Love is ALWAYS in Fashion

This week, I’m going to take a break from my usual bitching about someone’s hairstyle or how you can see some people’s nipples through a T-Shirt and address an issue that has become very important to me. As of late, it’s an issue that’s really been bothering me and nearly been beaten to death. If you don’t want to read it…don’t.

This past Wednesday, Mike Huckabee declared the day “National Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day.” The idea kind of caught on and a lot of people caught onto it. I saw posts through out my Facebook page “At Chick-fil-A! Great company! Great owner”. I’ve probably wasted a good portion of the last two days debating this nonsense with people who don’t really understand the issue.

I can’t believe I’ve even wasted my time debating this issue. After taking a step back and really observing it it’s ridiculous. I’m fighting with people over a chicken sandwich? Over a restaurant that has a play area for toddlers? A place whose mascot is a cow? It is ridiculous, but sadly it has come to this.

I saw a picture a friend had posted of a Chick-fil-A commenting how great these lines were. I simply commented “gross.” Some stranger I don’t know responded promptly “How is it gross? Their stance? The food? Please tell me, Jake.” My Facebook photo is a picture of my boyfriend and I hugging. Obviously, this man knew I was gay and was trying to start an argument. I unfortunately gave in but quickly ended it saying this was ridiculous.

First off, I’ve seen the debate from a lot of people on this issue that this is a “Freedom of Speech” debate. This isn’t. At all. The First Amendment is a legal document. There is no legal argument here. Nobody is trying to send Chick-fil-A C.E.O. Dan Cathy to prison. No one is silencing him. The government isn’t censoring him. There is absolutely no violation of the First Amendment going on here. This man can spend his money however he chooses to spend it. No one is debating that.

This situation is also not about marriage. People tend to just assume that maybe because you’re gay that you are in support of gay marriage. I actually know quite a few gays who don’t believe that. There are also plenty of people for same-sex marriage and equality, yet they are still homophobic. Everyone is categorized into generalized groups based on their beliefs. Marriage is not something all gays are for. But here are some things that do apply to all gays.

• You could be fired in 29 states for being gay. That’s right. You could walk right into work and be handed a pink slip, just for being a homosexual.
• It is illegal to be gay in 75 countries in this world. I can’t go visit these countries if I wanted to.
• In 9 countries in this world you can be killed for being gay.

 Those are some pretty scary statistics. Basically, the majority of the world doesn’t appear to be on the side of the gays.

Two groups that are strongly against the rights of homosexuals are the Family Research Council and Marriage & Family Foundation. The Family Research Council has even stated that “same-sex-loving behavior” should be illegal in America. They are saying loving should be a crime. In addition to their homeland beliefs, these groups have also gone on “missionary” trips to other countries to promote prosecution of homosexual relations in other countries.

A large part of the funding for these groups comes from Dan Cathy and the company Chick-fil-A. Cathy has given around $5 million to support these groups. That $5 million comes from purchases you make at his Chick-fil-A restaurants.

This issue is not at all about mutual tolerance either. If this was a mutual scenario, gay and straight people would both be full members of society and have equal rights. It’s not. I’m not trying to make this mutual by restricting which countries a straight person could visit or put restrictions on where they can work. This is what’s being done to me. I am fighting back.

My entire life, my parents and teacher encouraged me to stick up for myself. Fight for my rights, fight for what I believe in. Well, that time is now. I’m standing up to the bullies…but am being told by people I’m the one being intolerant and a bully?           

This also has nothing to do with religion. I’ve got religious friends that have broken a lot of the commandments the bible says. Pre-marital sex, drugs…and the list goes on. I have a lot of religious friends breaking a lot of rules the bible says to not break. However, all of those “little” things are forgotten and homosexuality is the only one brought to the forefront considered wrong. 

Look in the bible. Jesus had basically nothing to say about the sexuality of anyone, gay or straight. He was busy preaching things that mattered and make people good human beings like empathy. “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”           

If this situation were any other way around, how would people look at it? I read a fake news report on The Onion saying Wendy’s is now against interracial marriage. It was funny. Why? BECAUSE IT WOULD NEVER HAPPEN. Imagine if Wendy’s really did post this and it got the same reaction this Chick-fil-A situation got. People lining up at Wendy’s just because they don’t like African-Americans. Do you really think as many people would be supportive or posting Sarcastic Wonka pictures against pro-African American supporters?           

I’ll admit, Chick-fil-A makes a decent sandwich…but what have they ever really done for you? Charged you a ridiculous amount of money for a sandwich? Given you a crappy kids meal toy for your child? Pissed you off with their mascot disrupting traffic?            

What about a gay person? What have they possibly done for you? Been that friend for you when you when your parents were fighting? Held you while you were going through a rough break up? Made you laugh? Cry? Been loyal?           

How loyal are you? How are you going to return that friendship? Do you even value that friendship?           

So many people want to support Chick-fil-A without really even knowing what’s going on. What they don’t realize is they are supporting a bully. They are supporting someone who is trying to bring a group of people down for who they love. They are supporting hate.           

This isn’t a political issue. Love is never a political issue. This is about what’s right and wrong. So just like I went back and remembered how I was taught to stick up for myself, look back and remember what you were taught. It is right to love. It is wrong to hate. Choose love.

Written By: Jake Verterano

Photo Sources:
cronicle.com
chick-fil-a.com