Politics, pop culture and entertainment news of interest to the LGBTQ community
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Oh, the shade of it all.
For years now, many in the LGBTQ community have boycotted Chick-fil-A after reports showed the company’s CEO and executives donated over and over again to anti-LGBTQ groups that work to opposed queer rights.
Now, Burger King is not only showing SUPPORT for the LGBTQ community, but throwing some subtle shade at Chick-fil-A while doing so.
From USA Today:
Chick-fil-A CEO Dan Cathy was identified last week by The Daily Beast as a donor to the National Christian Charitable Foundation, which has a history of funding opposition to The Equality Act.
Burger King, which recently launched the Ch’King sandwich, tweeted Thursday it will donate 40 cents for every chicken sandwich sold in June (Pride month) up to $250,000, or 625,000 sandwiches, to The Human Rights Campaign.
“This is a community we love dearly and have proudly supported over the years, so we couldn’t miss an opportunity to take action and help shine a light on the important conversation happening,” a Burger King spokesperson said in an email statement to USA TODAY.
You’ll note in Burger King’s tweet below the company notes that it would continue its donations “even on Sundays.” Chick-fil-A has a long-standing policy of being closed on Sundays.
In a playful back-and-forth, the Whopper’s Twitter account seems to be a bit jealous of the new chicken sandwich LOL…
*6/3-6/30 with every Ch’King sold, BK will contribute 40₵ to the Human Rights Campaign (Max. donation $250k)
— Burger King (@BurgerKing) June 4, 2021
Bk throwing some much needed shade. I normally order a whopper but i think ill be trying the chicken sandwich this month. No homophobia chicken here 🏳️🌈
— That Damn 🏳️🌈Queer🏳️🌈 Cat (@ShallotCog) June 4, 2021
The SHADE 💜 If the sandwich is half as spicy as this tweet… pic.twitter.com/NsFYSc1C0s
— Reia🔆Sunshine (@warmsunsh1ne) June 4, 2021
simmer down, i serve all my favorites https://t.co/bxmud43DAE
— Burger King (@BurgerKing) June 1, 2021
uh, everyone… the Whopper’s gone rogue 👀 https://t.co/exOA6cSHBH
— Burger King (@BurgerKing) June 1, 2021
Fast-food chain Chick-fil-A recently announced a shift in its charitable donations clearly intended to stave protests by LGBTQ activists and allies who have brought much-unwanted attention to the restaurant’s support of anti-LGBTQ organizations like the Salvation Army and Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
But homophobic evangelist Franklin Graham posted a message on his Facebook page saying he’s spoken to the company’s CEO who he claims promised: “they haven’t changed.”
“Has Chick-fil-A caved? Some are saying they’ve rolled over, that they’ve conceded to the LGBTQ protests because they released a statement about their charitable giving. They announced that in 2020 they’re giving to fight hunger and homelessness and support education. What’s wrong with that?
“I picked up the phone and called Dan Cathy. Dan was very clear that they have not bowed down to anyone’s demands, including the LGBTQ community. They will continue to support whoever they want to support. They haven’t changed who they are or what they believe. Chick-fil-A remains committed to Christian values. Dan Cathy assured me that this isn’t going to change. I hope all those who jumped to the wrong conclusion about them read this.
“In my opinion, the gay movement wouldn’t ever be happy with Chick-fil-A unless they were open on Sunday, gave all of their charitable donations to LGBTQ organizations, and flew the rainbow flag over their stores! Their hatred for Chick-fil-A is rooted in founder Truett Cathy’s strong stand for biblical ‘traditional’ values and his desire to honor God.
“No fast food chain does a better job. I went through the drive-thru at Chick-fil-A yesterday morning, and I thought I might get dinner there — but a whole lot of other people had the same idea! A Chick-fil-A sandwich with waffle fries sounds really good right now!”
Do we believe them?
Chick-fil-A has had a rough relationship with the LGBTQ community for years thanks to donations by the popular fast-food chain to anti-LGBTQ organizations like the Salvation Army and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
But in a statement today, Chick-fil-A says it will end those donations in favor of a new tact.
A representative for Chick-fil-A says the company “made multi-year commitments to both organizations” and “fulfilled those obligations in 2018.”
The eatery says it will now focus charitable donations to “a smaller number of organizations working exclusively in the areas of education, homelessness, and hunger.”
But should we be buying this?
The restaurant chain’s CEO, Dan Cathy, made a similar promise back in 2011.
And in 2016, the company told Think Progress that it was ending contributions to such groups, but earlier this year the news site found Chick-fil-A had donated $1.8 million to discriminatory groups in 2017.
Drew Anderson, the director of campaigns at GLAAD, the national LGBTQ advocacy group, didn’t sound very convinced as he issued a statement saying in part, “Chick-fil-A investors, employees and customers can greet today’s announcement with cautious optimism, but should remember that similar press statements were previously proven to be empty.”
There have been protests across the U.S., Canada and the UK over proposed openings of the fast food restaurant.
Earlier this year, the San Antonio city council said no to a franchise being opened at the local airport.
And the UK shopping center where Chick-fil-A opened its first storefront across the pond announced after just a week that the lease on the newly-opened location would not be renewed due to protests.
Following the opening of the first UK branch of Chick-fil-A restaurants last week, the eatery is already facing closure.
The controversial fast-food chain, which has attracted negative attention for years due to donations to anti-LGBTQ organizations, opened its first outlet at The Oracle shopping center in Reading, Berkshire.
When the news was announced on a local Facebook page, the comments got pretty heated with many familiar with the restaurant’s history of supporting homophobic organizations chiming in.
“Not a company I would want to support regardless of what their food tastes like!” wrote one commenter. “Shame they are choosing our fabulously diverse town to ‘test’ in!”
“I totally agree with you!” added another. “I’m American and cannot support this business. It is anti-gay… anti-LGBT.”
“You have literally got to be kidding me,” declared a Reading resident. “You do know just how blatantly homophobic they are? I’m ashamed of all involved in allowing this to happen, honestly. Utterly unacceptable.”
“Vile won’t be eating there sadly until they stop their discriminatory and hate-filled policies!”
A spokesperson for Chick-fil-A issued a statement following the opening:
“We opened a pilot licensed location at The Oracle Centre of Reading on October 10 and we are pleased by customer response. Chick-fil-A is a restaurant company focused on serving great food and hospitality. We are represented by more than 145,000 people from different backgrounds and beliefs and welcome everyone.”
But today, the BBC is reporting a spokeswoman for The Oracle shopping center says “the right thing to do” was to not extend the fast-food outlet’s lease past the “six-month pilot period.”
“We always look to introduce new concepts for our customers, however, we have decided on this occasion that the right thing to do is to only allow Chick-Fil-A to trade with us for the initial six-month pilot period, and not to extend the lease any further.”
After statements in 2012 by CEO Dan Cathy who responded “Guilty as charged” when asked about opposing marriage equality resulted in much unwanted bad press, the company shared on its Facebook page it would change course and focus on chicken leaving the “policy debate over same-sex marriage to the government and political arena.”
But ThinkProgress reports the company has continued to donate to anti-LGBTQ organizations like the Salvation Army and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
(source: BBC, ThinkProgress – image via Depositphotos)
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— The White House (@WhiteHouse) June 14, 2019
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• Authorities have arrested a Florida Chick-fil-A owner and operator on two counts of lewd and lascivious molestation involving a 15-year-old girl. Pinellas County Sheriff deputies say that Heather Matuszek gained the trust of the girl while acting as a youth leader at the Clearwater Community Church.
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• Taylor Swift dropped a new track in time for Pride Month titled, “You Need To Calm Down,” complete with lyrics that take a none-too-veiled swipe at homophobes and a shout-out to GLAAD.
In the song, Swift sings, “You are somebody that we don’t know / But you’re comin’ at my friends like a missile / Why are you mad when you could be GLAAD? / Sunshine on the street at the parade / But you would rather be in the dark ages / Makin’ that sign must’ve taken all night.” Hit the play button below.
Last week, I reported that the anti-LGBTQ “Save Chick-fil-A” bill in Texas, House Bill 3172, had been successfully torpedoed by out state Rep. Julie Johnson.
It became known as the “Save Chick-fil-A” bill as supporters felt it would have helped avoid the recent boycott and eventual elimination of the fast-food chain from San Antonio’s airport. The fast-food restaurant has years of history of making donations to anti-LGBTQ organizations that advocate against LGBTQ rights.
The Dallas Voice had labeled the legislation one of the “most extreme anti-LGBT bills this session.”
Well, now the bill is back thanks to some last minute maneuvers in the state Senate, according to The Dallas News.
Senate Bill 1978, the companion bill to HB 3172, was filed by state Sen. Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola).
Addressing the Senate Affairs Committee, Hughes told a practically empty room on Monday that, “The bill as filed ensures religious beliefs are protected from discrimination.”
Hughes emphasized that the bill was about “those uniquely American rights,” freedom of speech and freedom of religion.
The room was nearly empty because the GOP-led Senate waived rules just minutes before so that the bill could be heard in committee without giving public notice.
Last week, when HB 3172 came up for debate, dozens showed up to denounce the legislation.
But with no one to debate the bill, the committee advanced the legislation to the full Senate. SB 1978 is on today’s intent calendar.
The Dallas News says Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who presides over the Senate, issued a statement via a spokesperson defending the last minute waiving of the Senate rules.
Sherry Sylvester, Patrick’s spokesperson, said it’s not uncommon to suspend the rules to speed up bills this late in the session.
Sylvester also went to lengths to say the language in SB 1978 is the same as matches the HB 3172, and that bill received “several hours” of debate last week.
“This is not a new bill,” she said, adding, “It’s passage will strengthen our protections for religious liberty — a priority for the Lt. Governor.”
Kathy Miller, the president of Texas Freedom Network, issued a statement calling the tactic a ‘ghost hearing.’
“It’s appalling to hold a ghost hearing and then take a snap vote that leaves virtually no chance for anyone to tell senators how such a sweeping discrimination bill would affect individuals and families across the state,” said Miller.
“The lieutenant governor is so desperate to pass a bill that shields discrimination against LGBT Texans that he no longer even pretends to care what anybody else thinks about it,” she added. “But ramming this bill through doesn’t change the fact that the majority of Texans oppose laws that allow the use of religion to hurt people simply because of who they are or whom they love.”
A poll by Public Religion Research Institute in March 2019 found that 54% of Texas oppose allowing businesses to refuse products or services to LGBTQ people due to religious beliefs. Thirty-nine percent say they favor the idea.
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The San Antonio City Council has voted against allowing a Chick-Fil-A franchise to open at the local airport.
According to USA Today, the fast-food restaurant was originally included in a seven-year concessions agreement for Terminal A at the San Antonio International Airport. But, a new report from Think Progress citing continued contributions by the Chick-Fil-A Foundation to anti-LGBTQ organizations gave the council pause.
That report showed donations of more than $1.8 million in 2017 to companies that have public records of anti-LGBTQ animus, including the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
The amendment to remove Chick-Fil-A from the airport plans was approved by the city council by a vote of 6-4.
In a statement after the vote, Councilman Robert Treviño said that the council “reaffirmed the work our city has done to become a champion of equality and inclusion.”
“San Antonio is a city full of compassion, and we do not have room in our public facilities for a business with a legacy of anti-LGBTQ behavior,” added the councilman. “Everyone has a place here, and everyone should feel welcome when they walk through our airport.”
For its part, Chick-Fil-A told USA Today that the company found the news “disappointing.”
“We wish we had the opportunity to clarify misperceptions about our company prior to the vote,” read the statement. “We agree with the council member that everyone should feel welcome at Chick-fil-A,” the company said in the statement.
“In fact, we have welcomed everyone in San Antonio into our 32 local stores for more than 40 years,” the statement continued.
The fast-food chain has had a long history of donations to anti-LGBTQ organizations.
When asked about donations to Exodus International, a company that promoted so-called ‘conversion therapy,’ Chick-Fil-A president Dan Cathy proudly told the Baptist Press in 2012 his company was “guilty as charged.”
The restaurant’s foundation has also made donations to Focus on the Family and the Family Research Council, groups identified as anti-LGBTQ “hate groups” by the Southern Poverty Law Center.
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Did McDonald’s just shade Chick-Fil-A?
A new Chick-Fil-A restaurant is opening in Glastonbury, Connecticut, right next to a McDonalds, and over the weekend, locals noticed a message on the McDonalds sign which read, “We Welcome Everyone.”
In the past, Chick-Fil-A has caught some serious criticism for the owner’s opposition to LGBTQ rights like same-sex marriage.
Founded in 1946 by religiously conservative S. Truett Cathy, and now run by his family, the chain’s policies have often been guided by those beliefs including allowing none of the restaurants to be open on Sundays in order to give employees ‘a day of rest.’
The general manager of the McDonalds told the local NBC affiliate that the sign’s message wasn’t political in nature.
“It just means that everyone is welcome, young old, everyone,” she said.
Most folks liked the message.
Tina Manus of Stratford drove almost an hour to show her support.
“For McDonald’s to step up and say we welcome everyone,” she told NBC. “I feel that is a huge step for them. Then in the background you have Chick-fil-A who has historically not welcomed everyone.”
Zack Caporale of Glastonbury wasn’t feeling it thought.
“I feel like it’s kind of rude to Chick-fil-A because they have Christian beliefs, but that doesn’t mean they have to not accept gay people,” said Caporale.
Jordan Snook, the franchise owner of the new Chick-Fil-A wasn’t quite sure what to think about the McDonalds message but issued a statement which read:
“We are excited to open in Glastonbury next week, and look forward to being great neighbors who welcome everyone. Glastonbury will be representative of all Chick-fil-A restaurants in serving great food and providing remarkable service for all customers, as well as a diverse workplace of individuals who represent many viewpoints, opinions, backgrounds and beliefs.”
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| Ramin Karimloo |
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