Fox's Campaign To Defend Chick-Fil-A From Its Anti-Gay Record

JUSTIN BERRIER/Media Matters for America

Fox News figures, in defending Chick-fil-A from criticism over its aggressive opposition to marriage equality, are covering up the restaurant's anti-gay record, which includes millions in corporate donations to groups that spread misinformation about LGBT individuals and marriages.

Chick-fil-A has drawn criticism since its president, Dan Cathy, came out strongly against marriage equality,saying, among other things, that "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.' "

In response to that criticism, which he referred to as "vicious hate speech and intolerant bigotry," Fox News host Mike Huckabee declared August 1 to be "Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day" and asked his audience to eat at Chick-fil-A today in order to "affirm a business that operates on Christian principles and whose executives are willing to take a stand for the Godly values we espouse."

Fox News figures were quick to take up the charge. Fox host Eric Bolling supported the effort by asking Twitter followers to send him pictures of themselves eating at Chick-fil-A. On the July 31 edition of The Five, Bolling aired a few of the pictures, which he said showed that support for Chick-fil-A has "nothing to do with the gay rights discussion."

Fox News Radio reporter Todd Starnes tweeted that "a Chick-fil-A sandwich" is the "best defense against anti-Christian, anti-Chicken, leftwing, heterophobic bigots."

On today's edition of Fox & Friends, co-host Gretchen Carlson suggested that opponents of Cathy's anti-marriage equality stance have "taken [it] a step too far" because "an important point to make ... is just because you're in favor of traditional marriage, doesn't mean you discriminate against gay people."

Carlson's treatment of the story distils the dishonest narrative that the right-wing media is employing in their simultaneous support of Cathy and his company and their attacks on supporters of marriage equality. What Fox's Chick-fil-A cheerleading consistently ignores is that the company is not only owned and operated by an opponent of marriage equality, but that it has donated millions of dollars to anti-gay groups.

Through its charitable arm, WinShape, Chick-fil-A donated millions of dollars to organizations such as the Family Research Council, which is listed as an anti-gay "hate group" by the Southern Poverty Law Center. In addition, WinShape has supported Exodus International, an umbrella ministry that supports controversial "ex-gay" legislation, and Alliance Defense Fund, a legal organization that calls protections for LGBT people the "principal threat to your religious freedom." It has also donated  to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, an organization that has allegedly "freed" people from homosexuality and has condemned the "impure lifestyle" of homosexuality.

In addition to funding anti-gay advocacy, WinShape reportedly actively discriminates based on sexual orientation. The website Good For You posted an email discussion showing that WinShape prohibits same-sex couples from participating in programs such as the WinShape Retreat.

Col. Sanders: I love gay people and we’re open on Sundays

By David Ferguson/Raw Story

In this clip from “Funny or Die,” Col. Sanders (as played by John Goodman) has a message for “the gays” who may be put off by the Chick-Fil-A chain’s millions of dollars of support each year to virulently anti-LGBT organizations and statements made by CEO Dan Cathy asserting that he runs his business according to “Biblical principles.”

“I figure I’m a bit more progressive than my pals down at Chick-fil-A,” said the Colonel, as nicely-dressed, angel-faced, fey young men set a table and lit candles behind him. “Let it be known that Col. Sanders loves The Gays! Hell, I might even be gay.”

“I know what you’re thinking as you’re lying there snuggling up to your bear,” he said, “How do I know you’re not just jibberin’ and jabberin’ to try and get more of my gay business?”

You don’t, he said. “But what you really need to know is that I love gay people, always. And we’re open on Sundays.”

“I prefer to see the world the way my hormone-loaded, antibiotically engineered chickens do, without gender. Or beaks. Or buttholes,” he said, mentioning that there will be a “table-dance mandate” at certain locations.

“Hell, I don’t actually give a shit,” Sanders said in a suddenly serious aside to the camera. “You’re all just a bunch of walking money-mouths, walkin’ around, talkin’ and eatin’. But if you have to pick one chicken chain, why not pick us? I know their service is better…but we’ve got those bowls.”

Watch the clip, embedded via Funny or Die, below:

Conservative Media Attack The Muppets For Founding Company's Chick-Fil-A Rebuke

ERIC HANANOKI/media matters for America

Members of the conservative media are attacking The Muppets for its founding company's decision to sever ties with Chick-fil-A, which supports numerous anti-gay causes. The Muppets have been called "heterophobic, anti-diversity, anti-inclusive bigots," and against family and Christian values. Conservatives, including Fox News, recently criticized The Muppets for allegedly promoting liberal propaganda in their 2011 film.

In the wake of criticism, Chick-fil-A President Dan Cathy recently defended the company's support of anti-marriage equality groups. In a statement on Friday, The Jim Henson Company, which partnered with Chick-fil-A on a promotion, announced that it "has celebrated and embraced diversity and inclusiveness for over fifty 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."

Though The Jim Henson Company was founded by the creators of The Muppets, the company sold the rights to The Muppets in 2004 to The Walt Disney Company, which produced their most recent movie.

The company's decision led to condemnation of The Muppets from several conservative commentators. American Family Association radio host Bryan J. Fischer wrote a series of tweets attacking The Muppets for being "heterophobic, anti-diversity, anti-inclusive bigots."

Conservative blogger Jim Hoft wrote: "Muppets Dump Chick-fil-A Over Christian Values & Gay Marriage ... Just last year the Muppets released a movie that promoted a left-wing agenda. The movie even featured bad-guy oilman Tex Richman, the evil capitalist and oilman."

Fox News Radio host Todd Starnes tweeted: "Muppets Oppose Traditional Marriage? http://bit.ly/Ojurd4 Sounds like the Muppets have a hand up their....oh wait...they do."

Breitbart News wrote that the "Muppet brand continues to shed its apolitical cloth, fur and ping pong ball eyes" and criticized the Muppets movie for casting "an eeee-vil oil baron as its villain, and Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy let loose with an anti-Fox News gag during a press conference." The Fox Nation website linked to a portion of a Reuters article noting the decision and headlined it, "The Muppets Get Political."

Conservative columnist and RightWingNews blogger John Hawkins wrote of the decision by referencing Jim Henson, the late Muppets creator: 

If Jim Henson wants to have Kermit marry Fozzie Bear in a ceremony presided over by Beaker in assless chaps, far be it from me to criticize that. Actually, come to think of it, I would criticize the hell out of that. But for now, let me just note that it's sad that Jim Henson doesn't think the Muppets should be associated with Chick-Fil-A because it's taken a pro-Christian, pro-family stand. Christians should keep that in mind before they allow their children to be exposed to the Muppets. 

In a July 23 article, WorldNetDaily wrote that "Henson's company is just one more such company dependent on America's families with children to adopt the politically correct support for homosexual behavior." 

Huckabee battles ‘militant homosexuals’ with ‘Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day’

By David Edwards/Raw Story

Fox News host Mike Huckabee is so outraged that The Muppets and “militant homosexuals” are attacking Christian restaurant chain Chick-fil-A for their stance on LGBT rights that he has calling for “Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day” on August 1.

“I have been incensed at the vitriolic assaults on the Chick Fil-A company because the CEO, Dan Cathy, made comments recently in which he affirmed his view that the Biblical view of marriage should be upheld,” Huckabee wrote on his Facebook page. “At 91, he is still active in the company, but his son Dan runs it day to day as CEO. It’s a great American story that is being smeared by vicious hate speech and intolerant bigotry from the left.”

“I ask you to join me in speaking out on Wednesday, August 1 ‘Chick Fil-A Appreciation Day,’” he added. “The goal is simple: Let’s affirm a business that operates on Christian principles and whose executives are willing to take a stand for the Godly values we espouse by simply showing up and eating at Chick Fil-A on Wednesday, August 1. 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.

In a message to his supporters, Huckabee explained that “militant” homosexuals were “bullying” Chick-fil-A with “intolerance and vicious hate speech.”

“The militant homosexual advocates have launched an all out assault on Dan Cathy and Chick Fil-A, pushing for a boycott because the Cathy family has contributed to traditional marriage organizations,” the former Arkansas governor charged.

“The attempts to hurt or destroy Chick Fil-A is nothing short of economic bullying. In the name of ‘tolerance,’ there is an effort being mounted to put pressure on people to stop eating at Chick Fil-A. … The Christian world view of Dan Cathy is being met with intolerance and vicious hate speech.”

Equality Matters reported earlier this month that the restaurant chain had given over $1.9 million in 2010 alone to groups that oppose marriage equality and other LGBT rights.

During an interview with the Baptist Press, Cathy insisted the company was “guilty as charged.”

“We are very much supportive of the family — the biblical definition of the family unit,” Cathy said. “We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that.”

The Jim Henson Company announced on Friday suggested that it was ending its relationship with Chick-fil-A and would no longer be offering The Muppets toys in kids’ meals because of the Christian restaurant chain’s anti-LGBT agenda.

“The Jim Henson Company has celebrated and embraced diversity and inclusiveness for over fifty years and we have notified Chick-Fil-A that we do not wish to partner with them on any future endeavors,” the company wrote on its Facebook page. “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 [The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation] GLAAD.”

Late last week, Chick-fil-A attempted to distance itself from its owner’s comments.

“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,” astatement on Chick-fil-A’s Facebook page said. “Going forward, our intent is to leave the policy debate over same-sex marriage to the government and political arena.”