Chick-fil-A Controversy
By Hannah Hendricks
By Hannah Hendricks
Chick-fil-A, which is owned by a strong Baptist family out of Atlanta, has always centered their business around their beliefs. Along with being closed on Sundays, Chick-fil-A was rumored to have donated large sums of money to Anti-gay organizations and groups that provided help for gay people who needed to be “fixed." This rumor was proven true when the gay and lesbian rights investigative group, Equality Matters, uncovered tax forms from company owner Dan Cathy along with the WinShape Organization proving that over 2 million dollars had been donated to several of theses anti-gay groups. This finding led to many upset Chick-fil-A customers and small protests, but this wasn’t the end of the controversy. On July 16th 2012, Dan Cathy, came out publicly to a Christian news organization saying that he did not support gay marriage, but instead believed in “the biblical definition of a family unit." Later on during a radio interview Cathy stated, “As it relates to society in general, 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.’"
This stance outraged many gays and lesbians, which led to large protests. On August 3, a same-sex kiss-in was held at vast amounts of Chick-fil-A's across the entire U.S. Due to the heavy amount of criticism created by those against what Mr. Cathy had said, many on the other side of the controversy stood up for what they believed. For instance, former mayor of Arkansas, Mike Hukabee, declared August 1 as Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day. On this day, supporters of the company were encouraged to come in and enjoy food as a way to fight back against all the gay right protesters. On this appreciation day, Chick-fil-A announced that it was their highest profit-making day in the history of the business. This shows that the gay rights issue is balanced on both sides, which makes the issue harder to resolve. Overall, the controversy hasn’t really affected Chick-fil-A sales. Yes, the company has lost many customers, but those who support Mr. Cathy have started to eat at Chick-fil-A even more frequently.
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This stance outraged many gays and lesbians, which led to large protests. On August 3, a same-sex kiss-in was held at vast amounts of Chick-fil-A's across the entire U.S. Due to the heavy amount of criticism created by those against what Mr. Cathy had said, many on the other side of the controversy stood up for what they believed. For instance, former mayor of Arkansas, Mike Hukabee, declared August 1 as Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day. On this day, supporters of the company were encouraged to come in and enjoy food as a way to fight back against all the gay right protesters. On this appreciation day, Chick-fil-A announced that it was their highest profit-making day in the history of the business. This shows that the gay rights issue is balanced on both sides, which makes the issue harder to resolve. Overall, the controversy hasn’t really affected Chick-fil-A sales. Yes, the company has lost many customers, but those who support Mr. Cathy have started to eat at Chick-fil-A even more frequently.
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Team Member Name: Hannah Hendricks
Publication: Journal Register Newspaper
Date: July 27, 2012
Cartoonists: Tom Stiglich, US
Title: none
Cartoonists: Tom Stiglich, US
Title: none
Cartoon #: 12
Tone of Cartoon:
1) Negative framing of sexual minorities.
2) Framing is not supportive to equal rights for sexual minorities.
What action is taking place in the cartoon? What is the context?2) Framing is not supportive to equal rights for sexual minorities.
After chief executive of Chick-fil-A, Dan Cathy, came out and said that he was against gay marriage rights a huge controversy arose. Gay people along with others protested against Mr. Cathy arguing that everyone is equal and no group should be discriminated against. On the other side of the issue however is the right to free speech. Cathy did in fact have the right to voice his opinion about gay rights, but it was not taken well by much of society. Protests across the country occurred in August 2012 due to Cathy’s words and heated debates followed. In this cartoon, which is simplistic yet powerful, it states that everyone has the right to free speech. By having the Chick-fil-A cow mascots holding up their classic signs with this message, it makes the cartoon obviously in favor of Cathy who was heavily criticized for his opinion. Gay people are negatively symbolized in this because it questions their motives for protesting after Cathy voiced his opinion, which he had the right to do. Everyone has the right to voice their opinion and no one should try to take that away from them. That is the fundamental message this political cartoon is trying to convey to its viewers.
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http://www.conservativedailynews.com/2012/08/chick-fil-a-day/
Team Member Name: Hannah Hendricks
Publication: Conservative Daily News
Date: August 1, 2012
Cartoonist: A.F. Branco, US
Title: None
Cartoonist: A.F. Branco, US
Title: None
Cartoon #: 13
Tone of Cartoon:
Tone of Cartoon:
1) Negative framing of sexual minorities.
2) Framing is not supportive of equal rights for sexual minorities.
What action is taking place in the cartoon? What is the context?
In this depiction dealing with the Chick-fil-A scandal, those on the left wing side are being targeted as hypocrites. The character whom is blatantly liberal with his Obama shirt and semi-radical appearance is protesting against Mr. Cathy for voicing his opinion on gay marriage rights. It is satirical because when Obama first ran for president and declared that he didn’t support gay marriage rights many liberals still supported and voted for him. But when the Chick-fil-A controversy broke out, many of those same liberals became outraged and very critical of the companies position on the issue. This cartoon raises the question on whether some of the liberals were protesting for the reasons they really believed in, or just doing it because the democratic party was now leaning in favor of gay marriage due to Obama’s opinion change. This cartoon also looks at how Chick-fil-A got enormous attention and free advertising that actually helped their sales increase during the controversy. The cartoon calls into question the validity of certain peoples outrage over anti-gay marriage remarks. In doing so, it frames same sex marriage as having insubstantial support.
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Publication: Chicago Tribune Date: 07/26/2012
Cartoonist: Scott Stantis, U.S.
Tone of the cartoon:
1) Negative Framing
2) Opposed to equal rights
What “reality” is constructed/framed about sexual minorities and their rights?
For more on this story visit the Sun Times for their coverage.
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Team Member Name: Monica Martin
Publication: Metro West News
Date: 2012
Cartoonist: Dave Granlund, U.S.
Cartoon #: 15
Tone of the cartoon:
1) Positive Framing
2) Supportive of equal rights
What action is taking place in the cartoon? What is the context?
A Chick-fil-A drive thru is featured here with a sign saying "Drive Thru for Gays and Lesbians." That drive thru then leads off of a cliff. The artist of this cartoon without much effort has said a thousand words, a few of those words being, Chick-fil-A is anti-gay.
What “reality” is constructed/framed about sexual minorities and their rights?
This cartoon frames the idea that because Mr. Cathy believes that marriage should be between a man and a woman, then Chick-fil-A must want all of the gays and lesbians to jump off of a cliff. Though this thought is far fetched, many of Mr. Cathy's employees felt as though their jobs would be threatened because the company they worked for didn't support their personal decisions as adults. Mr. Cathy did not say that he hated gays, or wanted them to die, but his lack of support spoke louder to the public than his feelings about marriage. This cartoon exaggerates the lengths to which the opposition to gay marriage will go. By framing those that oppose marriage equality as radical, it makes same sex marriage a plausible and grounded option.
2) Framing is not supportive of equal rights for sexual minorities.
What action is taking place in the cartoon? What is the context?
In this depiction dealing with the Chick-fil-A scandal, those on the left wing side are being targeted as hypocrites. The character whom is blatantly liberal with his Obama shirt and semi-radical appearance is protesting against Mr. Cathy for voicing his opinion on gay marriage rights. It is satirical because when Obama first ran for president and declared that he didn’t support gay marriage rights many liberals still supported and voted for him. But when the Chick-fil-A controversy broke out, many of those same liberals became outraged and very critical of the companies position on the issue. This cartoon raises the question on whether some of the liberals were protesting for the reasons they really believed in, or just doing it because the democratic party was now leaning in favor of gay marriage due to Obama’s opinion change. This cartoon also looks at how Chick-fil-A got enormous attention and free advertising that actually helped their sales increase during the controversy. The cartoon calls into question the validity of certain peoples outrage over anti-gay marriage remarks. In doing so, it frames same sex marriage as having insubstantial support.
__________________________________________
Team Member Name: Monica Martin
Publication: Chicago Tribune Date: 07/26/2012
Cartoonist: Scott Stantis, U.S.
Title of cartoon: Chicago Values
Cartoon #: 14
1) Negative Framing
2) Opposed to equal rights
What action is taking place in the cartoon? What is the context?
Within this picture is the Mayor of Chicago, Rahm Emanuel, as he tells Chick-fil-A that they must leave while shaking the hand of who is a believed anti-Semitic, Louis Farrakhan. Shortly after Mr. Cathy gave his stance on gay marriage, Mayor Emanuel (who is Jewish) said that Chick-fil-A did not support "Chicago values". His statement was questioned later though as he welcomed Minister Louis Farrakhan to help fight violence on the streets of Chicago. Louis Farrakhan has been quoted saying things like "The Jewish people have said that Hollywood Hollywood
Though this cartoon does not come out and say that same sex marriage is right or wrong it's tone is a negative one overall. This cartoon shows that leaders will often say that they support LGBT rights but in the same breath turn and do something that shows that they may just be saving face to get votes. This form of hypocrisy makes it difficult for politicians to agree or disagree with gay marriage without being scrutinized. It frames Mayor Emaneul specifically, making him look like he doesn't truly care about the LGBT community he simply cares about his political career. It frames the gay community as a political tool, to be picked up when needed, and discarded when it is not.
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Team Member Name: Monica Martin
Publication: Metro West News
Date: 2012
Cartoonist: Dave Granlund, U.S.
Cartoon #: 15
Tone of the cartoon:
1) Positive Framing
2) Supportive of equal rights
What action is taking place in the cartoon? What is the context?
A Chick-fil-A drive thru is featured here with a sign saying "Drive Thru for Gays and Lesbians." That drive thru then leads off of a cliff. The artist of this cartoon without much effort has said a thousand words, a few of those words being, Chick-fil-A is anti-gay.
What “reality” is constructed/framed about sexual minorities and their rights?
This cartoon frames the idea that because Mr. Cathy believes that marriage should be between a man and a woman, then Chick-fil-A must want all of the gays and lesbians to jump off of a cliff. Though this thought is far fetched, many of Mr. Cathy's employees felt as though their jobs would be threatened because the company they worked for didn't support their personal decisions as adults. Mr. Cathy did not say that he hated gays, or wanted them to die, but his lack of support spoke louder to the public than his feelings about marriage. This cartoon exaggerates the lengths to which the opposition to gay marriage will go. By framing those that oppose marriage equality as radical, it makes same sex marriage a plausible and grounded option.
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