag?)

So bravo to Chick-Fil-A for removing their name from a banner even though we all know where they stand. Now you have your bigotry concealed instead of out in the open. Whatever. And I must mention Greg B. who commented:

Using the argument, "Just because you don't like it doesn't mean you have to be against it," is a contradiction with your choice to boycott them.

Again I agree that their business has nothing to do with marriage of any sort, so they shouldn't mix the two. But you and they are both making economic and political choices based on personal opinions. Nothing wrong with that. It's only contradictory when you do it then say they shouldn't do it.

The better argument is to recognize their right to have an opinion and take action based on it. Then, point out to them your same right as their customer, and only then boycott them. Subtle but important difference. Don't stoop to their own hypocrisy.

You are right. I stand corrected. Just because I don't like it doesn't mean I have to be against it. I choose to be against it because I believe differently. Thank you for pointing out the difference, I get it.

These posts have drifted a bit from my usual ranting, but the whole thing pisses me off. I just don't get how so many people can be so opposed to something that does not affect them at all. I have a teeny tiny soap box with this blog and sometimes I want to stand on it. Let me explain why it is so important to me. I have been with my partner for a long time. In April, we will celebrate our 20 year anniversary. Why the fuck is my relationship less worthy than these bitches who meet their husband on The Bachelor? Why can Britney Spears marry a guy in Las Vegas and then divorce him ten seconds later? Why is it legal for two complete strangers to get married as long as they are of opposite sex while I can't? I have shared my life with the same man for twenty years. I don't know anyone who has a longer relationship than we do, gay or straight. I realize this post will offend some readers and maybe they will not come back. But it's important for people to know why I am so vigilant about this issue. It's because it is my life. My big gay life. So fuck you, Chick -Fil-A. (I will miss your fresh-squeezed lemonade.)




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47 comments:

Cindie Ulreich said...

Get on your soap box...geez, it's your blog. I love what you say and how you say it!

BB said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
BB said...

I will dust and shine your soap box anyday. Kudos to you for your talents at making people aware of what a sick world we do live in. And even more importantly congratulations for 20 years with your partner. That speaks volumes and I hope you have many more '20' years. Hugs to you BW

Diane F. said...

Chick-fil-A can kiss my money good-bye, too. I'm with you, BW.

Jessica B said...

Congratulations to you and your partner!! I truly believe in equal rights BW, and I hope with all of my heart that you will have the same "luxury" of getting that piece of paper that validates your relationship, as I, in my hetero marriage have.

Love your soapbox -- keep climbing up there!!! Eventually enough people will listen...

Wendy said...

Bitchy, you can say any goddamn thing you WANT!!! I'll still keep comin' back.

I seriously and honestly do NOT understand why anyone has a problem with whom one chooses to marry, unless of course it's one's own "child" and it will adversely affect one's own personal life in a real and SERIOUS way... Like if my daughter wanted to marry a heroin addict or something. THEN i'd be protestin'!

But Love is Love, no matter what gender, race, age (as long as it's at least 18), religion, football fan, etc.

You keep climbin' up on your Soapbox, Bitchy, and i'll keep standin' here "at your feet".
=-)

Wendy said...

Besides, really? how can anyone seriously say, with a straight face, "the *sanctity* of marriage"?!?!
Are they for real?!?!
Divorce and affairs are SOOOOOO common. Is that what "sanctity" means?!

Like you said, Bitchy:
They can "eat me"!!!

=-)

~*J*~ said...

HA! Turn a gay person straight, that is soo funny and I don't get where people think that can happen, that's like saying you can turn a black person white or a white person black, you can't. I believe that it is the persons choice who they want to be with whether it be a straight marriage or same sex marriage and I also believe that gay marriages are not ruining straight marriages. That was a discussion somewhere, I believe at my job. Congratulations on being together for 20yrs!! and Rant all you want, you have that right!!

Abbe_M said...

I couldn't agree with you more on the rights for gays to get married. If your straight marriage is so threatened by two dudes or two chicks getting married, you've got far more problems in the marriage than you probably want to admit. My marriage certainly wasn't affected when my other straight friends got married, so why would it be if my gay friends got married? The whole idea is just ludicrous, and the fact that in the year 2011 everyone still doesn't have equal rights to marry the person they love makes me very, very sad.

Unknown said...

I love your blog and your view on a lot of things - life in general, really. I was pretty sure you were gay before you made a point of stating it, but that's entirely the fault of the Brady Bunch, let's not lie.

I'm not going anywhere, and neither are most of your fans - You're awesome, and who you've decided to spend your life with does nothing to change that fact.

Corey Wilkey said...

I love that you were able to stand corrected and admit that you see where your past statements were faulty, in a sort. I have a lot of respect for that.

I am gay, and I love Chick-Fil-A. My understanding on this was that Corporate did not approve the sponsorship. It was one of the franchises that did it. Once corporate found out that they did it, they required that the franchise pull their name from it, because it was not reflecting Chick-Fil-A as a whole, just the franchise. So I am somewhat torn on if I want to boycott them or not. Of course, my decision is mute anyway, simply because they have Chick-Fil-A back at home in Salt Lake City, but in my current city of St. George, we have none for at least 5 hours.

Anyway, I don't know if what I said above makes sense, but I guess that is where I stand? hah i dunno what I am trying to say.

Hope you're having a great day, bitchy!

Kinoo said...

This is why I WILL NOT spend my money at the Gloria Jean's coffee places here in Australia. They are owned by prominent members of Hillsong church and until they recieved a LOT of bad press they also supported a pro-life charity Mercy Ministries that was found to have mislead the at risk women it was supposed to be helping.
Keep on that soap-box as a lot of wouldn't know this stuff unless someone like you passes the info along :)

G. B. Miller said...

Interesting post.

My personal feeling about gay marriage is basically this:

While I may not like it (and over the years, my dislike for it has for the most part dwindled down to something that most people can constructively and respectfully debated me in order to get my dislike to dwindle down even further) I accept the fact that it is here and more likely than not, it will be here to stay.

Having said that, what's the point of a boycott simply because you don't like a particular facet of a corporation?

Does it make you feel any better?

Does it make you feel superior to the corporation in question?

Noelle said...

Wonder how Chick fil-a is enjoying being a closeted gay basher. Ironic.

Congratulations on your long happy relationship.

julie said...

Seriously, it's why I love living in Vermont. First state in the US to address this issue first with civil unions and then with gay marriage. Guess what...the state has not collapsed in on itself. The maple syrup is still flowin', the toothless hunter still can be seen walking down the road shotgun in hand and every annoying person from New Jersey still comes here to ski. Being originally from the south and attending a college that Chick-fil-A is a huge financial supporter totally turned me off to those fundy wackos - and that was over 15 years ago. Let me tell you, there were several lipsy "super-straight" guys in the CFA scholarship program who were more that happy to not sleep with their fiances.

Kyla Lee said...

Oh Bitchy, I love you so. I hope that I can find someone as compatible as you and your partner seem to be, there is nothing that I want more than to be with someone who can handle this bitch as good as your boyfriend handles you.

Any way, I just wanted to say that I will really miss Chick-Fil-A and their chicken strips... but I drive the few extra miles to go to WalMart instead of Target (not that its a whole lot better) so I will just have to put my big girl panties on and buck up to go to Jack in the Box or something.

Love the blog, love the posts, and love the soap box.

Don't stop bitching, you rock at it!

Kiss kiss!

Chopshopgal said...

Dear BW...Congrats on 20 years...I have been married for 31 years to my Hubby - good, bad and ugly...but still together.
And as for Chick-Fil...the heck with them...as for you - stay on the soapbox...!!! Love your posts, rants and view of life!

The Empress said...

F*ck chick-fil-a! Years ago I remember sitting at a major intersection and looking over to shockingly see a ginormous executive in a Cadillac emblazoned with chick-fil-a logos PIKCING HIS FREAKING NOSE like he was mining for gold. Very representative of how saintly that company could try and portray itself to be, yet the twatnozzles running it were most likely a bunch of gross and natsy arsewipes. So bitch and rant away my friend. We have your back!

And MAJOR CONGRATULATIONS to you and your partner! Here is to 20 more years of love and happiness.

http://rantersbox.blogspot.com

Tim and Louie said...

Here are more details about the anti-gay business known as Chick-Fil-A:
http://www.goodasyou.org/good_as_you/2011/01/chick-fil-out.html
http://joemygod.blogspot.com/2011/01/chick-fil-vanishes-from-anti-gay-event.html

My husband and I have been "married" in our hearts for 15 years and married legally in California for almost 3 years.

Aside from Chick-Fil-A's support of anti-gay organizations like Focus on the Family, their religious based business practices turn me off the most.

So, no gay, atheist dollars from this queer couple!

Lolamouse said...

Congrats on 20 years! Let's hope you are allowed your piece of paper soon. Continue to stand on your soapbox, BW, I applaud you!

Rev. Barky said...

Don't get me started on Chick-fil-a.

I ranted about this bigoted company years ago.

http://aredant.blogspot.com/2005/05/chick-fil-isnt-christian-company.html

and while you're at it check out whats happening over at "Little Debbie"

http://aredant.blogspot.com/2009/01/little-debbie-has-been-poisoned.html

Lianne said...

I enjoy your blog and even share your posts/thoughts/stories with my close friends and girlfriend. freedom of speech, it has its negatives but oh so many positives, thats what we get with "free"dom. Everything has a good and bad, but you are exactly right, its our lives, our soap boxes, no one elses. I work in a school with 5 and 6 year olds, and if we were to take a poll, I bet more than half of their parents are divorced already... What does that say about marriage in general, as a country? Why does gay marriage even have to be labeled as "gay" marriage.... ridiculous. Unfortunately we live in a world is so stuck up on labels...It's about change, our freedom of speech, to keep loving who we love outloud...just like everybody else, who takes it for granted...Thank you for your words, your passion...

Katie said...

Keep ranting, and I'll keep reading. :)

Anonymous said...

Please keep ranting! If people don't like uit them they can turn the computer off, or even better, it gives you material to write about :) x

jess said...

Please keep ranting! If people don't like uit them they can turn the computer off, or even better, it gives you material to write about :) x

Marc said...

Rock on you Big Gay Bitchy Waiter. I'm a christian that goes to church on Sunday, reads the bible, prays to God and sometimes teaches Sunday School. You know what, I think anyone should be ably to marry anybody they fucking want to. It's not my job to judge anybody, that rights been reserved for a higher power.

Your blog makes me laugh everyday and brightens up the shitty cube that I'm stuck in 40 hrs a week.

Just Plain Tired said...

Besides the fact that discriminating is so wrong I don't understand why any business would discriminate against any segment of the population from a business stand point. They lose out on the character front and money front as well.

Haruka said...

Congratulations on being with your partner so long! I'm sorry you can't get married. :( I've been with my wife since 1991, and we 'married' in 1999 before it was legal here in Canada. Our legal wedding was two years ago on Sunday.

Anonymous said...

Lo-o-o-ve this post! Well done!

Practical Parsimony said...

Anytime gays boycott any business, churches and their members just buy more at that business to show support. While boycotting is a worthwhile statement and educates people about the issues, mostly these days a boycott does not hurt the wallet of any company that is anti-gay--sad, but true! But, boycotts soothes my soul.

Sad sight? --gay men in my small town who are in agony and in a small Southern closet, afraid. I want to tell some of these gay men friends that I know and am okay with it. But, I am not sure of the repercussions. Maybe they would hate me.Since I am female, surely they would not think I had any romantic interest, just compassion.

Congrats on 20 years.

Anonymous said...

yes, congrats on 20 years! that is quite an accomplishment, considering the divorce rate has only sky-rocketed in the past decade or so.

anyone who will try to tell you what to say and what opinions you can or can't have on your OWN blog, can fuck off. we are protected by the first amendment, to have a freedom of speech.

I agree with you wholeheartedly, just because Chik-fil-a is a Christian company, does not mean that they should represent something that could be portrayed as "anti-gay."

Christie Hampton said...

I am going through a divorce with a man I thought I'd spend the rest of my life with. My point is so long as you are happy and your partner is happy, I don't see what the problem is. Everyone deserves to be with someone for love, companionship, and whatever they get and bring to the relationship. Just because the couple may be the same sex, so what? Keep on writing, I'll keep reading and sharing the blog with others.

Dr. McCoy said...

I wish I had read this post before I got a free spicy chicken sandwich for hubby on Tuesday. Oh well, at least I didn't give them my money.

Congrats to you and your partner!

CarrieMarie said...

I agree with your logic regarding same-sex marriage. I am a Christian, and I have NO idea why the Bible/God is against homosexuality. I love the Lord, and His example was to love others. It saddens me that other Christians forget that. I also HIGHLY Agree with a point you made - gay ppl have not destroyed the sanctity of marriage. Straight ppl have been doing that for so long... Treating marriage like a game. Again, it's sad. And while I'm also sad (sorry, word overuse!) that you feel it necessary to boycott CFA, I understand your reasoning. I will continue to support them because they are a beacon of customer service and good food. I will also continue to follow your blog because you're a beacon of humor and I like your posts.

I'm happy to see you acknowledge the logic of Greg B's comment, as well.

(Sorry for the novel, just really wanted to share apparently!)

Anonymous said...

Just because you believe in something, it doesn't mean everyone else in the world has to. I don't think same sex couples should be allowed to marry. Thats just me though, and I will fight against it for as long as I can. Just as I am sure you will fight for it as long as you can. Get over yourself. Boycotting companies is so stupid. Do you honestly think your measly $3 is going to do anything to them? LAME post as always :)

Miranda said...

I really like Greg B's point! And good on you for using your soap box! You have such a large following it should definitely be used for good.

Congratulations on the 20th anniversary. It's an amazing accomplishment, with or without paperwork.

love
Miranda<3

Unknown said...

Good for you to stand up for what you believe in! Homosexuality isn't a bad thing, homophobia is.

Indigo Owl said...

I don't ever go to Chick-fil-A, but I won't in the future now either. I love that you have been with someone for so long, longer than my parents have been together, and I fully believe you should be able to get married. It is a basic human right, is it not? Gay people are still humans, last time I checked.

jdracecar said...

I agree with you completely and love you as always! I am pissed that I also won't be able to enjoy a lemonade, sweet tea or delicious chicken nugget. Screw them and their right wing BS!!

Maria said...

P.S., @Anonymous:

"Lame post, as always."

On behalf of BW, I'd just like to respond: "Thanks for reading!"

=)

allen said...

Thanks for the article. A funny side note: Your Google ad on the right showed "Buy a Chick-Fil-A franchise" as one of the two ads when I was reading. I didn't refresh to see if it would come up again, though.

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on such a great relationship!

I think that, gay or straight, everyone is lucky to find somebody with whom they share mutual love. Who are we to turn down that person just because of their gender? That's just stupid.

Anyway... I'm catching up on your blog and I absolutely love it. It's so insightful, so well-written, and yet, somehow, notwithstanding all the obnoxious customers that you have to deal with, I feel like you are usually nice to people, which makes reading your blog all the better.

And (I may have read ahead a little bit) that time that you spit in a guy's drink because he called you that? He totally deserved it. :)

Please never stop blogging and being so opinionated. Anybody that you drive away because you share your beliefs is not worthwhile.

Anonymous said...

I just wanted to say that all Chick-fil-A workers aren't like that. I work there and I have no problem with gay marriage. So please don't judge everyone at Chick-fil-A like we're all homophobes that only believe in heterosexual marriage. Thanks. :)

Anonymous said...

I hear this sentiment of yours from many people: "I just don't get how so many people can be so opposed to something that does not affect them at all." In short, the answer is that "no man is an island." The things we do (or don't do) as "individuals" DOES HAVE a cumulative effect on "society" in general.

Why are people so opposed to what goes on in countries on the other side of the world "that does not affect them at all"?

That having been said, the recent demonstrations in support of Chick-fil-A are actually about our First Amendment rights being infringed-upon by fascist government officials; not about gay marriage.

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mycfavisit.com said...

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