80% disagree with Equality Illinois petition to discriminate against Chick-fil-A

Director of public policy for Equality Illinois, Randy Hannig calls on businesses and organizations to discriminate against and ostracize Chick-fil-A because its president defends gender-integrated marriage.  It appears that Hannig considers supporting pro-gender marriage homophobic.

From Hannig’s commentary in USA Today: 

Company President Dan Cathy clarified Chick-fil-A's views of gay and lesbian Americans, shedding light on its multimillion dollar donations to groups that actively seek to influence government leaders and the public to take away rights from gay and lesbian individuals. He exercised his freedom of speech, and we're glad he did. But his supporters do not want us and millions of fair-minded Americans to exercise ours.

What exactly has Cathy done to obstruct people with same-sex attraction from exercising their right to free speech?  Hannig fails to cite an example.

We have absolutely no problem with Chick-fil-A achieving the American dream by building a successful business. The company invests its earnings to advance its values. As we learned, Chick-fil-A believes that loving, committed gay and lesbian couples, including those raising children, should not be entitled to the dignity, respect and protections that come with marriage. The company is using its dollars to shape public and political discourse by funding organizations that promote homophobia in the U.S. and abroad.

Cathy did not speak out against homosexuality.  In fact, his company has a policy of treating all people with respect, regardless of their sexual orientation.  Not only do they serve people with same-sex attraction, they provide jobs for them as well.  Cathy simply defended gender-integrated marriage which he called the "biblical definition."  That is not homophobia; that is pro-gender.

In a petition, Equality Illinois is urging socially responsible business and institutional leaders across the country to challenge Chick-fil-A's discriminatory practices and end all relationships that enable the Chick-fil-A brand to operate on their premises.

We urge mall owners who rent space to Chick-fil-A to look deeply at the hateful organizations the company supports. We ask university officials to reconsider accommodating a business that ostracizes a large segment of their student body.

Large segment?  Exactly how many students are in a gender-segregated marriage?  Or raised by same-gender parents?  Show us the numbers.

Hannig is throwing around words such as “homophobia” and “hateful.”  He wants gender-segregated couples to have the right to redefine marriage and he calls those special rights “Equality.”  How is segregation equal?  Why does he believe gender-integrated marriage is hateful and homophobic?  Why does he think social justice lies in ostracizing a company that employs people with same-sex attraction?

Fortunately Americans see through Hannig’s stereotyping and prejudiced attitude against Chick-fil-A.  Out of 5,723 people who rated his commentary, 80% strongly disagree.

The voting results so far:  9% strongly agree with Hannig, 3% agree, 1% don't know, 7% disagree, and a whopping 80% strongly disagree.

Click to read Hannig’s letter in entirety and cast your vote.