Hungry families, tourists and locals visited Cal Poly’s Chick-fil-A on Wednesday to eat the restaurant’s signature chicken sandwiches and express their support of Chick-fil-A president and chief operating officer (COO) Dan Cathy’s public stance against gay marriage.
“Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day” was announced last week by former Arkansas gov. Mike Huckabee after Cathy’s opinion on gay marriage was made public in a July 16 interview for the Baptist Press. While LGBT organizations called for a boycott of the chain, others, such as local small business owner Bruce Curtis, headed to a Chick-fil-A to show their support.
“We’re supporting Chick-fil-A because we’re supporting Chick-fil-A’s COO,” Curtis said.
Cathy simply made his personal beliefs public, and Curtis has been shocked by the anti-Chick-fil-A sentiment, he said.
Public officials such as Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino have both stated they will make efforts to keep the chain out of their cities. Curtis said these statements are just an attempt to punish Cathy for having a “personal opinion.”
“I really think that is the lowest form of censorship,” Curtis said.
In response, both former presidential candidate Rick Santorum and Huckabee spoke out in favor of the chain, and called upon like-minded Americans to support Chick-fil-A as well.
So, to make his opinion known, Curtis stopped by campus to have some chicken for lunch.
The support for Chick-fil-A is not an attempt to condemn anybody, but a move in support of freedom of speech, Curtis said.
“We also believe people have a right to moral beliefs,” Curtis said.
Other people went further out of their way than Curtis to express their support. Bakersfield native Sonja Troncozo was vacationing in Morro Bay, but decided to visit Chick-fil-A with her family for lunch.
Troncozo even drove around for almost an hour before she was able to find the restaurant on campus, she said, but that didn’t stop her.
“We just came to eat,” Troncozo said.
Others, such as graphic communication junior Jamie Sinnett, said they didn’t let politics affect their dining choices.
Sinnett doesn’t agree with Cathy’s stance on gay marriage, but he still eats at Chick-fil-A because it’s tasty and close, he said.
“I’m buying Chick-fil-A because it’s convenient,” Sinnett said.
The day definitely resulted in greater business for the on-campus dining facility though, Chick-fil-A employee Ziggy Rodriguez said.
“It was really busy (Wednesday),” Rodriguez said.
Customers didn’t discuss politics, but several did thank him and offer support for the franchise, Rodriguez said.
Not all people were supporting Chick-fil-A on Wednesday. Business administration senior Moses Torreblanca said Chick-fil-A doesn’t belong on campus, because of Cathy’s public stance on marriage.
“In my opinion, since I strongly believe this way, I think people should boycott Chick-fil-A,” Torreblanca said.
Public support for gay marriage has risen in recent years, and Chick-fil-A, with the public stance against gay marriage, doesn’t belong on a campus that supports diversity and acceptance, Torreblanca said.
“To have an organization on campus trying to promote that is kind of contrary,” Torreblanca said.
If a business can’ t keep their political stance out of campus then they should not be on campus. Who the heck needs more processed “chicken” anyway??
Perhaps Mr. Torreblanca might reconsider his stance against Chick-Fil-A’s presence on campus…considering his comment that {the Cal Poly campus} “supports diversity and acceptance.” Or was he implying the “diversity and acceptance” only extends to those who are not outspoken Christians or those whose opinions do not agree with Mr. Torreblanca’s?
Mr. Cathy of Chick-Fil-A was asked a question and responded truthfully, sharing his opinion, and was virtually “hanged” by media standards. This ought not be so in the United States of America. And frankly, I wonder why some in the gay community feel so threatened by Mr. Cathy’s biblical stance on gay “marriage.” Why is it so important to silence him and others who hold the same opinion? Is there only “tolerance” for those who share the same views as proponents of gay “marriage?” If that is the case, we must call it something else, because it is not “tolerance” (according to the “modern” definition).
Silly me… I thought free speech was supposed to truly be for ALL citizens, regardless of whether or not their opinion was politically correct, pro-gay, pro-{insert whatever cause or belief here} or not. I’m still shaking my head over this one…
correction: *…those whose opinions DO agree with Mr. Torreblanca’s?
Very good Bunny. You are absolutely correct. I ate dinner Wednesday evening under a full moon in a Torrance Chick-Fil-A and was greeted by many nice people. The staff was very nice and helpful too. This was my first visit to one of the 3 Torrance restaurants. Today, the north Torrance store was vandalized with ugly grafiti. It was covered by the t.v. news. San Luis Obispo needs a second restaurant near the Target store.
Its terrible how some people who claim to be wanting inclusion like (“mr.” torreblanca) and yet are so hateful towards a company simply because of the owners personal beliefs. the chickfila on campus is run by calpoly not by a corporate office in Georgia. run by students for students. it will be on his head when many students like himself suddenly find themselves out of jobs just because he has a problem with a corporate officer. the restaurant has never been accused of discriminating against gay customers or employees. so really what is the F**ing deal. i went in there today and was barraged by the picketers trying to make me fell like i was a bigot because i wanted a sandwich.Really? dirty tactics only fuel the other side and makes me a left leaning moderate want to join the right on this issue because its absolutely so ridiculous. and this doesnt even excuse liberal politicians choice to ban a business from attaining a license solely on the COOs beliefs. for once i join tea partyers and say “TOTALITARIAN SOCIALISM” anyone?? –and by the way in case you wanted to know im all for gay rights however im also for the first amendment right to say what you want . that includes lgbt members and straight people alike.
I’ve lived in this county all my life and attend Cal Poly. This county has more registered Republican voters. If you out of the area kids don’t like it, then don’t eat there! You will be gone back to your agnostic, cities in a couple years anyways.
Everyone has the right to speech. Democrats and Republicans.
Let’s think of it this way… A lot of Asian countries and its culture such as, but not limited to, South Korea, Japan, China, are completely against gays and what they stand for (trust me I’ve lived in Korea for over 8 years, we had a famous actor come out of the closet and he committed suicide after a week because he was being persecuted at a whole another level). So what, since those cultures despise and look down on gays your gonna boycott sushi and KBBQ and dim sum and hate anyone that looks Asian? C’mon get real, everyone has the right to their own opinions.