Marci Alt, a mom in Georgia, has invited Chick-fil-A President and COO Dan Cathy to have dinner and a dialogue with her, her wife, and their two children. The invitation comes in the form of a Change.org petition, which Marci created this week. The family also asked to speak about the fast food chain’s multi-million dollar donations to anti-LGBT organizations and the growing majority of Christians who support gay and lesbian people.
“I hope Mr. Cathy will join my family for dinner, where we can share a respectful dialogue about our faith, work and families here in Georgia,” reads the petition. “It’s important that Mr. Cathy meet the people his company is donating millions to stand against. I'll even make chicken.”
Chick-Fil-A has donated more than $5 million since 2003 to anti-gay groups, including those that have been designated 'hate groups' by the Southern Poverty Law Center, and those that push so-called "ex-gay therapy" which seeks to turn gay people straight.
The brand has suffered heavy losses in its approval rating. Polling organization YouGov finds that Chick-fil-A’s approval rating has plummeted more than 25 points since this story began.
photos courtesy Kira-Marie Photography
Today the couple joined their friends and community members to protest Chick-fil-A in Decatur, Georgia and to participate in a national day of protest, in opposition to Chick-fil-A’s history of donating to some of the most virulent anti-gay organizations in the country. You can sign Marci’s petition here.
“Without question, Dan Cathy has every right to voice his opinions and beliefs,” said GLAAD President Herndon Graddick. “But he should meet and get to know the people that he’s speaking out against – the people who are harmed by his company’s multi-million dollar donations to anti-gay hate groups working to hurt everyday LGBT Americans and break apart loving families.”
"I hope that visibility of the kiss-in helps LGBT youth who feel isolated and are victims of bullying," said Carly McGehee, who started 'Same Sex Kiss Day' and is observing the day of protest in Dallas. "I want LGBT youth who are growing up in places like Texas, where I was raised, to know that it's okay to be who you are, because it seems that Mr. Cathy disagrees with that."
Kira-Marie Photography
For more info, to find a protest near you or to tell us about one you’re organizing, please visit glaad.org/chick-fil-a
Chick-fil-A reported record sales this week, raking in millions of extra dollars to fund anti-LGBT hate groups like The Family Research Council. Consider donating just $6.50 - the average cost of one Chick-fil-A combo meal - to help GLAAD continue to expose the company’s anti-gay ties.