I agree 101% with Mr. Cathy's stand on biblical marriage. If those who don't agree and wish to eat elsewhere, fine, that is their perogative. There is always a Mc'Donalds down the road.

Mr. Cathy has as much of a constitutional right as anyone else in this country (or at least he is SUPPOSED to) to voice his personal opinion on what he believes. Those who are screaming that he discriminates and is an intolerant bigot need to look at how THEY are acting toward him. They are so blind that they can't see how intolerant they themselves are. The hatred lashed at this man is unbelievable. They say because HE doesn't believe what THEY believe means he HATES a certain people. No, it does not. I believe the same as Mr. Cathy, but I do not hate ANYONE. This has been blown completely out of proportion. If you don't like what Mr. Cathy believes then simply don't give him your business. I will not shop at Home Depot because of what they stand for. I do not spew hatred and vulgarity at their CEO's. I do not threaten them. I simply do not shop at their store. By the way.... my son is gay. We love each other even though we do not share the same beliefs.

So what! The man believes in traditional marriage. Leave him alone.

Sandra, do you know what biblical marriage is?
Marrying your sister (Genesis 20:12), or maid (Genesis 16:3)

If a woman can't prove she is a virgin when she gets married she can be stoned. (Deuteronomy 22 13-21)

If a man rapes a woman he will marry her. (Deuteronomy 22 28-29)

What do you do when you can't find a woman in your area? You go to another tribe, kill all the men and women who aren't virgins and marry the virgins. (Judges 21: 7-23)

I could go on, but you get the point.

My Cathy has a right of free spech just like everyother American. I helped fight for this right yet some people want to stop him from speching just because they don't believe in his point of view.
Bob

Mr. Cathy has a right of free spech just like everyother American. I helped fight for this right yet some people want to stop him from speching just because they don't believe in his point of view.
Bob

Bob, Free speech works both ways. You have your right to an opinion, I have a right to mine. We both have the right to express it and have a respectful debate on any issue. And you can be guaranteed when someone uses the Bible to back up their hate they had better expect to be countered with truth.

I agree with you 100% that why in my note to Prince William Chamber CEO. I included.
along with the above "Just think, if we stopped every one from speaking just because someone disagreed with their views we could change USA to China or North Korea and all stay at home.

Please don’t miss the point here people. Mr. Cathy has the right to his beliefs, but those beliefs have the potential to become policy that supports inequality. We live in a pluralistic and a multicultural society, so equal treatment and a level playing field is so important. My family (and I have also encouraged my friends) to stop patronizing Chik-fil-A until it’s clear whether or not there are discriminatory practices at that company. its not really clear how far-reaching his opinion really is in that company. Cathy can believe what he wants, but it’s the company policy and action towards employees that is important. There are plenty of other publicly traded fast food enterprises out there to eat at.

They have a right to say whatever they want, I have a problem with my tax money going to pay for their visit. I don't want my tax money to pay for racists, religious fundamentalists (regardless of race color or religion), the KKK, Nazi's etc. There is a great difference between people who protest how others live their lives and people who protest being told how they must live their lives. One is invasive and the other is self defense.

I think it is a good thing when businesses in our community take a stand. After all, they are part of our community. We spend time, money there. Our kids work in the restaurants, etc. I think more business owners and CEOs would take a stand, but they are probably too afraid of a backlash. At least Mr. Cathy is showing he CARES and being CONSISTENT in the company's beliefs and practices, which has always been very traditional (i.e. being closed on Sunday, teaming up with local Christian bookstores in the neighborhood, etc.) Besides if a company is CAREFUL and CONSISTENT in their operations/mission then their food will most likely be that way.

I believe as Kathy wrote at 6:48am this morning. In addition to that he is not speaking to the Chamber Members on his beliefs, but on “Your Leadership Toolkit...
Why should the "political machine" influence who should speak at a Chamber Event???

Honestly who cares what his political beliefs are. The only jobs he brings in are minimum wage. IE the least that a person can legally pay. If the chamber is funded with tax money then every tax payer has a right to say "I don't want my money going there". I have no idea what you mean by "political machine".

This is representative of the "New America" where everybody seems offended by everything. As children we are taught to stand up for our beliefs, though they may not be popular. In reality, many don't REALLY subscribe to that lesson.

I agree with Mr. Cathy; marriage, until recentlay, has always been between a man and a woman in our country. I don't hate, nor dislike gay people. It's unfortunate that when someone tells the truth about something that many "intolerant" people pounce on them. And you wonder why politician's never tell us the truth!

Kudos to this man for not crumbling and succumbing to the intolerant masses.

Mr. Cohen, I just read your comment. Chik-fil-A doesn't discriminate against anyone. They serve anybody and everybody that has the funds to buy their product.
Mr. Cathy also chooses to close their stores on Sunday. Does that offend people too? When I was growing up most businesses were closed on Sunday. Now we make people work on Christmas day.

There are many big cities that spend thousands of dollars to host Gay Pride Parades. Would these same cities spend to host a Heterosexual Day? I doubt it. Does this mean that they discriminate against people that are heterosexual? Oddly, you don't hear straight people like myself wanting to boycott travel to those cities. Is it just me or does this seem like a double standard to you?

I don't care about Mr. Cathy's personal beliefs or whether he speaks as a succesful business man at our local chamber of commerce. I will not, however, spend any money at a company who is directed by it's COO to donate over $2,000,000 to organizations that work to reduce the rights of gay americans. I think that is the reason many are outraged. They found out that their money spent on chicken sandwiches had been used to promote an agenda they don't agree with. I don't think the the majority of the backlash is directed at the man himself, just the direction he has led the company and it's profits.

I like to educate myself, Mr. Darby. What are those organizations? Are they really actively engaged in reducing the rights of gay Americans? I'm serious, I'd like to know.

From what I understand, Mr. Cathy doesn't discriminate in his hiring practices. Mr. Cathy has a right to donate money to whatever cause he feels is important and people who are offended have the right to eat elsewhere. I would be interested in knowing which organizations (to which Mr. Cathy donated $2,000,000 plus) exist for the sole purpose of reducing the rights of gays. What particular rights? I hope Manassas or Manassas Park is going to keep an open mind. If you don't agree, don't show up to listen to the man speak. If you want to broaden your horizons (regardless of your political bent), then go and listend to what the man has to say.

Someone at the Chamber of Commerce needs to be reminded Chick-fil-A is a registered business paying taxes in Prince William County. Refusing to meet with the owner of a national franchise because he simply exercised his right to the First Amendment is stupid. Chick-fil-A is not banning gay and lesbian customers. The CEO of this company answered a question with his personal opinion. Nothing more. Get a spine Chamber of Commerce. Do your job. Promote business.

http://www.boycottchickfila.com

I was at the one in Manassas on Friday night. Very busy. Went to the one in Woodbridge off the Prince William Parkway on Saturday, very busy there as well. If there is any kind of boycott going on, then there must be others giving Chick Fil-A more business than usual in protest of the protesters. Look, I don't care what Dan Cathy said, the food is great, the restaurants are clean, the employees are professional and courteous, far better than any McDonalds, Wendys, Burger King, Taco Bell, Popeyes, or KFC that I have been to. Go ahead and boycott Chick Fil-A, just means more for me.

Let the Chamber members decide. They are capable, they can be culpable.

I agree with Vasquez2. Chik Fil A performs many good things that are overlooked in this article and comments. I am joining in on the Support Chick Fil-A Day today. BTW, I do have many gay friends and have for many years. Like mine, their life style is theirs. I do agree that they should have unions that provide all the legal benefits appropriated to marriages between men and women.