I can’t tell you how tired I am of discussing this whole Chick-Fil-A thing and yet, here we are again.
Every conservative news source I’ve seen has said that this whole thing is because Dan Cathy, the current COO of Chick-Fil-A, has gone on record not supporting same-sex marriage.
False.
I will only address this from my own viewpoint, so I am not speaking for every gay person on the planet. Ready?
I am not a child. I don’t need people to pat me on the head and tell me I am sweet and special and perfect just the way I am.
What I DO need is for Chick-Fil-A to not take my money and then use that money to fund groups that discriminate against me.
Here are some of the groups Chick-Fil-A (and yes, CHICK-FIL-A, not Dan Cathy) supports.
When I discussed this earlier, I pointed out Focus on the Family. Today, we’re going to talk about the Family Research Council.
In their “10 Myths About Homosexuality,” they say we are more likely to have mental illness and substance abuse problems than our hetero counterparts. Also, because we’re promiscuous (or so they say), we are more likely to have STDs. We’re also more likely to molest children. And they will tell you that we are “far less likely to be in any kind of committed relationship than heterosexuals are.”
I will tell you now that I am so furious that I am seriously near tears.
There is a world of difference between being gay and being a pedophile. I am a lesbian. I sleep with other women. I DO NOT TOUCH CHILDREN. None of the gay people I know abuse children. Pedophiles are monsters. We are not monsters.
So I hope you can understand why I don’t want to give Chick-Fil-A my money anymore.
A lot of my Facebook friends have been pro-Chick-Fil-A since this controversy began. I’m trying not to take it personally. But please understand that, while they say they don’t discriminate against anyone, they are actively supporting things that I’ve quoted above.
They believe I shouldn’t be able to get married, and that’s fine. But they also believe that I’m more likely to sexually abuse children, that I can’t be in any kind of healthy long-term relationship and that I probably have some sort of STD. That’s completely offensive. This is not a free speech issue. This is not a religious freedom issue. This is a group saying disgusting things about a minority and being at least partially funded by Chick-Fil-A. (Which means, by extension, everyone who still eats there.)
If you still want to patronize, that’s your right. But please don’t boast about it. That makes it look like you agree with them about the kind of person I am. I hope you understand that I do take that personally.
<3 This has never been, for me, about Christians being marginalized in our society. It has been about an appalling lack of sympathy, understanding, and love for the people that Christ calls us to minister to. I will not support anyone who uses the money God has entrusted them to cause others pain.
I just…how does that group hate so much? And how do other people think that’s fine?
Kelly. I understand completely how you feel, I understand that you are both angry and dissapointed in those who call themselves Christians. I identified as a gay man, I lived the lifestyle for over 20 yrs, completely immersed in the ‘culture’. I do not condem you in any way. For myself, I left the lifestyle 8 yrs ago, a partner of 12 yrs., and what I then had as my corebeliefs. I did not have peace within my soul, and the only way I can describe it is to say God called me ‘out’ of both my lifestyle and identity. I discovered that there is real intimacy found in a relationship with Jesus Christ. I pray that you don’t continue to become bitter, because of the false labels people have tried to brand you with. I understand what it is to be labeled with painful termsbecause of my SSA. Not every bodies journey is the same, there are no cookie cutter relationships that are real, in Christ. Most journeys I am aware of have deep struggles, times of stretching ones heart, deep questions about ones core values. Jesus himself said many who serve and follow Him will be reviled, branded as something they are not, hated for His name sake. For me, I realize this daily, so I have decide that at all cost, I will follow Christ.
I don’t consider them to be a Christian group. I think there are Christians who have real and legitimate reasons to be against same-sex marriage. We disagree but I don’t feel hated. I feel hated by the Family Research Council.
I feel very lucky. I have so many people who love and support me (Christians and not). I’m a Christian myself and I in no way feel like I’m being persecuted by most of them.
All that matters to me is that you’re happy. Our journeys aren’t the same, but I think we’re aiming at the same goal: living a good, productive life that is an honor to God.
I am glad you have people that love you, and I didn’t mean that all or even most Christians label others. Our journeys are different, the important piece of this is that like you said, “that God be honored”.
You already know how I feel about this so I don’t have to repeat it here, but I want to reach through the computer and give you a bear hug. All of those things are disgusting lies, and it makes my blood boil to read them.
Also, I think this post it very well written, and I feel the same way about those who boast about eating at CFA.
Thanks. :) (To both comments.) I knew before today that there were people who felt that way but I hadn’t really heard of the Family Research Council before and it was a little much all at once.
My Housemate and I were talking about this last night. I said “Homosexuality is not a gateway drug for pedophilia!” Unfortunately too many people think it is.
I love you Kel, and this post made me hurt for you.
HUG!
First off, ((((hugs)))). I love you, Kel, and consider to be one of my best friends (book-devouring recluse??? Pizza Boli? How could I not?). This is a beautifully written post, as was said above. I 100% agree with you. I think it’s BS to say I feel the same way as you, because I could walk in there tomorrow, and nobody would think anything of it.
But the thought I had was this: how different a world would it be if people had to come out as straight? Just to have to have that conversation, and not have it just blithely assumed you were straight or gay or whatever. It’s the same way, I suppose, that I assume that most people I see are some degree of Judeo-Christian.
It takes courage to battle hatred, and that’s all this is, same as all the Birther vs Obama nonsense was barely veiled racism.
Hell with it. The diner down the street has a vastly better chicken sandwich, anyway.
Really good post on a sad topic. I think it was in the article that you linked to the other day, that made a great point that what’s going on here is not “Christianity” but “tribalism”. The tribe here is a group that is afraid of change — they’re losing their hegemony on power. 100 years ago it was women. 50 years ago, it was blacks. It’s the same fear of losing control, just a different scapegoat.