I happen to like Chick-Fil-A. There. I’ve said it. I’m a gay man and I like Chick-Fil-A. In fact, I prefer it over all other fast food options. The restaurants are always clean–including the bathrooms, the employees are courteous and helpful, and they always honor my request for unsweetened tea with a splash of sweet.
No doubt you’ve seen news stories about Chick-Fil-A donating bazillions of dollars to anti-gay causes. Left-leaning cultural warriors are outraged, demanding that consumers boycott the restaurant. They’re certainly entitled to an opinion.
Those same left-leaning warriors tell me to shop at J.C. Penny instead of Target. The former features gay couples in ads, the latter provides financial support to anti-gay causes. I like Target. I don’t shop there much because it’s on the other side of town. But when I do, I’m generally very to extremely satisfied with my shopping experience.
I believe in boycotts. If a business fails to meet my needs, well, I’m probably not going back. Chick-Fil-A and Target consistently meet my needs in ways that far exceed my experience with any competitors. I’m not thrilled with company positions on gay issues. But that in no way diminishes my satisfaction with the products they sell or my buying experience.
Right-leaning warriors call for boycotts of companies that advertise on television shows they find offensive or that sell products they don’t like. Whether the calls come from the left or the right, I’m not real keen on people telling me what to do. I’m a grown-ass man and I’ll make up my own mind, thank you very much.
I’m sure some will think I’m a bad gay–a traitor to my people. Think what you will. Good tea and clean bathrooms are hard to find.
While I’m coming clean about my spending choices, I confess to occasionally shopping at Walmart. I know it’s the evil empire. But there’s one a bit more than a mile from my house and for the kinds of things I’ll buy there, the price is right. Sue me.
If you must know, Publix is my favorite grocery store. Yes, the prices are higher. But the stores are clean with huge aisles and I never have to wait to check out. I’m worth it.
It’s bad enough that we’ve come to red and blue states. Do we need to have red and blue businesses, too? Where does it stop? I watch American-made television shows and support American-owned businesses–like Chick Fil-A and Target. It’s the American way and how we roll here in…
My Glass House
17 responses to “Me and My Tea”
LOVE this and agree 100%. I am totally addicted to your blog Mike but for some reason this one really hit home for me. (maybe because I also love Chic-Fil-A and Target…) I hate when someone else tries to tell me how to spend my time or money, and based on their experience or values. You tell ’em, friend.
Thanks Cathi! We can’t put all the good businesses out of business because they have different views. And thanks for reading!
Oh please. You are willing to give your money to someone who doesn’t believe in your rights and your equality with other Americans?
It’s a free country. They serve me. How they feel about my rights is otherwise irrelevant. I’ve been out for more than 30 years and seen progress we never dreamed was possible. Thanks for reading and for taking the time to comment.
I see what you are saying. You can put it in perspective whereas I can’t as I am too young. However, despite all the progress, there is still too much to be done. Full equality is nowhere near, and Chick-Fil-A’s bigotry are precisely the kind of barrier on the road to equality. You are free not to boycott, however I hope that most will because it will make a difference. It will show companies that discrimination is not ok.
Keep up the good fight. Like I said, we’ve come farther than gay men my age ever thought possible. Young people are much less homophobic. When the current crop of old farts move on, the battle will be won.
“a bad gay” – hahaha! I’m glad you wrote this. As a proud supporter of gay rights, I felt guilty for giving Chick-fil-A my money. They’ve always rubbed me the wrong way with their uber Christian ways, but dammit, their diet lemonade is the bomb-diggity. I swear they put heroin in it. I’m sure Jesus would not approve.
I forgive you. Some won’t, so watch for a glitter bombing next time you’re loading up. And those styrofoam cups and crushed ice enhance any beverage. And then there’s the peppermint chocolate chip milkshakes…. Yeah. There’s crack up in there somewhere….
I unwillingly give my money to people who don’t believe in my rights or my equality with others, but most of them I will never know because they live in China. At least when you go to Chick-fil-a for a sandwich and a tea you willingly fork over money to the Cathy family and the Georgia farmers who grow and process their chicken. Go Michael! I, like you, like to exercise my right to choose where I shop and it’s nobody else’s business where I buy my tea. BRAVO! I hope the women who are railing against CFA are equally loud about the employers paying them 1/3 less than their male counterparts – gay or straight.
Sing it sister! And thanks for reading…
Go mike! I love chick fil a and love love your blog and YOU! Thank you! Keep on writing!:) xxoo
Thanks Mary Beth!
I agree with you and Cathi Dunn—I hate it when others try to tell me how/where I shoud spend my money, or which type of health practicioner to choose, or that I REALLY should watch television, etc. I’ve never been in a Chick fil a….or most fast food places, maybe once every 10 years for a drink….but I applaud you for not being a sheeple…for making your own decisions. I do wonder about the factory farming of those chik-fil-a chickens….do those chickens ever see daylight? hormones? antibiotics? arsenic? Arsenic in their feed is still legal in the poultry feed in the USA, however inhumane & dangerous that may be….and chickens are safe from me. Love your blog, Michael.
I rarely eat the chicken but love the tea. Thanks for your support and for reading. To change your icon, you need to logon to your gravatar account which you created to be able to follow the blog. Good luck!
Michael–how can I change my little icon above to a photo like your other smiling fans?
Michael, thanks for sharing this. It is difficult to act the way everyone thinks you should. So, using yourself as a guide is much more logical.
Thanks April!