Update of Change.org Bill James Censure Petition and Chic-Fil-A Petition

Alright, I can admit it, I fell behind on checking emails. I do have a great excuse, I haven't turned the computer on in three days. My ass has been grinding in Ancient Rome, trying to read between the lines and find that nugget that Woolf so desperately sought in that library way back when. It is right there just waiting for me to grasp it, or so it seems. I keep digging. I feel like a linguistic archeologist's apprentice digging around for the first time, partially blinded by excitement and nerves.

Anyway, the following is the second email I received concerning Bill James' anti-homosexual comments.

Peace,
Monique

Change.org

Victory in NC! Now stop Chick-fil-A from sponsoring homophobia

Dear Monique,

Because of you, we just scored an important victory for equality and now we’re going to win another.

After 28,024 Change.org members flooded the email accounts of Mecklenburg County Commissioners in North Carolina, they passed a strong resolution late last night condemning anti-gay bias and affirming diversity and inclusion. This controversial resolution passed after Commissioner Bill James used his office to call gay people "sexual predators" and homosexuality a "crime against nature."

With battles like this brewing across the country from city councils to corporate America, we’ve got to keep up the fight against homophobia. Check out the story below and help win again by taking action now.

__________________

Remember the backlash against Target last year for bankrolling strongly anti-gay politicians? Apparently, the Chick-fil-A restaurant chain wasn’t paying attention.

Chick-fil-A is known as one of the fastest growing fast-food companies in the country. But it turns out the restaurant is serving up far more than just chicken sandwiches. Chick-fil-A has joined with the Pennsylvania Family Institute to sponsor a February event aimed at preserving "biblical" marriage and denouncing marriage equality for same-sex couples.

The Pennsylvania Family Institute (PFI) has been the leading voice in the Keystone State against same-sex marriage. They have argued for a constitutional amendment banning gay couples from getting married. They’ve said that same-sex couples harm civilization. They’ve even stated that for same-sex couples to consider themselves married would be like a dog considering its tail a leg.

And now Chick-fil-A wants to throw their corporate support behind this homophobic organization? Not on our watch.

Please join Change.org members now in demanding that Chick-fil-A pull their sponsorship from this anti-gay event immediately. Just click here to sign the urgent petition.

It’s not the first time that Chick-fil-A has been connected to anti-gay groups. In years past, the business also partnered with Focus on the Family, the Colorado ministry founded by Rev. James Dobson. Focus on the Family labels homosexuality a disorder, supports "conversion therapy" for LGBT people, and once said that same-sex marriage would be a bigger disaster than Pearl Harbor.

As one of Focus on the Family’s state affiliates, the Pennsylvania Family Institute is attempting to pass a constitutional amendment in the state banning same-sex marriage. Chick-fil-A’s endorsement of PFI’s event legitimizes their campaign and threatens the civil rights of every LGBT person in Pennsylvania -- and across America.

It’s time to get Chick-fil-A on record. Are they interested in being a fast-food restaurant that serves all Americans, or partnering with and catering to some of the most radical anti-gay groups in the U.S.?

Send Chick-fil-A a strong message that homophobia is not acceptable. Period. Add your name to the petition telling Chick-fil-A to stop sponsoring this anti-gay event immediately:

http://www.change.org/petitions/view/demand_chick-fil-a_pull_sponsorship_from_anti-gay_event

With your help, Chick-fil-A will realize that they should value all of their customers, including their LGBT customers and straight allies for gay rights. Together, we’ll win again.

- Eden and the Change.org team


P.S. I just started at Change.org as Director of Organizing for Gay Rights and I’m really fired up that we won a big victory together on my first day. I'm excited to join you and more than 1 million other Change.org community members focused on equality and 11 other critical causes -- from the environment to education. If you’d like to get in touch with me, shoot me an email at Eden.James@change.org.