The Chicken or the Queer
To hear the commenters around news articles for the past few days, you’d think that the boycott against Chick-fil-a started the moment those snotty, self-righteous words came out of Dan Cathy’s mouth about not supporting marriage equality and, by the way, we’re all on our first wives. The boycott has been going on for some time however, and it has fuckall to do with what this piggish ass thinks about marriage, his or ours.
Actually, no one, aside from the Muppets and politicians, really cares all that much about what he has to say. This just provided the kindling for everyone to jump in with their two cents. To chicken or not to chicken? Well, we certainly care more about THAT question than the original boycott that started due to the bald fact that Chick-fil-a bankrolls anti-gay hate organizations, donating millions of dollars to organizations such as Exodus International, Focus on Family, and the Family Research Council-- in addition to being rumored to discriminate against their employees based on race, sexuality, and gender.
I can only read so many airy, dreamy comments pontificating about the importance of free speech and how LGBTQ people are now bullies because they are intolerant of intolerance (the logic couldn’t get more bassakwarder). Boycotting is childish! It’s immoral! You should be GRATEFUL that we all have freedom of speech and religion in this country! Ignoring the fact that NeoCon organizations* have been getting their feathers ruffled over the past several months regarding pictures with moms that might be gay, pink toenails on three year olds, and OREOS**, it’s not really about that. If people could read more than the headlines, since they couldn’t be arsed to pay attention to the reason queers have been boycotting this chicken joint for a friggin’ year, they’d realize that the boycott has little to do with free speech and more to do with rejecting a business that funds anti-gay lobbying and ex-gay programs that have been proven to HURT US.
Maybe the confusion happened because Moreno and Menino, in Chicago and Boston, quickly jumped into the fray after Cathy made his statements to say they would not be allowing Chick-fil-a licenses to open a business in their area. Apparently under Chicago law, Alderman Moreno can swing that… Menino is mayor, and can’t in Boston. And he’s since recanted his intent to block them. Ultimately, since I suspect this kerfluffle is what got sent around to all the email listservs that conservatives care about, that’s all some people are hearing. What, Chick-fil-a doesn’t support marriage equality, so they’re being discriminated against? NOW I CARE ABOUT THIS. WE MUST STOP BIG GAY!!!!***
Obviously, they shouldn’t block Chick-fil-a just because of what one dumbass said. But they should block them based on their donation history to hate groups (as defined by the Southern Poverty Law Association) and the budding court cases regarding discrimination against employees. The latter is what really gives them the legal foothold. As more cases appear (and I don’t know they will, but suspect that the media attention will make people feel safer taking on their bosses, and thereby more media will be willing to draw attention to these accusations), this may become the issue. Hopefully, people will shut the fuck up about “OMG FREE SPEECH” and actually figure out what people have been arguing about. Though I doubt it. It's much, much easier to defend your side when you frame the issue as a clear cut Free Speech Strawman.
I think the most hilarious thing about this is how people suddenly have to pick their side and dance into the media spotlight to do it. As if they gave a damn about where you got your fried chicken before. The parade of ex-potential Republican candidates is stepping up to talk about how they’re going to shove greasy chicken down their gullets to support this wonderful, amazing organization that believes in “Christianity” and free speech and America and apple pie and clogged arteries. Shill, chicken, shill!
It couldn’t possibly be that politicians are waving their asses around to distract their ferret-like voter base, could it? Democracy. It’s like consumerism… in a way.
Oh, and to argue that people shouldn't be allowed to protest Chick-fil-a or boycott them because that's oppressing Chick-fil-a's free speech somehow...? So corporations get freedom of speech, and conservatives get freedom of speech... but you don't get free speech when people are actively campaigning against your rights and using profits to lobby against you? Hm. Well.
CLUCK YOU.
You're free to say what you want. You are NOT free from the consequences that come as a result of your word and actions.
*I can't really bring myself to label these orgs as Christian, really.
** While I thought the boycotts were stupid, and annoying, I never said they shouldn't be able to do them. I'm pretty sure, as the number of boycotts grew, I said, "Good luck with that."
*** Yeah, the American Family Association has promoted the Gay Agenda to Big Gay. Related to Hard Gay or not? You decide.
Actually, no one, aside from the Muppets and politicians, really cares all that much about what he has to say. This just provided the kindling for everyone to jump in with their two cents. To chicken or not to chicken? Well, we certainly care more about THAT question than the original boycott that started due to the bald fact that Chick-fil-a bankrolls anti-gay hate organizations, donating millions of dollars to organizations such as Exodus International, Focus on Family, and the Family Research Council-- in addition to being rumored to discriminate against their employees based on race, sexuality, and gender.
I can only read so many airy, dreamy comments pontificating about the importance of free speech and how LGBTQ people are now bullies because they are intolerant of intolerance (the logic couldn’t get more bassakwarder). Boycotting is childish! It’s immoral! You should be GRATEFUL that we all have freedom of speech and religion in this country! Ignoring the fact that NeoCon organizations* have been getting their feathers ruffled over the past several months regarding pictures with moms that might be gay, pink toenails on three year olds, and OREOS**, it’s not really about that. If people could read more than the headlines, since they couldn’t be arsed to pay attention to the reason queers have been boycotting this chicken joint for a friggin’ year, they’d realize that the boycott has little to do with free speech and more to do with rejecting a business that funds anti-gay lobbying and ex-gay programs that have been proven to HURT US.
Maybe the confusion happened because Moreno and Menino, in Chicago and Boston, quickly jumped into the fray after Cathy made his statements to say they would not be allowing Chick-fil-a licenses to open a business in their area. Apparently under Chicago law, Alderman Moreno can swing that… Menino is mayor, and can’t in Boston. And he’s since recanted his intent to block them. Ultimately, since I suspect this kerfluffle is what got sent around to all the email listservs that conservatives care about, that’s all some people are hearing. What, Chick-fil-a doesn’t support marriage equality, so they’re being discriminated against? NOW I CARE ABOUT THIS. WE MUST STOP BIG GAY!!!!***
Obviously, they shouldn’t block Chick-fil-a just because of what one dumbass said. But they should block them based on their donation history to hate groups (as defined by the Southern Poverty Law Association) and the budding court cases regarding discrimination against employees. The latter is what really gives them the legal foothold. As more cases appear (and I don’t know they will, but suspect that the media attention will make people feel safer taking on their bosses, and thereby more media will be willing to draw attention to these accusations), this may become the issue. Hopefully, people will shut the fuck up about “OMG FREE SPEECH” and actually figure out what people have been arguing about. Though I doubt it. It's much, much easier to defend your side when you frame the issue as a clear cut Free Speech Strawman.
I think the most hilarious thing about this is how people suddenly have to pick their side and dance into the media spotlight to do it. As if they gave a damn about where you got your fried chicken before. The parade of ex-potential Republican candidates is stepping up to talk about how they’re going to shove greasy chicken down their gullets to support this wonderful, amazing organization that believes in “Christianity” and free speech and America and apple pie and clogged arteries. Shill, chicken, shill!
It couldn’t possibly be that politicians are waving their asses around to distract their ferret-like voter base, could it? Democracy. It’s like consumerism… in a way.
Oh, and to argue that people shouldn't be allowed to protest Chick-fil-a or boycott them because that's oppressing Chick-fil-a's free speech somehow...? So corporations get freedom of speech, and conservatives get freedom of speech... but you don't get free speech when people are actively campaigning against your rights and using profits to lobby against you? Hm. Well.
Click to viewCLUCK YOU.
You're free to say what you want. You are NOT free from the consequences that come as a result of your word and actions.
*I can't really bring myself to label these orgs as Christian, really.
** While I thought the boycotts were stupid, and annoying, I never said they shouldn't be able to do them. I'm pretty sure, as the number of boycotts grew, I said, "Good luck with that."
*** Yeah, the American Family Association has promoted the Gay Agenda to Big Gay. Related to Hard Gay or not? You decide.