I have to admit that I am not totally in tune to the Chick-Fil-A controversy as much as my fellow blogging colleagues and the rest of my lgbtq brothers and sisters.
But what I do see of it does bother me a bit.
It's not the boycott per se more than how folks who claim to support Chick-Fil-A in accordance to their "Christian values" are deliberately distorting the reasons why the lgbtq community are angry at Chick-Fil-A.
Folks like Mike Huckabee and organizations like the National Organization for Marriage and the American Family Association are attempting to force a false narrative that the gay community is angry at Chick-Fil-A simply because its owner, Dan Cathy, made an ugly comment about not supporting marriage equality.
They are attempting to make it seem that Chick-Fil-A is a victim of "alleged gay intolerance" because its president supports the "traditionally Biblical definition of marriage."
And they are not being truthful.
In 2010, Chick-Fil-A donated nearly $2 million to groups who make it their mission to attack the gay community through lies and distortions. These groups push several false notions from homosexuality is connected to pedophilia to the idea that gays can change their orientation - an idea frowned on by the legitimate scientific community.
According to Equality Matters, the Family Research Council is one of these groups:
The Family Research Council has been labeled a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) for its propagation of known falsehoods about the LGBT community. For example, president Tony Perkins has a long history of false and inflammatory attacks, such as claiming that pedophilia is a "homosexual problem." [Washington Times, 11/24/10; SPLC, accessed 6/27/12]
In addition, the following are just a few things which Chick-Fil-A's money paid for:
August 15, 2011 - GLSEN (the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network) issues a cease-and-desist letter against the Family Research Council demanding that the organization remove video falsely accusing GLSEN of distributing an explicit safe-sex guide to children. FRC subsequently changed the video, tacitly admitting that it was pushing a falsehood against GLSEN.
February 28, 2011 - In order to defend the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), FRC distorts research in order to compare gay men to pedophiles
July 6, 2010 - FRC spokesman Peter Sprigg pushes a pamphlet, The Top Ten Myths About Homosexuality,which not only repeats discredited anti-lgbt accuracies but exposes a bit of trickery on Sprigg's part. He cites only part of pro-lgbt information which talks about diseases and negative behaviors but omits the information which talks about how homophobia plays a part in these diseases and negative behaviors.
April 16, 2010 - FRC head Tony Perkins makes a false accusation that homosexuality and pedophilia are connected by using a Netherlands study which doesn't even prove his point.
January 7, 2010 - The Family Research Council exploits the presidential appointment of transgender Amanda Simpson to call ENDA (Employment Non-Discrimination Act) a "Crossdresser Protection Bill."
November 23, 2009 - The Family Research Council was caught distorting Congresswoman Diana DeGette's words to make her seem like she was espousing religious bigotry.
November 18, 2009 - The Family Research Council spliced footage of then EEOC nominee Chai Feldblum to make the case against Obama choosing her.
October 27, 2009 - In an attack on lgbt seniors, the Family Research Council echoes the phony belief of Paul Cameron that lgbts don't live long enough to become elderly.
May 20, 2009 - The Family Research Council pushes a fraudulent study, Comparing the Lifestyles of Homosexual Couples to Married Couples. It's a bad study specifically because it uses outdated work and compares married United States couples to unmarried gay couples in casual relationships from other parts of the world.
Huckabee and the rest who are deliberately distorting the entire story behind the gay community and Chick-Fil-A need to be aware that not telling the entire story when you KNOW the entire story is the same thing as lying and lying is NOT Christian.
Neither "christian" nor "godly" if I hear other sources correctly, right down to the explanation of no Muppet toys: a blatant lie. How can one propagate hate using the same book that defines lying as violation of one of their sacred "10 Commandments" and in which an eloquently worded open letter exposed "Biblical Marriage" for the slave/chattle/stoning/polygamous cultural background upon which it was founded. I agree with the protester who said on Huckabee's Day, August 1, go ask for a large water, nothing else and see just how biblical the corporation is then.(Proverbs 25:21). Shaking our fists at god, indeed. Thanks for your insightful thoughts.
ReplyDeleteThe "real" haters are the gay and lesbian community. Yes believers in Christ Follow Christ and that mean being obedient to Him! I hate no one. I have friends and family who have chose same sex partners. Its a choice! PERIOD! I'm sad for the lost who chooses to stay "lost" ... Romans 1:26-32
ReplyDeleteNew International Version (NIV)
I feel sorry for you, anonymous. You claim to have gay and lesbian friends, yet by your words, you prove not to be a friend to them. Real friends don't make assumptions. And real friends take the time to learn about the lives of their "friends" before passing judgement.
ReplyDeleteAlso, please remember what the Bible says about talking about the mote in your neighbor's eye while ignoring the beam in your own.
One more thing. Real followers of Christ don't support those who bear false witness or speak on behalf of them.
They have to lie. If they don't, there's no way for them to play the victim. And what else are they good at?
ReplyDelete@Anonymous: Sticking your fingers in your ears and screaming that you're right so as to purposely deny all evidence to the contrary doesn't convince anyone. It just makes us pity you for the child you are.
Black Tsunami made an incredibly valid point.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous. Just the fact that you can not even post your name nor a screen name that may be connected with you, speaks volumes of your character. I don't pity you. I pity the people in your life who believe that they hold your friendship. Being gay is not a choice. Who would chose to have ignorant, illiterate people such as your self constantly attacking them, in the name of God. A God that is spiteful yet merciful.
Here is a something to mull over. Acts 10:43, “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.” No where does it say.. unless you are gay.
The Bible, however you view it or bastardize it, still comes down to one truth. God made man in his likeness. God gave us free will. He gave you the free will to be a hateful, close minded person. He gave me the free will to love whomever I wish, and to forgive you for your sins against humanity. So we are clear, "Anonymous", I am straight. I love a man. I will marry this man. I also have two mothers. Mothers that should you fall ill, would be there at your bedside holding your hand, when no one else will. They are full of love. In the hour of your need, they will not ask you if you are a bigot. They will simply hold your hand.
I hope you are enjoying your "free will". Given how hell is described in the Bible, I don't think you are going to enjoy it very much.
And just an FYI "Anonymous" you should try spell check. It also checks for improper grammar. At least my "Lesbian" mother's both highly educated and can use proper english.
I'm straight, but not narrow minded. (God) Does not hate. Why do his followers tend to forget that? Re-read the Bible, Jesus himelf said nothing against homosexuality, that came from Paul along with other hell-fire and brimstone words that went against the messages that Jesus taught. One of the most important commandments that seems to be forgotten by Chick-Fila during this entire travesty of a PR campaign by them "Thou shalt not lie"
ReplyDeleteDear Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteCards on the table: I do not consider myself to be a "Christian" (at least not in the accepted sense of believing Him to be the literal Son of God), I am an archaeologist by profession (with a Master's degree specialising in the archaeology of the Holy Land) and blind faith does not come easily to me. Nevertheless, I have the greatest respect for the teachings of the first century Jewish mystic Yeshua Bar Yusuf, more commonly known by His Greek name "Jesus of Nazareth." I believe that obedience to His teachings is a good and righteous path for anyone to follow, whether 'Christian' or not. So lets look at what He had to say about homosexuality:
" "
That's right, absolutely nothing.
What he did say was "Love your neighbour as yourself" (Matt 22:39), "Do not judge, or you too will be judged" (Matt 7:1), and "If any one of you is without Sin, let him be the first to throw a stone." (John 8:7). All of these verses are conveniently forgotten by self proclaimed "Christians" who are too eager to condemn what they, not He perceive, to be sinful behaviour on the part of their neighbours.
The specific biblical injunctions (mis)quoted against homosexuality are found either in Leviticus, a code of purity laws laid down for the Jewish people in circa 800 BCE which is not, and has never been binding on gentiles, or in the First Epistle to the Corinthians usually attributed to Paul of Tarsus.
Leaving aside the fact that Paul of Tarsus most assuredly was not the Christ, though he may have claimed to speak on his behalf (see Matthew 23 for Jesus' view on that), Homosexuality is placed in the context of other sexual "perversions" including adultery, fornication, and prostitution (I Corinthians 6:9). At the time this letter was written, same-sex marriage had only recently been prohibited by Roman Law the implication is clearly that any sex outside of marriage is sinful - indeed, virtually the whole of chapter 7 deals with the issue of marriage. Since same-sex marriage was forbidden by Civil Law, homosexuality could not be sanctified by marriage; with that in mind it follows logically that *IF* same-sex marriage were legalised, it would not be "sinful" to enter into such a loving committed relationship.
Since you claim to be obedient to Christ's teachings, I suggest you start with those directly attributed to him and try not to judge others, rather than blindly reciting rules which were laid down by Moses or Paul of Tarsus that have nothing to do with His teachings.
"They are attempting to make it seem that Chick-Fil-A is a victim of "alleged gay intolerance" because its president supports the "traditionally Biblical definition of marriage."" ????
ReplyDeleteWanna know what starbucks and oreo (etc...) say to that?!
(The original) Anonymous: So, have you sold all your possessions and given the money to the poor? Have you given all your spare clothes (how many outfits do you really need?) to those who lack? Done any prison visits lately? Hospital visits?
ReplyDeleteOr are the only "teachings of Christ" that matter to you have to do with sex?