Chick-fil-A: Boycotting the Robinson Restaurants?
Do you support the restaurant franchise amid its controversial stance on gay marriage?
It's a controversy about much more than fried chicken.
Supporters of the restaurant Chick-fil-A converged yesterday on the fast food franchise's locations across the country, including one on Costco Drive in Robinson, to show support of the Georgia-based company amid recent controversy regarding its stance on LGBT rights.
Chick-fil-A drew criticism last month after its president said he and the company stand against gay marriage. The restaurant franchise has also made several high-price donations to organizatons that oppose same-sex marriage, such as the Marriage & Family Foundation.
The debate on the chicken eatery was sparked after the company's president and COO Dan Cathy shared his thoughts on same-sex marriage in an interview with the Baptist Press.
"We are very much supportive of the family in the biblical definition of the family unit. We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that."
On Friday, the gay-rights group GLAAD will host counter protests at the chain, calling the effort "National Same-Sex Kiss Day at Chick-fil-A." Gay rights activists are asking supporters to boycott Chick-fil-A and dine at competitiors, such as KFC, in light of restaurant's stance.
In addition to the Costco Drive location, Chick-fil-A operates another franchise inside the Mall at Robinson food court.
The back-and-forth has raised a number of questions. Should fast food franchises wade into social and political issues? Is it fair to boycott a business for comments made by a national corporate leader?
Where do you stand in the argument? Will you stop eating at Chick-fil-A in Robinson? Or do you stand behind the company's comments on same-sex marriage? Is the debate relevant to you? Share your thoughts in the comments.
In This article
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Chick-fil-A
2520 Robinson Center Dr, Pittsburgh, PA -
KFC
45 Foster Ave, Pittsburgh, PA
Walter Wayne
6:46 am on Friday, August 3, 2012
In response to the question " Should fast food franchises wade into social and political issues?": Businesses that support traditional responses to social and political issues have as much right to publicly comment and/or support their traditional responses as do the businesses that take the opposing points of view [ie. Home Depot, JC Penny, Amazon, etc].
Jenna Staul
8:30 am on Friday, August 3, 2012
Good point. Free speech certainly isn't limited to individuals.
Chick-fil-A released a statement last week through a spokesperson that said "going forward, our intent is to leave the policy debate over same-sex marriage to the government and political arena." As far as I'm aware they haven't commented since. Seemed to me like the company stepped back a little bit from the COO's statement.
Robert
12:08 pm on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
I concur!
Walter Wayne
6:48 am on Friday, August 3, 2012
Free speech is not and should not be limited to so-called "politically correct" positions.
Robert
8:53 am on Friday, August 3, 2012
I agree!
Akasha Brandt
7:19 am on Friday, August 3, 2012
I'm glad you write about this! I didn't notice it on some of the other sites. I didn't even know about the counter protest. How cute. Kissing is definitely one of the more friendly protests I've ever heard of.
Robert
8:51 am on Friday, August 3, 2012
I believe in the the Bill of Rights of our great country! The freedom to speak freely without prosecution! The freedom of press without prosecution and the freedom to practice whatever religion a man or woman prefer and its beliefs!
Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Whether you support or dont support gays rights or gay marriage, has nothing to do with anyone speaking his or her mind and or their religious beliefs!
If you support it or not.. This is America the land of the free! So if you don't like what someone says move on! If they own a food chain or store and you don't like what they believe...MOVE ON!
If your gay and you don't like what they are doing or saying... THEN DON'T EAT THERE!
Because of this I am sure there are a lot of other companies that are anti-gay, but now you will never know, because they are now going to keep there mouths shut!!!!
sandy miller
9:26 am on Friday, August 3, 2012
I don't want to see anyone kissing when I get chicken. Keep it at home.