Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Gay Rights Groups Targeting Chick-Fil-A in Upcoming Protests, Including a National Same-Sex "Kiss In"
Customers camping out in front of Chick-fil-A's Valencia location in 2010 (Photo by R.E.˜ via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr)
()
Chick-fil-A locations in SoCal and around the country will be the site of a planned day of protest next week in response to a recent controversial admission by the company's president that the business does not condone same-sex marriage and donates to anti-gay groups.
Additionally, a local protest organized by a gay youth group is slated for the Thursday morning opening of a new Chick-fil-A in Laguna Hills.
The national protest is themed as a "Same Sex Kiss Day" in which participants are asked to go to their local Chick-fil-A on Friday, August 3, and, well, do some kissing. The group, which is mobilizing largely on Facebook, describes their event as follows:
In honor of their support for love, equality, and the real definition of family, we're holding a NATIONAL Same Sex Kiss Day at Chick Fil A's around the country. So grab a friend (or 20) and head out to your nearest Chick Fil A!
Support for LAist comes from
A new outpost of the Georgia-based chain is opening Thursday in Laguna Hills, and the new eatery will be "welcomed" to the community by a local gay and lesbian youth group who will have about 20 members at the location protesting.
The youth group decided Chick-fil-A's latest Orange County restaurant opening would be "the perfect time and place to bring attention to the discriminatory policies and beliefs of Chick-fil-A," executive director Kevin O'Grady said. [...] "The purpose of the protest is to use this opportunity to help educate consumers about where the charitable arm of this corporation sends its money," youth program director Laura Kanter said. "We want to alert consumers that if they're spending their money at Chick-fil-A, some of that money can be spent against LGBT people and their families."
The fast food chain's stance on same-sex marriage and their ongoing donations to anti-gay groups has been widely discussed in recent years, however as the chain has expanded, and following the president's remarks on record in the affirmative, the backlash has escalated. Late last week, The Jim Henson Company, whose characters are licensed for toys that have been given out with Chick-fil-A kids meals, announced they were severing their ties with the restaurant, and their CEO, Lisa Henson, directed the company to donate their payment from Chick-fil-A to the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD).
The restaurant also garnered controversy in SoCal recently when a cashier noted two Asian customers as "Ching" and "Chong" on their receipts. That cashier was subsequently fired, though the chain maintains they do not espouse racist beliefs.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons Thursday after suddenly shutting down six months ago. -
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
-
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars.
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity.
-
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
Best of LAist