What is frustrating is the lack of restraint on both sides as a result. The LGBT community is crying "discrimination!" and the Christians are rallying behind the company as a banner for the Christian agenda. Yes, I did just call it an agenda.
All Cathy did was respond to an interview question. He was asked, point blank, what Chick-fil-a's views were on marriage. He responded that they believed in the traditional definition, rather than the modern definition. He did not say that gays were sinners, condemned to hell. He did not say that they did not have the same rights as everyone else. He did not once attack homosexuality. He simply said that the business believed that the word marriage meant one man and one woman. And really, when it comes down to it, all it is is a definition. Believe me when I say that people's definitions of a word differ all the time. I sure hope I'm not considered a bigot, or prejudiced, because my definition of healthy eating differs from that of a vegan. (Or perhaps it would be the vegan who is prejudiced for believing that I'm headed towards an early grave for eating hamburgers on a regular basis?)
When it comes down to it, most social issues are issues because people are standing on different definitions. Should those who fight for animal rights be called extremists? What about those who follow the slogan of "save the planet"? Their beliefs are different than most others (after all, if everyone agreed that animals have the same rights as humans, the slaughter houses would be out of business) but they aren't called bigots, and they aren't called intolerant. Their beliefs are embraced as part of American culture, so why can't the beliefs of the Christians be accepted as well?
However, those fighting for LGBT rights are not the only ones to blame. When Cathy said that Chick-fil-a supports traditional marriage, the Christians responded as if he was the savior of American culture. We have started Chick-fil-a appreciation day. This didn't exist before, and is really being taken as an opportunity to throw Cathy's comment in the face of the LGBT community. In doing so, we have all but agreed with the LGBT community that Chick-fil-a is anti-homosexual. We have taken what was said and responded with "Of course! they are a Christian company. They have biblical values, and that means they believe that homosexuals are wrong and should repent." It has changed from a question of what the definition of marriage is, to "us vs. them."
No wonder the LGBT community is pissed off. Dan Cathy responded with a simple answer to a simple question. We have taken that and used it almost as a hate campaign against those who are homosexual. When we respond without love, how can we expect others to do so?
In reality, Chick-fil-a is not a hateful, homophobic company. They are conservative, and as such hold conservative values. Their opinion differs from that of the LGBT community and its supporters, but a difference of opinion does not make something/someone hateful. In addition to that, Chick-fil-a has not attempted to establish itself as the leader for social reform, and Christians need to stop acting like it has.
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