Hungry politicians ordered food during their sit-in for gun control, but did it need to come from a chain run by a homophobe?
June 24 2016 3:31 PM EST
November 15 2017 12:30 AM EST
Nbroverman
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Hungry politicians ordered food during their sit-in for gun control, but did it need to come from a chain run by a homophobe?
Progressives applauded when Democratics staged a sit-in on the House floor on Wednesday to demand action on gun control -- a move made in direct response to this month's Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, where LGBT people were targeted and 49 lost their lives. But did Republicans order lunch? TMZ has footage of a coop-size haul of Chick-fil-A being rolled into the House of Representatives. We love those waffle-cut fries too, but did they forget that Chick-fil-A is still persona non grata with thinking LGBT folks?
The Christian-minded company is known for donating millions to anti-equality organizations like Exodus International and, in 2012, company head Dan Cathy appeared on TV and made his position on marriage equality clear: "I think we are inviting God's judgment on our nation when we shake our fist at him and say, 'We know better than you as to what constitutes a marriage, I pray God's mercy on our generation that has such a prideful, arrogant attitude to think that we have the audacity to define what marriage is about."
The chain has lately distanced itself from its donations to antigay groups, though Cathy is still in charge of the company (wonder if LGB employees at the Georgia headquarters feel comfortable putting pictures of their same-sex spouses on their desks?). Franchise owners have also showed their love for queer customers by hosting LGBT fundraisers (well, in a Los Angeles restaurant that's a stone's throw from gay-centric West Hollywood) and even giving away food to blood donors in Orlando.
Still, Chick-fil-A? Chipotle is still a bit sullied by a health scare, but what about the D.C.-based Mediterranean chain Cava? Hell, we would have even preferred they order some foot-longs from Subway.