Family Group: Gay Blog Gives Misleading Information About Chick-fil-A Co-Sponsorship
Correction appended
The Pennsylvania Family Institute president says gay marriage attacks against Chick-fil-A published in a gay blog are trumped up.
Michael Geer, president of the Pennsylvania Family Institute, says the post provoking anger towards Pennsylvania Chick-fil-A chicken restaurants for "endorsing" its efforts are misleading.
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"All in all it's a trumped up story," Geer told The Christian Post.
The controversy stems from a recent post on "Good As You," a blog catering to the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning community. The site criticizes Chick-fil-A's involvement in efforts to take down the state's gay marriage plans by pointing to a flyer advertising a February event called The Art of Marriage: Getting to the Heart of God's Design. The flyer says the event is sponsored by PFI and Chick-fil-A.
"Bottom line: If you're binding your cash with this fast food restaurant's fowl, you're in some way giving resources to those who hope to foul Keystone State gays' marriage plans. Plan your fried carnivorousness accordingly," the blog post reads.
The GLBT blog also advertises an online petition, started by Change.org editor Michael Jones, against the restaurant company.
Setting the record straight, Geer said Chick-fil-A is not sponsoring the event. "There are a couple restaurants that are giving us food," he clarified. The food, mostly chicken sandwiches, is for a day-and-half-long workshop for couples who want to strengthen their marriages.
According to Geer, the local Chick-fil-A branches involved were simply trying to "be good neighbors" to the marriage retreat being held at two local churches. "We didn't even get any money," maintained Geer. The food was freely donated to the churches hosting the marriage retreat.
Geer also denounced mentions in the blog and later homosexual magazine On Top for wrongly suggesting that Chick-fil-A's corporate office, located in Georgia, is involved in the event. Despite restaurant creator Truett Cathy's profession of faith, Geer says it was a local decision to give the food.
Food donation is a common practice for many food venues and grocery stores, meant to create ties with its home communities as well as support positive causes established by non-profits.
PFI is a non-profit, non-partisan research and education organization that espouses a traditional view of family in public policies and cultural trends. Geer recognizes that branch managers may not support all of its actions. But, he says, marriage is worthy of support.
"People should applaud institutions that want to strengthen marriage," he stated. Geer expressed "disappointment" at online publications that would try to taint the meaningful event.
PFI's six-part marriage series on "The Art of Marriage" is scheduled for February 11-12.
Correction: Thursday, January 6, 2011:
An article on Thursday, January 6, 2011, on a GLBT blog's criticism of Chick-fil-A's involvement with an upcoming traditional marriage event incorrectly reported that the blog, Good As You, started an online petition against the chicken restaurant. Change.org editor Michael Jones, not Good As You, launched the petition that is advertised on the GLBT blog.
