There is more than one reason for Democrats to support healthy eating. Michelle Obama’s initiatives in schools across the nation are intended to promote the idea that well-balanced meals encourage better health. Furthermore, certain fast food restaurants support Republicans and are against gays, such as Chick-fil-a, who gave $2 million to anti-gay groups in 2009.
The LBGT community is well aware of Mitt Romney’s reactions to a classmate with long hair whom he believed to be gay. Being held down to get a mandatory haircut has to be traumatizing. It is also an act of tyranny and suppression that shows a supreme lack of tolerance. But something else to consider is how the food and beverage industry has donated money at a 70% clip to the Republican Party.
Many speculate whether it is because Republicans seem to look the other way about the quality of life for people such as fast food workers, including the low wages they are paid. But there seem to be more reasons. Consider Chick-fil-a, a fast food restaurant chain that closes on Sundays to observe the Sabbath and donates millions of dollars to support groups who are against gays.
Mother Jones cited other fast food conservatives but none were as obviously anti-gay as Chick-fil-a. While Obama supporters wonder where Republicans such as Romney keep getting more funds, look no further than those fast food eateries around the corner. It seems to be a contradiction for Chick-fil-a to stay closed on the Sabbath but act in a judgmental way toward gays. Apparently Chick-fil-a picks and chooses which religious laws to obey.
The scary part is if their support of such anti-gay causes makes it as far as the White House. The LGBT community has made great strides in recent years. With Obama supporting gay marriage, there seemed to be a new world opening up to gays. Their relationships were unacknowledged until recently and now they have rightful legal standing. Nobody wants to revisit the days of coming out of the closet and feeling shame for being part of the LGBT community.
Unfortunately, mainstream corporations such as Chick-fil-a would like to turn the clock back. By supporting anti-gay groups, they are regressive and fail to show acceptance to everyone. Religion and law do not mix but they are trying to stir the pot. If certain Republicans follow suit, the climate in America could become quite uncomfortable. Remember, small actions add up. Refusing to dine at one of these establishments can help our community continue to move forward.
