Posted on 08/10/2012 3:33:35 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) -- In a sign that the debate over Chick-fil-A is not going away, traditional groups in the four states voting on gay marriage this fall apparently are set to make the pushback against the restaurant an issue, arguing that the intimidation and name-calling aimed at Chick-fil-A were only a preview of what will happen to traditionalists if marriage is redefined.
In recent days pro-traditional marriage groups in Maine and Washington state have sent emails to supporters referencing the Chick-fil-A controversy, with one of them warning "there will be profound consequences" if gay marriage is legalized. The National Organization for Marriage, a national group working in all four states to defend the traditional definition of marriage, also has referenced Chick-fil-A in multiple emails, saying in the latest one, "Let's bring the Chick-Fil-A crowds to the polls in November!"
Maine, Washington and Maryland are voting in November on whether to legalize gay marriage, while voters in Minnesota will decide whether to amend the state constitution to define marriage as between a man and a woman. A victory for gay marriage supporters in any of them would be landmark, as the issue has lost in all 32 states where it's been on the ballot.
The emails reference pushback against Chick-fil-A by the mayors of Boston, Chicago, Washington D.C. and San Francisco.
"Maine voters should pay close attention to what is happening with the Chick-fil-A situation south of us along the I-95 corridor because this is what will happen here," Bob Emrich of Protect Marriage Maine -- which is trying to defeat a gay marriage ballot initiative -- wrote in an email to like-minded supporters. "Once the definition of marriage is changed, the government will come after anyone who refuses to go along. The implications of the threats from these powerful mayors is clear: If you do not go along, you will be punished."
The controversy over Chick-fil-A began when company president Dan Cathy told the Biblical Recorder newspaper that Chick-fil-A is "very much supportive of the family -- the biblical definition of the family unit." A radio interview then surfaced in which he had said, "I think 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.'" Chick-fil-A's donations to groups that support biblical marriage also became an issue.
The mayors of Boston and Chicago initially threatened to block new Chick-fil-a restaurants in their cities, with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel saying, "Chick-fil-A's values are not Chicago values." In a tweet, Washington D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray called the restaurant's food "hate chicken" and said its "support of bigotry is an embarrassment." San Francisco Mayor Edwin M. Lee tweeted, "Closest #ChickFilA to San Francisco is 40 miles away & I strongly recommend that they not try to come any closer." Philadelphia Councilman James Kenney told NPR that Cathy's comments amounted to "hate speech."
Traditional groups now are asking: What is the future for business owners with strong religious beliefs who oppose gay marriage?
Brian Brown, president of the National Organization for Marriage, told Baptist Press he believes the intimidation of Chick-fil-A will be an issue in the four states. It "potentially," he said, could have a "massive effect on the elections."
"It opened peoples' eyes to the consequences of redefining marriage," Brown said. "Because if just saying that you support marriage as the union of a man and a woman means that government can try to punish you -- and we don't even have same-sex marriage now -- what more would it mean if you had same-sex marriage throughout the country? A lot of people said, 'Enough is enough.'"
When hundreds of thousands of people took part in "Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day," Brown said, traditionally minded voters were heartened.
"I got hundreds of emails," Brown said, "and the constant refrain was people feeling a part of the community, people feeling like they weren't alone, people feeling like, 'I've always believed marriage is the union and a woman but I've been a little worried about sticking my head out, and now I'm here and we're singing God Bless America in the middle of Chick-fil-A and there's hundreds of us.'"
Joseph Backholm, chairman of Preserve Marriage Washington -- which is trying to overturn a gay marriage law in the state -- wrote in an email to voters, "The aftermath of the Chick-fil-A CEO's support for traditional marriage gives us a clear indication of what could happen here in Washington if we do not preserve marriage."
"It is a great example," Backholm told Baptist Press, "of the kind of intolerance that the campaign to redefine marriage is really built upon. Once the public realizes that redefining marriage is not really about treating their gay friends and neighbors fairly -- which we already do here in Washington State by every measure -- I believe the examples of their efforts to interfere with people's ability to engage in commerce because of their beliefs about marriage will help us."
Similarly, Brown wrote in an email to voters, "The homosexual lobby's attack on Chick-fil-A isn't just a bullying of one of America's best businesses. It's a full-frontal assault on all of us who believe in the unchangeable definition of marriage as one man and one woman."
For its part, Chick-fil-A released a statement in July saying it treats every customer with "honor, dignity and respect" and that, "going forward," it is going to stay out of the gay marriage debate.
...if the Left wants to make THAT an issue then they are as stupid as they are evil.
I agree with your estimation.
And I am glad that the Chick-Fil-A incident happened, and that it escalated as it did in the pre-election season.
For years I had been wondering what could happen to cause a significant backlash against the arrogant and invasive rainbow agenda.
One need not hate gays, nor feel they should have no rights or protections (such as civil unions and protections against prejudice in employment, etc.) to want to see a formidable pushback against an aggressive and bullying lobby seeking to undermine the social order. They have over-reached, and I believe the CFA event was providential.
They started it. We’ll finish it.
Exactly. I think Chickfila did finally illustrate for many where the SSM debate is going. There is no giving in just a little and then leaving it at that. Once gay marriage is endorsed they will push even harder for religious discrimination. They indeed already have every where they have managed to get it ssm approved. They have proven they won’t be happy till the gay propaganda is the only acceptable position to hold. They already have intimidated and virtually taken over research science on the issue however it was good to see some push back over the Regnerus Study. We faced the same thing with Global Warming. There was a time when it appeared we had lost the battle as with abortion, unions, etc. Who would’ve thought it possible that we would be able to push back a full on assault by unions? We did and we can do the same with LGBT activists.
The gays over-reached on this one.
with one of them warning “there will be profound consequences” if gay marriage is legalized.
///
THAT is the understatement of the year!
remember assurances that Catholic adoption agencies would not be forced, after new gays laws were passed?
...yet already, many have been forced to close their doors.
=
the same thing is happening with not just civil weddings, but CHURCH weddings in Europe. think this can’t happen here ?
... we have laws against “discrimination”.
...eventually, the Bible itself, could be outlawed as “hate speech” against gays.
=
Vicars could be sued for refusing to bless gay weddings
...
Vicars could be sued for refusing to bless gay weddings, fears Church.
by STEVE DOUGHTY
... The new regulations follow a European Union equality directive and the main ...
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-417582
- - -
Law on same-sex marriages mean churches ‘will be forced to conduct gay weddings’
By Steve Doughty, Social Affairs Correspondent
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/
March 11, 2012
A law to allow same-sex marriages will force Christians to conduct gay weddings in church, it was claimed yesterday.
- - -
Gay Danish couples win right to marry in church - Telegraph
Gay Danish couples win right to marry in church Homosexual couples in Denmark have won the right to get married in any church they choose,
- - -
Sweden church allows gay weddings
The Lutheran Church of Sweden - the country’s largest - is to conduct same-sex marriages from next month.
- - -
The left frequently overestimates their support.
This is a byproduct of having their views echoed in the MSM without opposing voices.
The CFA appreciation day event galvanized many folks. SSM is not just wrong in the biblical sense, but, also wrong in common sense. Anyone who believes two people of the same gender can be described as a family unit is confused and lacks the ability to reason. In nature, when male animal tries to copulate with another male that animal is attacked and maimed if not killed. The homosexual agenda is pushed my the media in many forms as normal, sorry it is not normal, copulate and populate requires a male & female.
Don’t forget, none of the “gay” issues is a goal in and of itself. The goal is to criminalize Christianity.
They even tipped their hand on that recently, as well.
Protestant, Catholic and Jewish chaplains already have to conduct homosexual marriages and do counseling in the military, but not Islamic chaplains! Surprise, surprise!!
Catholic Chaplains will perform NO same sex anythings. Should they do so they will no longer be Catholic Priests. This, btw, is not debatable, it is Catholic dogma.
This country is our home, whether they respect it or not. I’ve had it with these foul beasts pissing all over it. ENOUGH!
The day that same-sex marriage reaches critical mass (about 10-15 states) polygamy and man-boy/woman-girl sex will then be on the agenda. Watch and see.
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