“Love Your Neighbor” Day

Yesterday, I posted a thought/challenge regarding “Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day” where I challenged folks to put their money to the test and give to those in need. Chick-fil-A has reported that they saw a record-breaking sales day for the event. It seems others have the same thoughts about it as I have. Challenged by the same tweet that I had quoted in my post…others have been inspired to seek action with love.

In my Facebook notifications today, I received an invitation to attend “Nationwide Love Your Neighbor Day at Chick-fil-A.” I was curious. The event, which is being organized by Stephanie Stewart, Sally Frederic, Stacey Pillault, Anna Harkins, and Sarah Beth Reddick, is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, August 8th. The description for the event is as follows:

Let’s make this Wednesday, August 8th, “Love Your Neighbor Day at Chick-Fil-A”. We need thousands of people to show up at their Chick-Fil-A and drop off a bag of non-perishable food with a note attached stating “THIS is what love looks like. Please donate this to your local food pantry.” Donate anything you can, even one or two cans from your cabinet if that is all you have. Do not go inside, try to encourage folks to volunteer to pick food up or maintain a presence there during the day. If this can get big enough, food pantry representatives can be on hand to collect the food. Let’s show these people that we LGBT people and allies know what love looks like. Food served without hate.

I will be honest, this is incredible. This is a peaceful demonstration of love that will have a great impact for the greater good. As I read reports of Chick-fil-A’s being vandalized, harassed, and bomb threats, I think this will be a great show of how love can prevail.

I would love to see not only the LGBT community on this, but straight people, red people, yellow people, polka dotted people, ALL PEOPLE get on this. Let’s make a difference…and maybe we can see eye-to-eye on how we care about people. Through a common action, maybe we can learn to celebrate our differences.

Click here to visit the event page.

I would love to hear some thoughts on this.

A Thought for Pondering

Today, a friend of mine on Facebook shared a tweet from @StuffCCLikes saying, “You’d never see that many Christians lined up to help at a food bank or homeless shelter. And that’s something Jesus actually said to do.” This got me really thinking.

In the new testament, Jesus tells his followers to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and (the one that gets overlooked the most) love your neighbor. I drove by my local Chick-fil-A last night. I was amazed at the amount of support they were receiving. Being this is the middle of the bible belt, I wasn’t surprised…just wowed. Several emotions hit at the same time. I was angry at the fact so many people are blindly supporting an organization solely on what they think they know. I was hurt that we, as gays, will never see that much support. Ultimately, I felt like I was all alone. The overwhelming wave of christian support is causing the gay rights issue to flounder in the tides.

Back to the tweet. I’m sure Chick-fil-A saw record sales. I’m sure the wallets of the bigots in charge got fatter. I’m sure that millions of christians felt like they were doing good by standing by their beliefs. For the latter, I applaud. I would say that a vast majority of them are ignorant (meaning lack of knowledge) of what they are supporting…other than a “christian company.” There are those who went just to “stick it to the gays.” Such as twitter user @mJd_32, who had this wise nugget: “No fags are allowed in Chick Fil A anymore!! Woho finally a place that I can eat without having to worry …” (Of course, today, she tweeted to her friends “Live your life how you want.” Contridiction much?)

With the success of “Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day,” I present the following challenges to the company, and its followers:

• Having worked at Chick-fil-A, I know they have a way to see what the percent change was for the day. I think Chick-fil-A’s should take that profit and proudly give it to a ministry or organization that helps the homeless, hungry, or in need. Chick-fil-A says their “intent is to leave the policy debate over same-sex marriage to the government and political arena.” If that’s the case, then give the profits to an organization that is neutral to both sides of the issue.
• All the christians should be just as eager to really serve their god and line up at homeless shelters. Organize food drives to stock the pantries of food banks that are in need.
• Never use your bible as a weapon of hate. Yes, you can disagree with someone. I would challenge the other side with…don’t use their bible as a weapon of hate either. Find common ground.

 

My Life Has Come Full Circle

My life has come full circle. Honestly, I hope that’s not entirely true. In 2008, I had lost my job around the same time as Chick-fil-A showed me the foor this year. I couldn’t find a job then. This year, I felt very confident that I’d rebound quick and by this point, I’d be working again. It’s not that easy. I’m just scared…and confused…and mad…and sad.

Deep down, I think I know that it’ll be okay, that my time will come. Last time, I got so down on my luck that I turned to anything that would make me feel better. I did what I could. I went through a time where I turn to religion. Not a healthy religion, but a strict, legalistic religion. I convinced myself that I could be straight. I was at my lowest. Psychologically, it was the worst thing I could ever do. It took several years to build up my confidence.

Until now. I feel so low again. I need encouragement.

“Woka Woka!” Jim Henson Company Tells Chick-fil-A Good-Bye

This is an article I wrote for “Bear Claw Blog,” and wanted to share with you lovely people.

The Jim Henson Company, the company responsible for The Muppets, Sesame Street, and Fraggle Rock, on Friday told Chick-fil-A that it would be severing ties to the restaurant. The chicken chain is already under fire for their stance on same-sex marriage. The Jim Henson Company had been working with Chick-fil-A on creating products for kids’ meals. When Chick-fil-A president Dan Cathy stated he and his company is “guilty as charged,” the Henson Co. nixed it’s partnership with the billion-dollar chain.

On Friday, July 20, the following statement was posted on its Facebook:

“The Jim Henson Company has celebrated and embraced diversity and
inclusiveness for over 50 years and we have notified Chick-fil-A that we
do not wish to partner with them on any future endeavors. 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 Jim Henson Company is the latest in a string of public officials denouncing Chick-fil-A. Actor Ed Helms (of The Office, The Hangover, and The Hangover Part II) has expressed his distaste for the organization. 5-time Tony Award-winning actress Audra McDonald (Carousel, Ragtime, and Porgy and Bess), recently tweeted, “Not that I ate much Chick-fil-A before but I sho nuff don’t have an appetite for it now.”

Probably most significantly was the support of current Boston mayor, Thomas Menino. In an interview in The Boston Herald, Menino vowed to block the chain from opening up shop in his city, promising to make it extremely difficult for the company to procure the
required licenses. He says, “Chick-fil-A doesn’t belong in Boston…You can’t have a business in the city of Boston that discriminates against a population. We’re an open city, we’re a city that’s at the forefront of inclusion.”

Former Arkansas governor, Mike Huckabee, has expressed his support of the chicken restaurants, and has declared August 1st, “Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day.” On his Facebook page, he states, “Too often, those on the left make corporate statements to show support for same sex marriage, abortion, or profanity, but if Christians affirm traditional values, we’re considered homophobic, fundamentalists, hate-mongers, and intolerant.”

We as a group should ask the other companies that partner with Chick-fil-A to pull products as well. This would include: Oreo, Hershey’s, Coca-Cola, Buddy Fruits, Sargento, Royal Cup, Tetley, Dr. Pepper, Welch’s, Heinz, Dart Styrofoam (Cups), Del Monte, Sunkist, Dixie Crystals, Splenda, French’s, Texas Pete, Tabasco, Kraft, Mello Smello, and many others.