Posted on 08/01/2012 11:05:59 PM PDT by mkleesma
NASHUA, N.H. - People lined up Wednesday at New Hampshire's only Chick-fil-A restaurant to show their support for the chain's president, who has taken a public stand against same-sex marriage, but the views of the operator of the restaurant might have surprised them. Opponents of same-sex marriage organized the nationwide show of support for Chick-fil-A president Dan Cathy, who said he supports "the biblical definition of the family unit" and reportedly has given millions of dollars to anti-gay groups. That triggered a backlash from gay rights groups and others, some of whom called for a boycott. Opponents of same-sex marriage then called for a "Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day." Lines stretched through Nashua's Pheasant Lane Mall as people took part in the campaign in New Hampshire. But Anthony Piccola, the independent franchise operator of the location, said he gives to a variety of community causes and has decided this year to support the New Hampshire Pride Fest, a gay pride event. Festival organizers said they approached the Nashua Chick-fil-A. "We were ready for confrontation," said Ryan Manseau, director of the New Hampshire Pride Fest. "We were ready for him to call security, try to sue us for solicitation, anything. Instead he's, like, 'This is the end of the culture war. We want to be with you. This is what's right, and this is what we want to do.'" A Pheasant Lane Mall employee said he went to mall management after seeing hundreds of people lining up at New Hampshire's only Chick-Fil-A. He called the scene offensive.
"There was easily 300 to 400 people in line, easily," said employee Jack Guyette.
So many people turned to show support for Chick-Fil-A's corporate president and his public anti-same-sex marriage stance that lines spanned a large section of the mall, and the restaurant ran out of food by 7 p.m.
"I wanted to come out, and I wanted to show support for a business that, you know -- that's what the country's about," said supporter Bob Francione. "It's about prospering. It's about your pursuit of liberty."
Guyette said he complained to mall management and was told the crowd was ordering food so there was nothing management could do about it. "And I said, 'OK, so tomorrow if 200 or 400 gay people showed up to stand in line and go to the counter and say we don't agree with this -- what your company is saying' -- what would that be?" Guyette said. "And he said, 'You would not be able to do that because it's protesting.'" Mall officials would not confirm that conversation. Mall officials said depending on how many people show up, a peaceful protest would be allowed if it did not disrupt business. Piccola is paying a $50 sponsorship and donating food for the event. In a written statement, he said "the Chick-fil-A culture and service tradition in our restaurants is to treat every person with honor, dignity and respect -- regardless of their belief, race, creed, sexual orientation or gender." "We're really hoping that it shows the nation that there is no home for homophobia in America anymore," Manseau said. "People go to Chick-fil-A to eat their hate, and now they're all going to see that that's not the case." Supporters of same-sex marriage are organizing a counter-protest, a same-sex kiss day on Friday at Chick-fil-A locations across the country.
Read more: http://www.wmur.com/news/nh-news/NH-Chick-fil-A-operator-supports-gay-Pride-event/-/9857858/15930224/-/a36c9u/-/index.html#ixzz22MjmjSLZ
Sorry - that should be ‘folks’, not ‘fols’.
It’s late.
The Obamas use the term "folks" just way too much. I guess they are just trying to sound "folksy" to all of us unwashed masses. I refuse to use that term anymore.
Chick-fil-A restaurant to show their support for the chain’s president, who has taken a public stand against same-sex marriage
Could you at least try for a little accuracy?
No Mr Cathy DID NOT take a public stand against same sex marriage nor anything that I am aware of.
What he DID DO was state that his personal belief on marriage is in agreement with the Bible. As a Christian could he do any less?
That article was VERY confusing - probably because it was spinning around so fast.
The gay supporter goes to the CFA to protest and get in an argument.
The CFA owner turns out to be a sponsor for a local gay pride fest, and is donating food to the event. The CFA owner wrote: “the Chick-fil-A culture and service tradition in our restaurants is to treat every person with honor, dignity and respect — regardless of their belief, race, creed, sexual orientation or gender.”
So then the gay rights guy - who was looking for an argument, says “We’re really hoping that it shows the nation that there is no home for homophobia in America anymore,” Manseau said. “People go to Chick-fil-A to eat their hate, and now they’re all going to see that that’s not the case.”
“eat their hate”!!!??? I imagine 98% of the folks that added CFA to their “to-do list” today would agree with the CFA guy’s statement.
I wonder if the gay rights guy will still be supporting the same-sex kiss day protests?
He also was incapable of understanding the difference between patronizing a business and disrupting a business.
I almost expected him to say: “So it’s ok if I stand in line to buy a sandwich, but not ok if I stand in line to throw a water balloon at the cashier??”
The MSM is so screwed up that I really can’t understand why anyone reads any of their papers these days!
what a wonderful diversion.
For the record. Someone with a protest sign can not be expelled from the “Public Green”
He will be spending the rest of his bitter life PROJECTING.
I'll be hitting the drive-through at CFA on Friday to give the chain financial support while gaystapo activists try to turn stomachs and congest the interiors of the restaurants without actually buying anything.
One event you won't see these goofs celebrate is “Meatless Mondays.”
It’s not a “public green” it’s a private mall.
Knowing NH I wouldn't be surprised if some of those lined up for a sandwich are gay themselves, but reject the heavy handed threats of politicians against Chick-Fil-A based on the personal religious and political views of one of its owners.
They are smart enough to realize that allowing the government to bully any business based on the religious or political views of its owners is wrong.
The gays will not be happy until everyone is gay. I had a stronger word that begins with “q” and ends in “r” at the end of the sentence but not sure whether it was within bounds on FR.
I had the knee jerk response that this ought be awful. But then -I thought IF the “enemy” buys the chicken/meals or IF
the franchise owner donated meals to the “enemy” to obey the
command in the Sermon on the Mount-when Jesus of Nazareth declared “You have heard it said “You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy But I say to you Love your enemies, bless those who curse you,do good to those that hate you,and pray for those who spitefully use and persecute you(Matthew 5:43-44) I cannot pretend to know WHY the franchise owner did what
he has done. If the “enemy” goes to chick-fil-A and says we will not buy your product because we disagree with what Mr.Cathy said. And we are going to prevent others from
buying your product. It would be wrong/If the franchise
owner went out and said I do not agree with Mr.Cathy and
I am giving these meals to protest his comments. That would
also be wrong. But it would most likely hurt this single owner because the numbers suggest many,many Americans do agree with Mr.Cathy.
I've used it and not been ZOTTED. It's what they call themselves.
An alternative: HOMOSEXUAL, because there’s nothing GAY about it!
Case Law.
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