Offensive chicken sandwiches

The principal of the Ventura High School, California, banned the sale of donated Chick-fil-a chicken sandwiches by groups doing fundraising for sport clubs.

It is not about the chicken. Neither about the bread buns nor GE wheat.

The principal, Wyatt, disagrees about gay marriage with the president of the Atlanta-based fast food chain.  “With their political stance on gay rights and because the students of Ventura High School and their parents would be at the event, I didn’t want them on campus.” Wyatt said she is worried that the presence of the chicken sandwiches might offend someone.

The superintendent of the Ventura Unified School District Superintendent, Trudy Tuttle Arriaga, backed the decision. “We value inclusivity and diversity on our campus and all of our events and activities are going to adhere to our mission,” Arriaga said in explaining the decision to exclude a chicken sandwich company because of the political beliefs of its president.

However, on record, Chick-fil-A doesn’t have a stance on gay marriage. “We treat everyone who walks through our doors, regardless of their religion or sexual orientation, with honour, dignity and respect.”

In a 2012 interview that was published by Baptist Press, Chick-fil-A president Dan Cathy affirmed his support of the biblical definition of the family. The interview sparked nationwide outrage among the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) community and the mainstream media.

“Well, guilty as charged,” he said. "We are very much supportive of the family – the biblical definition of the family unit. We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that.”

That’s it. Not once did Cathy say anything disparaging about the LGBT community or gay marriage.

Unless, of course, the principal is suggesting that people who support the biblical definition of marriage are somehow anti-gay. Is that what you are suggesting, Principal Wyatt?

If you “value inclusivity and diversity” but are prejudiced against Dan Cathy then the word BIGOT comes to mind.

For you . . .

Fokjo