For all of you who voted yes, let me ask you this...would you feel the same way if the company said blacks couldn't eat there? Or Jews? Or handicapped people? Wake up Westford, stop being so white and privileged and exclusive. There is a whole world out there of people who are different from this closed-minded little town and it is going to be a rude awakening for your children when they leave it and go off into that world. There are plenty of other places to get chicken and french fries. Refuse to allow this bigoted company into our town. Show some guts and stand up for what is right!

Nobody's refusing to serve anyone. Pay attention, the guy has a right to an opinion, whether you like it or not. I'd eat there regardless of his opinions.

The uproar is because Chick-fil-A is “very much supportive of the biblical definition of the family unit,” he Cathy said. And that doesn’t include Adam and Steve. Cathy puts on the record what critics say his company’s actions have indicated for years. “Well, guilty as charged,” he said in the interview when asked about Chick-fil-A’s backing of families led by a man and a woman. “We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives,” Cathy said. The company also only donates to organizations that support marriage only between a man and a woman.

And I am paying VERY CLOSE attention. If you support this business you in effect support their philosophy, which is unacceptable in today's world. By patronizing this business you are basically agreeing with his opinion and that is bigotry and discrimination and it is wrong.

Discrimination of this type grows into much more dangerous forms of discrimination, hatred, and intolerance. Yes, we have the freedom to express ourselves, but after everything this country has gone through why would anyone espouse this ideology? Cathy is happy to take everyone's money, yet he has no qualms being "guilty as charged" attacking people who are different because of their race, religion, ethnicity, or sexuality. This always spreads beyond words to violent actions against the ones who are discriminated against...and I would posit that hating someone because of who they love isn't about biblical law, it's about ignorance and fear, not righteousness. This is not what any god of wants for any of us.

I am very flattered to be called a "moonbat liberal" if what I stand for is the destruction of such narrow-minded hatefulness. No one ever said gay marriage would replace traditional marriage, it's only purpose is to be recognized as the same kind of union--one of love, sharing, and yes, raising children. Divorce statistics in traditional marriage are over 50%. What difference does it make who you are in bed with at night if they love you, take care of you, honor and don't cheat on you, and help you raise children that either or both of you could have biologically or though adoption, just like traditional families. I want to cry listening to you people say gay people don't have the same rights as traditional couples. Why not? That's the same kind of ridiculous reasoning that has been used through the centuries when white men, terrified of losing their perceived power over others, deny people of different colors, ethnicities or races the same rights they have. Women were considered chattel until the 19th amendment; do you think women don't have the right to vote? African-American's weren't allowed to sit up front on the bus until the civil rights movement; do you think we should go back to segregation? And one final question I will ask you...how in God's name does giving two loving people the same rights you have hurt you in any way? God wanted us to accept and love each other, and your opinions are exactly the opposite.

Hi folks, please keep comments respectful of other viewpoints. Thanks.

We Are Not Arguing Over Chicken
PART 1
Posted: 07/27/2012 4:30 pm
Gay Voices News
Facebook can feel faceless sometimes. Over the last week, the site has seen a lot of conversations about Chick-fil-A, often among total strangers able to shout at each other just because they happen to have a friend in common. It is worth remembering that behind each unfamiliar headshot or puppy pic is a real person. When you litter your friend's wall with vitriol about the idiocy of your interlocutors, you are talking about people, not pixels.

So here's my message to social conservatives: Just because you were a member of the Boy Scouts, I don't think you are a bigot. Have those waffle fries; I'm not going to glitter-bomb you. But please, hear me out on why these organizations are so troubling to me, personally. Let's get beyond the avatar, so we can understand that this is more about people than about anonymous wall posts.

We Are Not Arguing Over Chicken
PART 2
Posted: 07/27/2012 4:30 pm

Hi. My name is Conor Gaughan. I am 32 years old. I was born an Air Force child. Most of my formative years were spent in the suburbs of Denver. Mike and MaryAnn were incredible parents, instilling in me a strong moral compass. I have an older brother -- Ghirmay. He joined our family after emigrating from Eritrea. He's now married with three adorable girls. I have a younger sister -- Michaela. She is a senior in high school. As a family, we grew up going to church every Sunday. I attended a Christian Brothers high school. In 2002, I graduated from Harvard, with a degree in economics. While in school, I was a varsity letterman, and I started a non-profit to help at-risk youth. In the ten years since completing my degree, I've largely worked in finance. And, I now work in the media business helping nonprofits to speak the language of American Pop Culture. Oh, and somewhere in there, I came out of the closet. It's nice to meet you.

We Are Not Arguing Over Chicken
Part 3
Growing up is never easy. But, teenagers who grow up gay are four times more likely to take their own lives. No, that has nothing to do with our sexuality on its own -- suicide rates are lower where gay kids are accepted. It's because our institutions, and all too often the adults in our lives, tell us we're not as good as our straight peers. In 29 states, it is legal for an employer to fire me for who I am. In 31 states, leaders and voters have told me that I am not worthy of the fundamental human right to marry. You want to marry because you love your Mr. Right; I have no rights to do the same. And, the consequences of this inequality are terrifying and real.

Part 4
For example, I can be denied access to my loved one on his deathbed. There are over 1,100 other rights that I am denied. When gays get so angry about a chicken sandwich, it is because Chick-fil-A has given around $5 million to fight to discriminate against us. When we praise brave Eagle Scouts who give up their badges in protest of the Boy Scouts of America's prejudice, it's not about scoring political points; it's because there are kids in dens who are being taught to believe that they are less than equal. When we rant about the pastor who preaches that gays should be thrown into a concentration camp, we scream out of fear. And our fears are justified -- in the last seven days, a lesbian in Nebraska was carved with a knife, a gay man in Oklahoma was firebombed, and a girl in Kentucky was kicked and beaten -- her jaw broken and her teeth knocked out -- while her assailants allegedly hurled anti-gay slurs at her. I am your coworker, your frat brother, your cousin, your neighbor. And I am watching as you defend institutionalized discrimination.

Part 5

Eat all the chicken sandwiches you want. But, realize that behind this debate are real people -- kids like the girl in Kentucky who fear for their safety, women like Sally Ride's widow who are denied their spouse's Social Security benefits. Even if it doesn't seem like it, we want nothing more than to leave behind the angry debates on Facebook and on Capitol Hill. There are, after all, a lot of pictures of One Direction and grandkids we would rather be posting, sharing and 'liking.'

Noel Levin
karyn, very eloquently said. sad that some have twisted this into a free speech issue. chick fil a gives its money to organizations that believe gays in Uganda should be put to death, that gays in this country should submit to religious r
e-education camps to remove the gayness from them. their stance on gay marriage marginalizes gay people. i prefer to marginalize Mr. Cathy and his bigoted views. good for you karyn for defending my partner of 16 years and myself! we won't be marginalized and we won't eat at chick fil a!
about an hour ago · Unlike · 1

How can something that has never been afforded them throughout the dawn of time (gay marriage) suddenly be a "right"? It's really laughable when you think about it.

Unfortunately, calling it a "right" has been an effective strategy to intimidate and silence the weak minded.

Here is the test where the relationships are equal: If every couple in the world were heterosexual, the human race would flourish. If every couple were gay, the human race would perish.

How can any logically thinking person come to the conclusion that these two relationships are equal?

Not =
Never have been, never will be

Westford Academy holds a 'Day of Silence' every year to support Gays,lesbians, BI Sexuals and Trannies. Our kids are luckily being taught tigers come in all sizes and stripes' that celebration day is going to take it to the next level this year...maybe gay kiss in school event.
Super Olsen says no cupcakes for school celebrations but Gay Day is A-Ok

Soooo, nobody is being denied service, nobody Is being attacked, nobody is being denied a job, BUT mr Cathy has committed the mortal sin of not subscribing to group think. He dares to have a different belief frOm what is considered The Right Way! Stone him! Crucify him!
I actually support any intra species marriage, and have a couple of gay married pals. Wouldn't it be nice to hear som politician actually say " ya know, it's none of the governments business, it's up to you and your religion, this whole mess is just a way to distract people from real problems we won't or cannot address"?
Honestly, the most intolerant, prejudicial group around are the so called "progressives". Dare to disagree and the name calling and personal attacks begin. It's like watching a kid throw a tantrum, there's no reasoning, just a lot of noise until they run out of steam or get their way.
The company in question makes chicken sandwiches. Go there if you like their product.

The Chick-Fil-A situation is due to GLBT trying to bully others into thinking like they think. Take a look at the numbers: appreciation day (BEST day of sales EVER) vs kiss day (YAWN).

See below on same sex marriage, who wrote that the UN? how far we have fallen, SAD!

Marriage
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Marriage (also called matrimony or wedlock) is a social union or legal contract between people called spouses that creates kinship. The definition of marriage varies according to different cultures, but is usually an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged. Such a union is often formalized via a wedding ceremony. In terms of legal recognition, most sovereign states and other jurisdictions limit marriage to two persons of opposite sex or gender in the gender binary, and some of these allow polygynous marriage. In the 21st century, several countries and some other jurisdictions have legalized same-sex marriage

If this gets any uglier I think Andrew should stop it altogether.

"I don’t care who anybody sleeps with. If a couple has been together all that time - and there are gay relationships that are more solid than some heterosexual ones - I think it’s fine if they want to get married. I don’t know how people can get so anti-something. Mind your own business, take care of your affairs, and don’t worry about other people so much." ~BETTY WHITE

I turned this "survey" into a discussion. You turned it into an ignorant slignfest. I'm done. Andrew, I think it's time to pull the plug.

Thank you, Randy. Everyone's opinions are welcome as long as the people that make them are respectful of other opinions.

For everyone on both sides, please when push comes to shove, please speak to the topics themselves and not other users. Randy gave a perfect example right here.

I believe the person has a right to their opinion, no matter how much I disagree with it. But personal opinion does not make it ok to refuse to serve people with other opinions. Discrimination in a business serving customers is not ok and hasn't been since the 60s. Hello. Personally, I won't eat at this restaurant because this owner believes he can shove his personal opinions onto his customers. No way.

What's GLBT you mean all Gays, lesbians bisexuals and trannies or is there a national front? Embrace diversity and celebrate the Adams and Steves want same respect or folks who used to be dudes and are now chicks are not looking o bully just to love and be loved so open up the heart and let em in!