Okay, anyone who knows me is aware of my long-standing crush on Ed Helms. I think he's just adorable. I'm a sucker for a funny guy who's willing to sing in public, and the fact that he's from Georgia is just icing on the cake. (Also a bit of a shock when I learned that, since I tend to assume that all funny people are Canadian.)
Now, about Chik-Fil-A... I couldn't eat at Chik-Fil-A for years because they cooked with peanut oil and peanuts make me not breathe. Being Chik-Fil-A-less was awful. Just looking at waffle fries made me cry. Then a few years ago Chik-Fil-A switched to a super-refined peanut oil that doesn't have the protein that causes us allergy sufferers to not breathe, and suddenly waffle fries and spicy chicken biscuits were back in my life again. Yay!
And - no exaggeration here - not a month after my first Chik-Fil-A experience since childhood, I found out that their CEO is a raging homophobe. Oh, come ON. So, I haven't been to a Chik-Fil-A since. Their owners are free to donate to anti-gay causes if they want, but I certainly don't have to help them out with my biscuit money.
This week, Chik-Fil-A's CEO Dan Cathy gave an interview in which he more explicitly outlined his family's ultra-conservative views: "We are very much supportive of the family—the biblical definition of the family unit... We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that," he's quoted as saying. Well, good for you.
It was after that interview that Helms tweeted news of his apparent boycott of Chik-Fil-A, writing that they'd "lost a loyal fan." Now, it's not as if Cathy and family are going to change their views, or even their habit of donating to groups that actively work against gay rights just because the star of "The Office" isn't going to eat at Chik-Fil-A anymore. But it does matter when those us - not just celebrities - who benefit from privilege stick up for those who don't. It lets this group of people whose basic humanity is up for public debate know that they're not alone. And, more importantly, it signals to the people doing the debating just how far out of the mainstream they are.
As much as I take issue with Dan Cathy's view of "the biblical definition of family" - my divorced/remarried parents who are leaders in their church still make Jesus shake his head in shame, apparently* - they have every right to practice their interpretation of their faith in their home. And corporate America could only use more businesses that operate on principles like "don't cheat/lie/steal things."
But donating to groups that tried to "convert" gays to heterosexuality (Exodus International), or that are designated hate groups (Family Research Council), or that don't even have a web presence where someone could learn about their activities (the Marriage and Family Legacy Fund) is crossing the line. That's taking your private views and pushing them on the public. Again, they have every right to do that. But, unlike with one's private views, I then have every right to judge your public actions medieval and hateful and a total perversion of this religion that I love. The guy who said this is shaking his head in shame at one of us, Dan Cathy, and it isn't me.
So, no Chik-Fil-A for me. Y'all can still go there if you want; that's your business. But Ed and I are going to catch lunch somewhere else. (In spirit, at least.)
*I'm sorry, I'm still not finished with this... so, what, Dan Cathy, your family are better Christians because you're "still married to our first wives"? I must have missed the chapter in the Bible where Jesus goes over what it takes to be an extra-special Gold Star Christian. So, do you guys get to sit at the front of the bus to Heaven, and all the divorced/widowed/remarried/never married people get stuck in the back where the ride's all bumpy? Because I have to tell you, if Heaven's going to be just like middle school, I'd rather go to Hell with the gays.
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