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Henson, Huckabee take sides in Chick-fil-A same-sex marriage controversy
[Updated at 6:36 p.m. ET] The comments about same-sex marriage made by Chick-fil-A President Dan Cathy a week ago continue to generate controversy this week, with politicians and fantasy creatures, well at least their handlers, weighing in.
"Guilty as charged," Cathy was quoted as saying in the Baptist Press last week when asked about his company's support of the traditional family unit as opposed to same-sex marriage.
"We are very much supportive of the family - the biblical definition of the family unit. We are a family-owned business, a family-led business," Cathy was quoted as saying.
That stance didn't go over well with the Jim Henson Co., whose Jim Henson's Creature Shop toys have been served up in Chick-fil-A's meals for kids. Jim Henson Co. is named after the creator of the Muppets, though the company transferred the Muppets' rights and ownership to the Walt Disney Co. in 2003, according to Jim Henson Co.
"The Jim Henson Company has celebrated and embraced diversity and inclusiveness for over fifty years and we have notified Chick-fil-A that we do not wish to partner with them on any future endeavors," the company said in a posting on its Facebook page.
"Lisa Henson, our CEO, is personally a strong supporter of gay marriage and has directed us to donate the payment we received from Chick-fil-A to GLAAD (the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation)," the Henson Co.'s posting said.
The posting, which is dated Friday, had drawn more than 10,000 likes and 2,000 comments as of Tuesday morning.
Also drawing numbers on Facebook was a page by former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, a 2008 GOP presidential candidate, which calls for people to turn out to Chick-fil-A restaurants on August 1 to show their support for what Cathy had to say about marriage.
"I have been incensed at the vitriolic assaults on the Chick fil-A company because the CEO, Dan Cathy, made comments recently in which he affirmed his view that the biblical view of marriage should be upheld," Huckabee wrote on the page, which can also be found at www.ISupportChickFilA.com.
"No one is being asked to make signs, speeches or openly demonstrate. The goal is simple: Let's affirm a business that operates on Christian principles and whose executives are willing to take a stand for the godly values we espouse by simply showing up and eating at Chick-fil-A on Wednesday, August 1," wrote Huckabee. As of Tuesday morning, more than 88,000 people had indicated they would be heading to a restaurant on August 1.
One place Chick-fil-A supporters won't be eating on August 1 is Boston. The Massachusetts capital has no Chick-fil-A restaurants, and after Cathy's comments, Boston's mayor says he doesn't want any in his city.
“Chick-fil-A doesn’t belong in Boston. You can’t have a business in the city of Boston that discriminates against a population. We’re an open city, we’re a city that’s at the forefront of inclusion,” Mayor Thomas M. Menino was quoted as saying by the Boston Herald.
For its part, Chick-fil-A said last week as the controversy was heating up that it didn't want to be involved in politics.
"The Chick-fil-A culture and service tradition in our restaurants is to treat every person with honor, dignity and respect - regardless of their belief, race, creed, sexual orientation or gender. We will continue this tradition in the over 1,600 restaurants run by independent owner/operators. Going forward, our intent is to leave the policy debate over same-sex marriage to the government and political arena," said a statement from Don Perry, the company's vice president of corporate public relations.
But don't expect those comments to calm things.
The next focus of the controversy may be the Chick-fil-A in Laguna Hills, California. Youth Empowered to Act, an Orange County group of LGBT leaders age 14 to 24, says on its Facebook page it will protest outside the restaurant's opening on Thursday. The group will try to persuade potential customers to take their business to nearby competitors that the group says do more to support LGBT equality, according to a posting on the GLAAD site.
Correction: Previous versions of this story identified toys given away with Chick-Fil-A meals as Muppets. They were not. The toys are characters from Jim Henson's Creature Shop.
More on Chick-fil-A and religion:
A social media storm over Chick-fil-A
Overheard on CNN.com: Readers defend Chick-fil-A
Ed Helms has beef with Chick-fil-A
Eatocracy: Fast food with a side of faith
10 religious companies besides Chick-fil-A
Chick-fil-A controversy sheds light on restaurant's Christian DNA
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This is how the religious mind reacts to people defending themselves against their baseless attacks – they claim the victim of the bully is now bullying the bully.
Get something straight – religion has and always will cast the first stone in this fight by immediately classifying gay people as sinners. By doing so they allow themselves a very convenient excuse to discriminate.
When people have finally had enough of the belittling, demonizing and abuse they will defend themselves against those things. The religious simply can't recognize that they are on the wrong side of history and are the bad guys in every negative scenario involving gay people.
Well said QS, Bravo!
Again Bill Miller, It is the stupid thing again. I am seeing a pattern.
That stupid? Lol
Anti-gay? Because this privately owned company is pro-traditional marriage the new mantra is that they are ANTI-GAY? I am disgusted that people cannot have an opinion anymore. I am disgusted that gay marriage is even an issue when we have more people on food stamps in this country than ever before. I am pro-traditional marriage and religion has NOTHING to with my opinion. I have never been anti-gay in my life and I take great offense at the Muppet Corporations insinuation that people who are pro-traditional marriage are anti-gay. We do not need haters like this in our country.
Well, aren't you saying you refuse gay people the rights non-gay people have? You may not "hate" them, you just don't consider them equal to you in rights.
I have gay friends. I believe they (and also all people, gay or not) are my equals and should have the same rights as anyone else. Maybe that is hate in your eyes.
I don't eat fast food so I won't be going to these fast foods any more or less than before. But when a business owner takes such drastic positions, he/she can expect some support and some backlash.It is not all hate, some of it is indignation.
im suddenly very very hungry for a chicken sandwich and waffle fries...
His original comments were not just about "traditional marriage" and since marriage is a civil contract, there is no such thing as "traditional marriage". Look around you. I cohabit with my GF and have for years. If I followed the bible, I'd find me a nice 13 year old girl to marry and get myself a few concubines. Therefore, define what "traditional" is when every sort of arrangement under the sun has been and is being tried.
You aren't anti-gay...you're just intolerant. Your religion doesn't own the concept of marriage.
"Because agree or disagree that is his opinion."
But it's not based on the FACTS of today, that's the issue they are continuing to fuel the unfounded hatred and prejudice toward the gay community. Heterosexual behavior and homosexual behavior are normal aspects of human sexuality. Despite the persistence of stereotypes that portray lesbian, gay, and bisexual people as disturbed, several decades of research and clinical experience have led all mainstream medical and mental health organizations in this country to conclude that these orientations represent normal forms of human experience. The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Counseling Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychological Association, the American School Counselor Association, the National Association of School Psychologists, and the National Association of SocialWorkers, together representing more than 480,000 mental health professionals, have all taken the position that homosexuality is not a mental disorder and thus is not something that needs to or can be “cured."
Besides, everyone knows gay-bashers always turn out to be gay.
Beautiful. Thank you.
I thought the split was going to be because Gonzo flipped out over endorsing the mass-murder of chickens...
I got to be Gubner of Georgia by kicking blacks out of my restaurant with an ax handle, so I'd like to introduce the next VP of the USA and Mitt Romney's new running mate: DAN CATHY!
Who have they not hired or fired? Who have they not served. "The Jim Henson Company has celebrated and embraced diversity and inclusiveness for over fifty years". Don't Christians deserve the same consideration?
The idea of Christians working for diversity made me spit my coffee. Good one! Ha ha ha!
The world hates God so stick to your guns Chic-fil-A. Your latest blunder actually was the Eat More Kale. Stop being hypocrites and leave that guy alone. Very unChristian like with the Eat More Kale and it is the MAIN reason I don't eat at your restaurant anymore.
I think the muppets pulling out of Chick-fil-A has more to do with Bert and Ernie...you know what I mean.
Why is this even being covered in the media much less discussed. As long as Chick-fil-A isn't turning any one away from their restaurants they are being tolerant. We don't even need to know what the CEO thinks. There are too many real issues that need to be dealt with. This is just one more distraction on the same level as worrying about how Tom Cruise's daughter is coping. I need a job, food, shelter, clothing and medicine. Anything else is fluff.
For the same reason people would discuss it if he said black people are 3/4ths people but can still buy his chicken.
He should take a look at the "biblical definition" of the family unit. Solomon had 500 wives. People married children in the bible. Men were allowed full-time concubines. It's a pretty gross tome when it comes to social culture.
i guess you didnt really read the Bible; merely used it as reference-fodder. mostly it contains lessons about how NOT to live your life. the things you SHOULD NOT do. its actually a short list, but i digress. funny how you completely ignore the point, that Christ died for our sins; the question is existential. but i guess that negates all the Bible since it talks about how all these sinners [the whole point] did all these things and thus is no longer relevant. ironic, much?
@stratosphear, can you please show me where in the bible is says that owning concubines and wives is a sin? Please. Show me the proof of what you claim. The real problem with mythology followers is that they never read their own tome of myths and yet they think they know what it says.
I guess freedom of speech only applys when you agree with someone or something. Because heaven forbid if you disagree with anything the main stream media spews. The people who claim tolerance will lash out and attack like wild dogs when you do not agree with their way of thinking.
'the people who claim tolerance will lash out and attack like wild dogs when you do not agree with their way of thinking.'
Please don't attack me like a wild dog for thinking you are wrong. "Freedom of speech" means you are allowed to have your say; it doesn't mean you can call me names without me busting your lip. Actions have consequences; put your real name here if you don't believe me.
Freedom of speech doesn't mean freedom from people making rude comments on the internet. Get over it.
Every time one of you fools claims this is somehow violating freedom of speech rights, I spend at least 3-5 minutes trying to recover from the laughing fit you have caused me to suffer!
Has the government passed a law infringing on your right to speak? No? Then shut up. You don't know what you're talking about.
"Because heaven forbid if you disagree with anything the main stream media spews."
How about what hundred of thousands of experts are saying on this subject that so many just want to ignore. Heterosexual behavior and homosexual behavior are normal aspects of human sexuality. Despite the persistence of stereotypes that portray lesbian, gay, and bisexual people as disturbed, several decades of research and clinical experience have led all mainstream medical and mental health organizations in this country to conclude that these orientations represent normal forms of human experience. The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Counseling Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychological Association, the American School Counselor Association, the National Association of School Psychologists, and the National Association of SocialWorkers, together representing more than 480,000 mental health professionals, have all taken the position that homosexuality is not a mental disorder and thus is not something that needs to or can be “cured."
Very true JK! Very true...
No one is putting the man in jail for what he said. But when you have freedom of speech, you also are responsible for what you say; and in business, as anywhere else, that can have very definite consequences. He has the right to sy what he likes, and we have the right not to eat in his restaurants. It's all good.
Yes, it's totally strange to be intolerant of intolerance.
That's because the only thing we don't tolerate is intolerance
Have someone deny your legal rights to marriage and adoption, and I bet you would lash out as well.
You should brush up on the definition of free speech, buddy.
My friend Tom was a famous author; you've all heard of him. He was gay and old, and when his partner died he was being kicked out of their apartment in NYC because they weren't 'married.'. He shot himself on the 4th of July. Chick-Fil-A gives money to people who think this is just fine. They won't get any more of my money unless they repent and turn away from their course of hatred. Believe what you like, but don't persecute people.
Please get over yourself, Hogan. Nobody "thinks this is just fine." Despite the rhetoric of people who share your beliefs, an overwhelming number of people who don't support or believe in gay marriage do not feel that way out of hate or any desire to persecute. They simply wish to retain the definition of marriage as it has been known and defined throughout human history. It's a simple belief in tradition. It doesn't make them right or wrong, and it certainly doesn't make them hatemongers. You, and many people like you, need to start understanding the difference between deeply held personal and/or spiritual views, and hatred. I don't know a single person who opposes gay marriage out of any actual hatred for gays. I'm getting really tired of people like you trying to put words in their mouths. If you can't disagree respectfully, then frankly, shut your piehole.
Funny how people expect others to respect their views but when someone says their personal view thats different from what people want to hear, they too are criticized...doesnt make sense! Get over it people!
So you are criticizing us for having views different from yours? Try rewriting that, man.
I'll "get over it" when people like you come to the realization that there is a difference between holding a belief that is discriminatory on its face, and one that is actually about inclusiveness.