Everyone’s favorite childhood puppets are taking a stand for gay marriage.
The Jim Henson Company – creator of the Muppets -- announced recently that it would no longer do business with Chick-Fil-A following recent anti-gay marriage comments made by the popular chicken company’s president, Dan Cathy.
“The Jim Henson Company has celebrated and embraced diversity and inclusiveness for over fifty years and we have notified Chick-Fil-A that we do not wish to partner with them on any future endeavors,” the organization, whose namesake grew up in University Park and attended University of Maryland, wrote on its Facebook page.
“Lisa Henson, our CEO is personally a strong supporter of gay marriage and has directed us to donate the payment we received from Chick-Fil-A to GLAAD,” the post concludes.
Their announcement came after Cathy made some very public remarks – both in print and on the radio – affirming his stance on the subject.
"We are very much supportive of the family -- the biblical definition of the family unit,” Cathy said in an interview with the Baptist Press last week. “We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that.”
In addition, The Washington Post reported that in a recent interview on the Ken Coleman radio show, Cathy said that “we are inviting God’s judgment on our nation when we shake our fist at him and say, ‘We know better than you as to what constitutes a marriage.”
Those comments, among others, have prompted a wave of backlash from various organizations and people – including the mayor of Boston, Thomas Menino, who told the Boston Herald he would keep Chick-Fil-A out of the city.
“If they need licenses in the city, it will be very difficult — unless they open up their policies,” Menino said.
Chick-Fil-A has 45 locations throughout Maryland, including stores in Westminster, Columbia, Laurel and Largo.
Now, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee has announced his support for the restaurant franchise. On Sunday, he created an event on Facebook encouraging people to show their support and appreciation for Chick-Fil-A.
"The goal is simple: Let's affirm a business that operates on Christian principles and whose executives are willing to take a stand for the Godly values we espouse by simply showing up and eating at Chick-Fil-A on Wednesday, August 1," he wrote on the event page, which currently has over 95,000 attending.
Will you show up next Wednesday to support Huckabee's campaign? Do you think Dan Cathy should have to rethink his policies? Tell us in our poll and in the comments.
Stuart Strick
6:47 am on Wednesday, July 25, 2012
It seems to happen so often that those who claim to support and promote diversity will not tolerate or accept diversity of opinion.
Susan
6:54 am on Wednesday, July 25, 2012
I am starting to believe that Chik-Fil-A is part of the Westboro Church!
rick j
7:50 am on Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Amazing someone believes in family and God something this country needs and he is getting hammered for it.Maybe if he had 100 kids that he didn't support or was corrupt they he would be loved.Never have been in a Chick-Fil-A but will give it a try.Stand your ground for what you believe.
Ed Michael
7:59 am on Wednesday, July 25, 2012
What customer has Chick-Fil-A mistreated? What customer accuses Chick-Fil-A of being partial? Chick-Fil-A is being mistreated when they have mistreated no-one. And all because their founders believe in traditional marriage, the foundational block of culture since the beginning of time. A sad day....
Sandy
8:11 am on Wednesday, July 25, 2012
So what happened to people in the United States being able to stand up for their beliefs? You are going to criticize Chick-Fil-A for standing up for their rights? Something that our fore fathers and military are fighting for right now. Everyone wants freedom of speech until someone says something that they dont want to hear. Bunch of hypocrites! I admire Chick-Fil-A for standing up for their rights and beliefs. We need to believe in the Bible alot more and maybe this world wouldn't be as screwed up as it is right now. Good job all you nay sayers!!!
Matthew
8:11 am on Wednesday, July 25, 2012
The tolerance police are at it again. "You'd better tolerate what we tell you to or we will label you a hate-filled, intolerant, etc., etc., etc.,"
They have a right to believe what they want. Don't like it, don't eat their food. I'll take my Chicken Biscuit over the Muppets any day of the week.
Stand tall Chik-Fil-A, there are millions of Americans who are with you and who respect your right to freedom of speech and religion, even as a business.
Sharon Shoemaker
8:57 am on Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Oh here we go again. The bible thumpers of the world are such persecuted people. When a company donates millions of dollars to known hate groups, they deserve what they get. They are not donating it to their local church, they are donating to groups that would love to stop the LGBT community from getting all rights that straight people already enjoy. When you are out to deny me my rights, damn straight I'm going to fight you tooth and nail. When they stick their noses in the political world they can't come back and cry about how unfair it is. You can have their cholesterol laden unhealthy food and their side of 'so-called' Christian morals. Equality means equality for all - no matter the religion, race, gender, or sexual orientation. I always have to ask this of Christians - What Would Jesus Do? Because apparently he had nothing to say about the subject. Don't Christians by definition follow the teachings of Christ? Seems to be a lack of the Golden Rule on all sides of this issue.
Steve
9:14 am on Wednesday, July 25, 2012
LOL Remember when the Bible thumpers tried to promote a boycott of the Muppets? They tried to say that Ernie and Bert promoted homosexuality.
RM
9:05 am on Wednesday, July 25, 2012
An interesting note that Chick-Fil-A voluntarily pulled the toys from their meals PRIOR to the public announcement by The Jim Henson Company: http://consumerist.com/2012/07/chick-fil-a-claims-henson-toy-recall-unrelated-to-same-sex-marriage-controversy.html
Honestly to me, the entire situation is similar to the BP oil spill. Boycotting them ultimately hurts the franchise owners and employees who don't necessarily agree with the CEO's stance.
Diane Mohr
9:09 am on Wednesday, July 25, 2012
I agree totally with Sandy. Come on America stand up for your rights. We let them take prayer out of school by doing nothing. Will you sit back and let them decide where we can eat. I'm proud to stand with any man or company that stands up for true family values and Christian beliefs.
Sandy
9:19 am on Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Okay Sharon, not ONCE in our postings did we call you names for having your own beliefs. Nobody is saying that you cannot believe what you want, we are just saying NOT to condemn other people for their beliefs by boycotting Chick-Fil-A. Apparently Jesus did have something to say and it is in the Bible that you put down. Lets leave the name calling to the children.
Kathi
12:03 pm on Wednesday, July 25, 2012
What is the difference in boycotting gay marriage or an abortion clinic or for that matter a fallen soldier's funeral or boycotting Chick-fil-A? Chick-fil-A boycotters are not buying their product whereas the Christian organizations boycott by fire bombing clinics, demeaning the death of someone or how about the death threats gay people have to endure for who they love? Let's face it if Jesus lived in this day and age and was 34, not married , turned down women ( Mary Magdelen) sensitive to the needs of others and I could go on, there are those that would assume he was gay! Remember he created man in his own image. I am not trying to be disrespectful but no one truley knows what would Jesus do. I'm not sure your God but my God loves Everbody. How about we take the government out of religion and religion out of the government.
kevin
10:18 pm on Sunday, July 29, 2012
Really,come on Kathi anyone who connects the Westboro churchand Any group Hucka bee is involved with needs to be drug tested. fact No one exposed Westboro and has brought more supporters of fallen soldier,or for that fact anyone that this bunch of lunatics has threatened to boycott.I didn't see you out in front of the church during the funerals for the accident in Ohio when the group tried did I? I know I was there to make sure none of the family saw those goofballs.Go ahead spread hate but don't just out right lie .Funny no religious groups who don't believe Sunday isn't the sabbath have Never had a problem with this company. Your intolerance is starting to turn people against the gay marriage groups.Face it people are getting fed up with BULLIES!!!!
Sandy
9:28 am on Wednesday, July 25, 2012
I for one, will DEFINITELY be at the Eastpoint Chick-Fil-A to show my support for them on August 1st. I admire Chick-Fil-A for taking a stand for what they believe.
John T.
9:51 am on Wednesday, July 25, 2012
I will be certain to dine at Chick-Fil-A more than ever! I also will try to bypass Boston when I travel and as far as Henson, I never liked the muppetts even when I was a kid.
Mary Ann E
1:02 pm on Wednesday, July 25, 2012
I definately plan on eating at Chick-Fil-A on 8/1 and so is my entire family. And on the way there I will deposit in the dumpster every Henson product I have purchased for kids and grandkids - and will explain to them in detail why. I totally support and admire the owners of this company -- think I'll even buy a few shares of their stock and encourage everyone else who has had enough of this PC crap to do the same. This is just a little show of support for those who have more spine than I do. It's time to develope a little backbone and stand up for our rights as Americans -- rights that have been vandalized for too long. You're either part of the solution or you're part of the problem.
Sharon Shoemaker
1:05 pm on Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Civil rights are not "PC Crap". If it was you that was denied the right to marry, you'd have a totally different view. I hope you never have a gay kid or grandkid. Then you will know how much this "PC crap" affects real people.
John T.
1:21 pm on Wednesday, July 25, 2012
It's absolutely "PC". If you're against gay marriage and speak it in public then you get attacked by the same groups that want to be accepted. I respect the CEO of Chick-Fil-A for speaking is mind. How refreshing. In fact, I'm gonna go buy a #2 Chicken Sandwich meal right now. And I will get it Super-Sized if they offer it!
Sharon Shoemaker
1:25 pm on Wednesday, July 25, 2012
And if you are not Christian, and don't support their anti-gay views, you get attacked in the same way. I guess it's all a matter of perpective. Enjoy your heart attack.
Matthew
4:53 pm on Wednesday, July 25, 2012
"Enjoy your heart attack."
A liberal well-wisher. Stay classy Sharon.
Kathy Midgett
5:01 pm on Wednesday, July 25, 2012
I wholeheartedly respect the executives at Chick-fil-A for standing up for their beliefs which are rooted in the Bible. They also give back to the communities in which they are located and serve all constituents/customers in a caring, dignified manner.
Timmy
9:01 am on Thursday, July 26, 2012
Its a sad day in America when someone cant have a different opinion about a topic. If Chick-fil-A starts refusing service then there is an issue. But this country was founded on differing opinions. The fact that some city goverments are boycotting this company is just awful. Hopefully baltimore has more sense than this, but i am not holding my breath...
Miss Migraine
10:01 am on Friday, July 27, 2012
Sharon Shoemaker
I DO have a gay grandson.......I love him but DO not approve of his lifestyle. I do not now nor will I ever support SSM....and would not attend his "wedding" I do think these couples should have the same rights as a man and a woman.....just don't call it marriage......
Sharon Shoemaker
10:11 am on Friday, July 27, 2012
He has a life, not a "lifestyle". He loves and hurts just as much as you do, with all his heart. I am sad for him that his grandmother can't see fit to love him as completely as her straight grandkids. Don't say you do because love is unconditional. Sorry for you that you can't see past your fears to love him with all your heart. Your loss in not sharing in his happiness if and when he finds the right man to love forever. I am so lucky that I have a wonderful woman who I will marry next year. I also know that when I do my family will be there to witness my love. It is a "marriage" because my our love is no less than that of a straight couple. Peace to you.
Miss Migraine
10:13 am on Friday, July 27, 2012
And just for the record.......I frequently eat at Chick-fil-A and will continue to do so, and I never really liked the muppets much anyhow.......I'm glad to see some one or some company FINALLY standing up for THEIR beliefs....I don't understand why everyone thinks we are all supposed to be "equal" not everyone is tall, or short, or smart or dumb, or pretty, or ugly.......or........gay or straight......stop trying to make this a "civil rights" issue.....I was in elementary school when prayer was banned.....I didn't like it then and I don't like it now....I am proud of my family values. You live your life the way you want and I'll live mine the way I want.......just stop trying to "force" your values and lifestyle on me and the rest of the world........I really don't care or want to know what goes on in your bedroom. And one last thought........what about my "civil rights" ????