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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 faithÂ
10 religious companies besides Chick-fil-A
Chick-fil-A controversy sheds light on restaurant's Christian DNA
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Seriously, Gay people should make it a point to go and make out in all CFA locations.
That would be hilarious. Maybe have a mock wedding just outside of the Chik-Fil-A's property line. And have a few Chik-Fil-A cows as ushers, holding up sign that say "Eat Mor Rooster"
Seriously? Remember when Denny's went all anti-gay? They were getting jobs at Denny's and, er, kinda dipping stuff in the food? I still avoid Denny's just in case one of those guys liked it and is still there.
omg. brilliant idea.
all this has done is made a public statement that it is now likely that pro-gays will not be at Chik-Fil-A. one wonders in the next month will their sales increase or decrease. place your bets.
People aren't going to eat there because they are intolerant of gay people. However, people will not eat there because they are intolerant of gay people. Not much of a bet.
Short-term, their business will boom. There will be a crusade to encourage people to go there and pray about gays while they eat. Long-term, who wants all that drama with their meal? This time next year, they'll be closing a lot of franchises and paying someone for expensive PR.
"...And on the 8th day, he said let there be greasy food quickly served. And it was so."
seems I have found a new favorite restaurant....
Enjoy the hate nuggets!
In 30 years, supporters of Chick-fil-a are going to be profoundly embarrassed, if they say anything at all. By 1990 it was pretty hard to find someone that admitted they supported segregation. This will be no different.
segregation and gay people? REALLY LOL
I think everyone here forgot something. People are not just angry that that Dan Cathy voiced his opinion. Anyone can voice any opinion. It's that the company actively donates money to groups that seek to limit or flat out remove any gay rights. People are boycotting because they don't want their money going to groups like that. Stop thinking he just voiced an opinion and it ends there. It doesn't. it's bigger than that.
"the company actively donates money to groups that seek to limit or flat out remove any gay rights."
Right. Stop donating and you will be saved from bankruptcy, Cathy my boy.
I am very proud of Chic-Fil-A for standing their ground. Good job, the company has its right jus tlike everyone else. It is refreshing to hear a company with a back bone, your blessing will flow.
They are not just "standing their ground" they are funding campaigns against laws that give gay people equality and civil rights. They are forcing non-rightwing-Christians to live under rightwing Christian beliefs! Show me in the Bible where Jesus said for people to force their religion on others. You won't, because it isn't in there.
"I am very proud of Chic-Fil-A for standing their ground. Good job, the company has its right jus tlike everyone else. It is refreshing to hear a company with a back bone, your blessing will flow."
It's uneducated comments like this that shows why our society is so intolerant and bullying is such an issue in our schools. Let's guess you missed the part where the experts have shown that being gay is not a mental illness, it's not a choice and it can't be voluntarily changed. They deserve to have equal rights.
"It is refreshing to hear a company with a back bone, your blessing will flow" Right on, Henson! Stand up to the haters and don't be afraid to express your opinion.
There's room for everyone's business in this polarized world. Chik-fil-et will be fine because they will be strongly supported by the radical right. The gays will eat elsewhere because they don't like supporting anti-gay narrow minded bigots... oh and because their food is total crap.
"There's room for everyone's business in this polarized world. Chik-fil-et will be fine because they will be strongly supported by the radical right. " For a while, then a new sobbing victim will steal their spotlight and Dan Cathy will be back at the Dwarf House.
Haha! I love it that she ordered the payment to be donated to GLAAD. Good for them!
I've been hoping "Jesus Chicken" would fall for a long time now; hopefully this will be what does it.
Mormons suck.
Black theologists suck.
"They hired heroin dealers, but can't support gay marriage!"
That's that 'little something extra" in the chicken that keep customers coming back . . .
Why because they do not believe in gay marriage we are accusing this company of discrimination? Do they treat gay people wrong, do they discriminate them when they go to their restaurants? I do not think so.
The beauty of this country is that we all can have our believes and we should respect the people who think different. The fights for gay marriage is in the courts. I have not made my decision if I am in favor or against yet but I do not like that people are getting bullyed if they do not agree with gay marriage. I do not like the fact that you can say what you think because it may not be politically correct. We have the right to our opinions, to express our believes and you can tell me that I am wrong but do not bully me to think like you do.
I stand by this company
Well, the American Dream is owning a business and making his own money to direct his business' profits where you want. I don't agree with his statement, but he lives an America and has a right to his opinion.
How is it not hateful to want to keep gay people from getting married because they are gay, and you are not?