Remember back to the olden days of the culture wars, when the LGBTQ community united in opposition to a company that was anti-gay marriage and beat them in the court of public opinion with a successful boycott?
No? Neither do I.
Many of us have vague fond memories of the media storm that surrounded the comments made by the president of Chick-Fil-A, the popular restaurant chain run by a Southern Baptist family from Georgia. For a hot second, all of our allies on MSNBC, in the political sphere, even our gay friends who rarely followed the news seemed aware that going to Chick-Fil-A was verboten.
white girls who posted black squares on instagram after being told to boycott chickfila and starbucks pic.twitter.com/fmFyjWDYRJ
— local guide (@smellby_smaws) June 13, 2020
What really happened is as follows.
In the summer of 2012 (these things always seem to happen during a presidential election year, to fire up the political bases for both the FOX News right and the MSNBC left), the president of Chick-Fil-A Dan Cathy said in a series of interviews and subsequent tweets that he was against marriage equality. Specifically, “I think we are inviting God’s judgment on our nation when we shake our fist at Him and say, “We know better than you as to what constitutes a marriage”. I pray God’s mercy on our generation that has such a prideful, arrogant attitude to think that we have the audacity to define what marriage is about.”
Okay, whatever. It almost seems quaint looking back on his comments, given all that the Trump years unleashed on us like a firehose.
Growing up in the South, I remember that Chick-Fil-A was always closed on Sundays, the “Lord’s Day,” in respect for the Sabbath. It just made our lunch choices at the Augusta Mall food court a bit easier without their availability as an option, and we knew that the company was run by conservative Christians. We didn’t think anything more about it.
So it wasn’t exactly a big news flash to learn that the company was also against marriage equality. But suddenly everyone was up in arms because of Cathy’s comments. LGBTQ groups organized a boycott, while Arkansas Governor (and perennial FOX News guest) Mike Huckabee led a counter-boycott that supported Chick-Fil-A.
Guess which side won?
Great job on the #ChickFilA boycott everyone! Keep up the fabulous work. You're really making an impact! pic.twitter.com/7rMAaKEwAl
— The Based Geek (@TheBasedGeek) April 13, 2021
In the short term, Chick-Fil-A’s sales spiked. Christians and conservatives flocked in support of the chain, and the restaurant became a kind of political signal of the looming cancel culture that would later develop as the left held individuals and institutions accountable for their words and actions.
In the medium term, marriage equality obviously became the law of the land thanks to the Supreme Court Obergefell decision in 2015. Chick-Fil-A’s support of “traditional marriage” faded as it tried to refocus on its business and withdraw from the media spotlight as a symbol of a losing crusade. But it remains a company deeply influenced by its Southern Baptist founders and corporate board.
Recently Business Insider reported on who the average customer is today for Chick-Fil-A. I imagined that after nearly a decade of public scrutiny and as a symbol for the political right, their customers would reflect the demographics of the typical Trumpist / FOX News viewer (angry old white people).
I was mistaken.
The typical Chick-Fil-A customer is a Gen-Xer in the suburbs with a high income who only eats there around 11 times a year, but eats fast food almost every other day. According to their research, “The typical Chick-fil-A customer is white and between 45 and 54 years old, according to data provided by analytics firm Numerator. These customers tend to be either adult couples, or large, young families. They likely live in the suburbs, with a high income and a full-time job.”
It added, “Although the average customer is white, a Chick-fil-A customer is more likely to be black than the typical quick-service customer overall.”
Ouch. So here we are, nearly a decade after this negative spotlight on a company that everyone knows is anti-gay, and nothing has changed.
I’m not a Chick-Fil-A customer, even though I fall within that demographic checklist. Yeah, their waffle fries are great, and they have a great chicken sandwich. But I don’t want to give my money to any company that views me as a threat, as antithetical to “God’s design” or civilization. Yes, the list of companies we are supposed to boycott is never ending, with Amazon at the top of the list but I fail even that easy abstinence with each e-book I purchase for my Kindle. So I’m not above being called a hypocrite.
However, I’ve made a decision that I can forgo Chick-Fil-A (and Cracker Barrel, for that matter) for the larger picture, to support” the gay agenda” so to speak. Boycotting in and of itself is not a bad thing, but don’t fool yourselves into thinking that much, if anything, will change from it other than making you feel righteous.
“This post is solely the opinion of this contributing writer and may not reflect the opinion of other writers, staff, or owners of Instinct Magazine.
Sources: Business Insider, Wikipedia
I will never spend a dime in any store whose owners vociferously campaign for the reversal of my right to marry whom I want, and who teach their kids that their God hates that which he has made: LGBT+ people.
Those who do are Uncle Toms.
I used to work at Chic-Fil-A in their headquarters in Collge Park (Atlanta, GA) Their culture is very much the Southern Baptist. They hold daily prayer before work in their auditorium, if you chose to participant. They highly value those who are christian and throughout the day announce over their P.A. system about some christian event. While working there the only thing I had to deal with was keeping my being GAY in the chicken closet. Though no one asked or assumed I was gay. I never scene an AntiGay rally nor was one ever encourage to attend one. Every employee who worked at the H.Q. enjoyed all of the free food for Breakfast, and Lunch. I always had Saturday and Sunday’s off. It was also my highest paying job. I was a contractor working their to assist their employees. One of the pluses was being able to sample some of the great products they were thinking of adding to their menu. I also met and assisted Dan Cathy many of times with his computer setup and any issues he may of had using it. Everyone their was kind with a few exceptions the problem I ran into was the feeling of entitlement. One thing that did not change was the fact that some of the Cathy children felt entitled. But a lot of them were just every day people. Sadly, they allowed themselves to be mixed up in the anti-gay marriage but it was from the view point of Christian teachings. this of course does not excuse the anti-gay tacktics they used. While they themselves would not go on record to push the non-gay agenda, they would support others who did. They welcome all walks of life into their business and resturants. Men had to be clean shaven (no facial hair) women had to be dressed appropriate. And yes the often heard, “My pleasure.” Always used instead of “You’re Welcome.” While I fully understand the boy-cott attitude against them I do not boy-cott them. And while they were my highest paid employer (contract) the whole atmospher was too much like the Stepford Wives. Again, the money was great and the people were for the most part friendly. But, for the most part the job was like any other.
Here’s how I deal with Chick-fil-A, everytime I walk in to order and they ask what I would like, I always say that I am starving since I have been sucking cock all day. It is funny as shit to watch their faces and the other customers faces when I say that. Fuck them.
Yawn. I am gay and christian. I am not offended or buy into group think of whatever your trying to convince me of. Also I’d rather BE GAY and BE SEEN EVERYWHERE and represent. You could also write this article towards what has now become the gay mafia. We saw it with the NYC gay pride and who and who was not invited. Police. Must bow down to BLM, etc. And the comments to that article from GAYS was how appalled they were. Talk about hate and division and the party of tolerance? Well that would certainly NOT be the liberal left or gays! Cancel culture etc. Do not tell me what I can and can NOT think. I am a free thinking person who can make up his own mind. The world has become INSANE. I am SICK of it. I and MANY of MY gay friends are more and more turned off by the insane politics of both sides. This includes the left and the gays. I will EAT where I want to eat! I do not feel guilty or anything. I will not be shamed into your attacks on anyone who does not bow down to your every whim or insanity. I stand for the flag. The AMERICAN flag. I think BLM is insane and am not for ANY of it. I do not think ALL democrat idea’s are great! I do not think all Republican idea’s are BAD! I do not subject to any ideology. I have a brain. I am capable of making up my own mind. If you want to attack me or others in a country where at ONE point we could agree to disagree and now it seems your are trying to SILENCE any disenters! It is very telling and scary. It is marxism leading into communism. I am about to switch from indepenent to Republican if this keeps up and many JUST like me! So careful with your attacks and go back to common sense because many things coming from the RADICAL left at this point are RUINING this country. I am 40 and it was NOT like this before. I do not understand the anger and what has become of the culture but count me OUT! I have NOTHING in common with they gay world anymore and looking back I am not sure I ever did. Just a bunch of party animal unhappy victimhood. Guess what… you ARE the mainstream now. You won. We won! Stop attacking ANYTHING thing and anyone who won’t submit to your every whim. You ARE the culture now. You are not on the outside looking in. Everyone knows it. No one cares what you do in private anymore. No one cares if your gay or not really. No one cares if your black. But GAYS and BLACKS will CERTAINLY keep pushing the narrative that they are the underdogs! Your running the show! We all see it! Now your just becoming what was done to you! You are the NEW BULLY! It is disgusting alot of the time and beyond hypocritical. Not everything about being being a person has to do with being gay has to do with your sexuality. Especially in todays world. So SICK of hearing about gay this and BLM that and boohoo this and boohoo that. It is like an obsession at this point. I MISS the 90’s when we were ACTUALLY still more underground somewhat and carving out our exsistence. Now it seems most of the time it is just a bunch of haters and unhappy people that will NEVER just move on. Shutup and just live your life! No one cares. Why is EVERYthing online always tryin to stir the pot! The world has gone mad. So glad I grew up when I did. The BEST was the 80’s, 90′, and 00’s. Life is never gonna be the same and I only see it getting worse and YOU and your constantly trying to find something to be offended by is just sick at this point. I guess I am a bad gay cause I go to Chik fi la . I kinda like that actually. I have always been a rebel… You know… how being gay in the 90’s was. And now I am a rebel again, except it is against the ruling class that once was on the outside looking in who now run the show and attack ANYONE who does not obey!!! No thanks!!! Not following the insane sheep anymore who seem to have NO common sense live and let live attitude. BYE!!!
If I ever need to fall asleep quick, all I have to do is read your mess. You are a oxygen thief!
If you support and purchase Chick-fil-A, you should be banned from the gay community. You accept that they are anti gay and you support them by your purchase. So, you are a complete hypocrite and a piece of shit.
1. “Christian” is an umbrella term describing all faiths that believe is Christ — Baptist, Prostestant, Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, etc. etc.
2. I have NEVER seen any reports or evidence that the Cathy family or the company “not only support baptist but catholic and christian as well.” (whatever that even means.)
3. Nor have I seen any evidence that the Cathy family or the company support the Texas abortion law (though given their faith it should come as no surprise). The only connection I have seen between the company and the law is a NYT report that the lawyer behind the law first considered the idea of the law while sitting in his truck in a Chick-fil-A parking lot.
We are all entitled to opinions. We are not entitled to make up “facts.”
Grow up and get a life folks, it’s a damn good chicken sandwich 😊
No, it’s the worst.
Fuck chick-fil-a!!! You also need to mention that they are happy and support the texas abortion laws. I have never and will never spend a cent or support their hate and homophobic agenda, period. I find it rather odd that shit-fil-a rallies around their strong christian and catholic beliefs. The catholic church turns their head and looks the other way as their priests still continue to molest and rape young boy’s. The priests like to tell these boy’s that no one will believe them and that the victims were the ones that are the sinners. Do you want to know how I know this? I will tell you, I was one of those victims year’s ago and the priest who did this was just moved to another parish and I am sure some other kid suffered the same abuse as I did. Any member of the LGBT community spends their money on food from this fast food place you are a complete hypocrite. Remember my story as you bite into your chicken sandwich.
Chick-fil-A isn’t Catholic, they are Southern Baptist.
They make it clear that they support not only baptist but catholic and christian as well.