Subway stands with Chick-Fil-A ?

On Wednesday August 1st, an overwhelming amount of the citizens of America celebrated "Chick-Fil-A Appreciation Day", a day declared by former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee in response to the public stance taken by Chick-Fil-A CEO Dan Cathy a couple weeks earlier.

Dan Cathy affirmed in an interview with the Baptist Press his support for "traditional marriage" and his pledge to run his restaurant business with "biblical principles" most of which are a smack in the face of LGBT people. So the LGBT community responded with calls for a boycott of the chain. However the heterosexual community and its religious zealots and as many conservative opinion peddlers you can shake a chicken strip at banded together in support of the restaurant chain by lining up for hours for a chance to buy a meal at Chick-Fil-A. The record breaking day of sales for the restaurant chain is like having all of society respond to a minority with a resounding "Fuck You"! We don't give a crap about your rights, we officially declare you gay people SECOND CLASS CITIZENS!

Well in the days leading up to this Chick-fil-A appreciation day photos surfaced showing other restaurant chains with their message boards that said they were in support of their competitor. Many of those signs appeared to be photoshopped creations but this blogger is here to tell you about one sign that was honest and true.

(Click to view LIVE VIDEO of this sign taken to prove this is not photoshopped. video posted via I-Phone on Facebook)

The SUBWAY located at 20 East Cruselle Street in Roberta Georgia posted on both sides of their street sign that they "stand with Dan Cathy and Chick Fil A".

The restaurant is located about 25 miles west of the closest Chick-Fil-A in Macon Georgia. This Subway franchise promoted another restaurant and likely shares the same "Christian" values. Or more honestly, they have an anti-gay point of view.

Perhaps fair minded people, if there are any left after the massive showing of "support" for the hateful Chick-Fil-A company, may want to contact Subway and ask why any of their restaurants would want to support discrimination by publicly supporting Chick-Fil-A.


Or you could choose to get your cheap sandwiches somewhere else.

Chicken Sandwiches Served with Hate?

In July 2012, the fast food chain Chick-Fil-A faced additional opposition from the Lesbian, Gay Bisexual and Transgender community (LGBT) over public comments by CEO Dan Cathy expressing his support for "traditional" and "bibical" values in regards to marriage. This is seen in the LGBT community as being against same-sex marriage. This backs up earlier news of the chain's financial support of organizations for marriage between one man and one woman. This is seen mostly as "hate" by the LGBT community and is frequently expressed in opposition to Chick-Fil-A. There are calls for boycotting the chain and efforts exist to prevent the chain from expanding into new areas or to have them removed from some locations.

As a member of the LGBT community and a customer of Chick-Fil-A for decades I am certainly concerned about the issues with the chain and this blog will address those issues in many posts over time. But this is the first of many posts talking about Chick-Fil-A and its alternatives. This is a comparison of my average experiences that include Chick-Fil-A

Sunday, July 22, 2012: Well it's Sunday and Chick-Fil-A is closed on Sunday so IF I wanted to eat something out that wouldn't be an option today. But I was out and about and facing an hour of driving on the interstate I stopped by a KFC drive-thru and ordered one of their chicken sandwiches. Something that can be easily eaten while driving. I ordered a combo of 2 KFC "Stackers", a side order of their potato wedges and a medium drink. I always prefer a sweetened Ice Tea but getting that from KFC is always a crap shoot. Either its too sweet, too warm because they just made a batch or getting spoiled because the batch they made is several hours old. So my drink of choice was a Sierra Mist and it was a disappointment.

And so I placed my order, spent less than $5 dollars and continued on my drive. 90 minutes later I am at a supermarket close to my home and just before I reached the checkout I felt a VERY sudden urge to use the restroom. I hate using public bathrooms but luckily I was at a supermarket that is known to have VERY clean restrooms. So I pushed my shopping cart aside and quickly made my way to the restroom. And not to get graphic, lets just say I was in the right place at the right time. Had I been anywhere else I would have been in pain or in fear of messing myself. I did what I had to do and resumed my shopping. This was less than 90 minutes AFTER consuming food from a KFC and it is not the first time experience for me. Any time I eat something from Kentucky Fried Chicken usually requires a bathroom visit within 2 hours. If it is a sandwich I have eaten by KFC, the need for a restroom comes much sooner with slightly extreme results pending.

Compare to earlier this month (Before Dan Cathy's confirmation of anti-gay policies), I went to Chick-Fil-A for lunch. I ordered a deluxe chicken club sandwich combo that came with their famous waffle fries and I ordered a large sweet Ice tea. The Tea was just right. Perfectly chilled and on ice and when I asked for lemon in my tea I got what I ordered.

My Chick-Fil-A order was at lunchtime and I continued with my day feeling great and no issues were had. There was no rush to find a restroom and no ill feelings at all.

For me a gay man in 2012 to admit that I ate at Chick-Fil-A can be seen by some as my supporting hate. Well here is a comparison of "hate". One sandwich tasted horrible and forced me to interrupt what I was doing to go to the rest room. The other tasted pretty good and I suffered no effects after eating it.

One chain is known for anti-gay donations and we don't know anything about KFC, its franchise operators or its CEO's donations for or against LGBT concerns. But some of my fellow LGBT community members would suggest I purchase food from KFC over Chick-Fil-A.

But in this case, the physical HATE came from eating the KFC sandwich. Something I have never experienced at a Chick-Fil-A.

I had an even worse experience after eating a KFC "double down" sandwich. I had to rush to find a rest room only 45 minutes after eating and almost didn't make it. That means I experienced a little more direct "hate" from KFC than Chick-Fil-A

I'm just being honest about it.

Mark and Beau want to get married and Texas says no!

The Daily Sweet Tea Toast Salute on July 7th 2012 goes to Mark "Major" Jiminez and Beau Chandler, the Texas couple who decided to protest their state's ban of same-sex marriages.

On Thursday July 5th, they went to the Dallas County clerk's office to apply for a marriage license and were denied because Texas law only allows marriages that are between one man and one woman. Not accepting this form of discrimination, Mark and Beau handcuffed themselves in the county clerk's office and refused to leave until they either granted the marriage license or were forcibly removed. They were arrested and now face possible fines and jail time.

Video of their sit-in and arrest courtesy of The Dallas Voice.




What Mark and Beau did was STAND UP FOR THEIR RIGHTS! They took action and sacrificed to bring attention to the inequality that exists in America. For that The Daily Sweet Tea lifts up our glass in a toast to the Texas couple and hopes that we see more people standing up and fighting for equality.

For more information about this you should reference GET EQUAL TEXAS for the best local updates and perhaps show your support for Mark and Beau as they face their legal challenges.

Tea Toast Salute: Happy Anniversary Pam & Kate (Spaulding)

Here is a Daily Sweet Tea Toast salute to Pam Spaulding and her wife Kate on the 8th anniversary of their marriage in Canada on July 1, 2004. The lesbian couple were legally married in Canada where same-sex marriages are legal but they are residents of North Carolina which recently became the 32nd state in the USA to approve a constitutional amendment that bans legalization of their relationship. Pam Spaulding is one of the legends of the blogisphere and known affectionately as the "Blogmistress". And if you aren't reading her blog at PAM'S HOUSE BLEND then this must be your first time on the internet! All hail to the Blogmistress and HAPPY ANNIVERSARY Pam Spaulding and her WIFE Kate! This weekend happens to be the birthday of BILLY BROWN, of the R&B group Ray, Goodman & Brown. And today I share their 1980 hit "Happy Anniversary"

WIMP of the Day: Caiden Cowger of West Virginia

The WIMP of the day for June 6, 2012 is 14 year old Caiden Cowger of West Virginia.

The host of "The Caiden Cowger Program" as a young Rush Limbaugh, Glen Beck wannabe recently posted a rather insane homophobic video rant saying that the President was making children gay. Then when he started getting comments and taking heat for his video rant, he little boy CLOSED his YouTube account basically running and hiding from the results of his own making.

Hey Caiden, here is some advice from some old guy in his mid 40s.  GROW UP!   If you want to play in the grown up game of public commentary then you have to have the nerve to accept both the praise AND the scorn.   You'll never be taken seriously, not because of your youth and proven ignorance but because of your cowardly running away by removing the videos you wanted everyone to hear so you can impress the big boys you hoped to be when you grow up.

You are forever marked as a wimp.

Go away little boy!

President Barack Obama is making kids GAY!

President Barack Obama is making kids GAY!

So said a 14 year old with too much spare time on his hands!- AND AFTER HE POSTED THIS VIDEO, IT WENT VIRAL AND HE RECIEVED COMMENTS, THE LITTLE PUNK CLOSED HIS YOUTUBE ACCOUNT!! (update 7:30pm, a few hours after the video was posted)

If I find another link to this I will share it!  He basically went on a rant about how he felt that homosexuality was a "belief" and the traditional rant that it is a sin against god and that the president was making kids gay.

 Update 6/7/2012 @ 2:41am, here is a "mirrored" copy of the video saved and reposted after Caiden took down his original YouTube account!





You know, my elders used to believe in a philosophy that children should be seen and not heard. THIS KID HAS HIS OWN RADIO TALK SHOW, A Facebook "fan" page and a YouTube channel!  He is seen AND heard by at least a few!

And who is it they say is going to hell?  Well if there are any more Caiden Cowger's out there we're ALL going to hell in a hurry. Beware world!  This kid is eligible for a driver's license in a couple years and perhaps more dangerously, eligible to VOTE by 2016!

Disco Saturday: Love in the Summertime

This week's "Disco Saturday" will feature songs with the word LOVE in the title. And as you listen to these dance classics think about being in love, looking for love and those couples who are in love with each other and the same-sex couples who love each other and who will have the freedom to marry in the state of New York starting THIS weekend. Love in the summer of 2011. If you have it, enjoy it.

And congratulations in advance to the pending newlyweds in New York State.

"My Forbidden Lover" by Chic
Not forbidden in 6 states now with New York having Marriage Equality starting this weekend!


"Now That We Found Love" by Third World


"Love Is In The Air" by John Paul Young


"I Found Love" by Deniece Williams


"Love On and On" by Donna Summer


"Do You Love What You Feel" by Rufus featuring Chaka Khan


"Any Love" by Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan


"Love In C Minor" by Cerrone


"Accidental Lover" by Love and Kisses


"I Want Your Love" by Chic


"Don't Want To Love Your Love" by The Emotions

New York makes 6 for Marriage Equality!

Congratulations to the state of New York, the 6th state in the United States to legalize same sex marriage. The Republican led State Senate passed the marriage bill by a vote of 33-29. Already passed by the state assembly, MARRIAGE EQUALITY will officially take effect 30 days after New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signs the bill into law.

New York also makes history as it is one of the rare cases where marriage equality was achieved by legislative action and not by judicial action. Also there are no residency restrictions for getting married in New York state so while your marriage may not be recognized in Georgia where this blog is based, I forsee many Gay couples vacationing in New York where they can have a fabulous ballroom style wedding.

Again, congratulations to the state of New York for doing the right and fair thing.

And now some music.

"Chapel Of Love" by The Dixie Cups


"Lets Get Married" by Al Green


"Won't Cha' Stay With Me" by L.T.D. (Jeffrey Osborne on vocals)
This is a great wedding song. Listen and enjoy.


"New York State Of Mind" by Billy Joel


"Native New Yorker" by Odyssey


And the song so many have posted almost immediately after the vote

"New York New York"


Now go ahead, book those ballrooms and register at those posh 5th Avenue stores. Marriage Equality has come to the Empire State.

Waiting and waiting for Marriage Equality in New York

The state assembly in New York passed a bill that could legalize marriages for same-sex couples. And for a couple weeks the people of New York have been waiting on their state senate to vote on the bill.

NEWS ARTICLE FROM New York "Gay City News"

There have been negotiations with state senators to secure votes before bringing it to the floor. News would come out that they had enough votes and would possibly vote on one day and it gets delayed day after day. Supporters of marriage equality in New York have been on pins and needles waiting for New York to join 5 other states in offering fairness and equality in Marriage.

New York State, your tax paying same-sex couples are waiting for you to make things equal. Stop the delays! Make marriage equality a reality in New York.

Click on THIS LINK for more information on contacting the NYS senate asking them to bring it to a vote. (6/23)

The music for this article is "Waiting" by Deniece Williams


As the people of New York continue to wait and anticipate marriage equality in New York State.

"Look At California" They had a victory for marriage equality!

California's voter approved proposition 8 was overturned in a judicial ruling from a a lawsuit filed after the proposal to ban same-sex marriages won in a 52-48% vote in November 2008. That vote (Prop 8) overturned a law that approved Marriage Equality (same-sex marriages) in the state then 18,000 same-sex couples were married during the months that it was legal. Gay marriage opponents immediately moved to have a public vote to have the marriage law overturned and as of August 4th 2010, that law has been turned back toward Marriage Equality.

But the fight is far from over. Today's ruling will be appealed and this could reach the US Supreme Court. But today's ruling could have an effect on marriage bans across the country.

But think about this very carefully! It is also an election year and this ruling will surely make gay marriage a major campaign platform especially for those who OPPOSE same-sex marriages. Add that to the upcoming changes in the United States supreme court and the probability that conservatives may become the majority again in congress. You had better recognize that today's ruling IN CALIFORNIA does NOT mean the road to Marriage Equality is going to be either short or smooth.

But today we can "Look At California" and be happy that Proposition 8 was overturned today.


The song "Look At California" is from MAZE Featuring Frankie Beverly (1977)

An RSJ blog "Flashback" Political friend requests on Facebook and a hint of the RSJ blogger's political beliefs.

THIS IS A REPOST OF AN ENTRY FROM THE FORMER "E-BLOG: Yeah I said it" from November 2009.
The person I was speaking about was running for congress in 2010 but several others also stepped forward to run and the person that prompted my blog post never filed and fortunately did not run for office.
------------------------------------------------------------

I thought I would share this from my Facebook account. Someone who is interested in running for congress in my district recently made a friend request on Facebook. I ignored the request and less than a day later, the friend request from this aspiring politician was repeated.

Now it happens that I don't agree with most of this poltician's platform but we happen to be in one of the same Facebook groups on a specific topic that we do agree with. But our ONE agreed topic doesn't meet the qualifications for approval as a "friend" on Facebook. So in my status update I posted the following.

Message to politicians: I am NOT a Democrat nor am I a Republican. I am fiscally conservative and very socially liberal. I don't impose my religious beliefs on others and try to make them law of the land. I support same-sex marriages. I don't beleive in discrimination of any kind. I am not ruled by any one party line ...and consider all sides with an open mind. Think about this before you send me a friend request.

Then in the comment section after the status post I continued with this.

I call a spade a spade. I think "profiling" is a good thing. It's a shame that a few rotten people in a group have to make "profiling" a necessity.

I think that since I was born a male and cannot give birth, I believe that no male should have the right to tell a woman what to do with their body. If MAN doesn't agree with abortion then MAN should insist that they keep their pants zipped up. And since those who speak out the most on Abortion are OLD MEN, then lets ban viagra too.
(do I sound radical or crazy there? Don't care!)

I support tax reform, specifically THE FAIR TAX (www.fairtax.org) and I am angry that these ideas were HIJACKED by nutcases in the form of "tea parties".

I also watch FOX news! Except that pathetic little republican elf that comes on at 9pm. I just can't stand either him or the drug addict thats on the radio right now. And while people claim certain news networks and personalities are biased......GUESS WHAT...They are all biased! And I never watch a political event on any news network because of it. Olberman is just as off the wall as O'Reilly. Thank god for C-SPAN!

I could go on and on but its probably best that I return to keeping my political beliefs to myself. Keeps the blood pressure at a decent level.

Now back to my lunch!

:)

So I hope this gives you a glimpse of my political opinion. I am not likely to participate in traditional stereotypes and I am likely to step on toes. Actually this blog stepped on some toes a short while back and it proved that we all have "issues" but not everyone is bold enough to admit or express their issues publically. Well here I am, Edric Floyd and another blog has been posted.

Stay tuned for more "toe stepping"