Challenge Chick-fil-A's practices
Company President Dan Cathy clarified Chick-fil-A's views of gay and lesbian Americans, shedding light on its multimillion dollar donations to groups that actively seek to influence government leaders and the public to take away rights from gay and lesbian individuals. He exercised his freedom of speech, and we're glad he did. But his supporters do not want us and millions of fair-minded Americans to exercise ours.
We have absolutely no problem with Chick-fil-A achieving the American dream by building a successful business. The company invests its earnings to advance its values. As we learned, Chick-fil-A believes that loving, committed gay and lesbian couples, including those raising children, should not be entitled to the dignity, respect and protections that come with marriage. The company is using its dollars to shape public and political discourse by funding organizations that promote homophobia in the U.S. and abroad.
Chick-fil-A doesn't operate in a vacuum. Its money comes from customers who eat at Chick-fil-A outlets in malls, on college campuses and in corporate centers. We in the equality movement simply wish to inform those who do business with Chick-fil-A that actions have consequences.
In a petition, Equality Illinois is urging socially responsible business and institutional leaders across the country to challenge Chick-fil-A's discriminatory practices and end all relationships that enable the Chick-fil-A brand to operate on their premises.
We urge mall owners who rent space to Chick-fil-A to look deeply at the hateful organizations the company supports. We ask university officials to reconsider accommodating a business that ostracizes a large segment of their student body. We want corporate leaders who allow Chick-fil-A to do business in their offices to consider a new restaurant option during contract renegotiations.
We'd like all Americans to think twice before they bite into their next Chick-fil-A sandwich.
-Randy Hannig is director of public policy for Equality Illinois, the state's oldest and largest group advocating for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/story/2012-08-05/Chick-fil-A-gay-rights/56811512/1
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