Lesbian Chick Fil-A Slave Writes About Her Experience

A gay employee, writing anonymously over fears she’d be fired for speaking out, says she hopes her customers don’t choke on their nuggets—but one day will swallow their words.

Sent to RHU by Mcarp555:

via www.thedailybeast.com

So when people boycott Chick-fil-A, it means I don't get hours. Which means I don’t get money. Not just me, but ALL of the LGBT employees at Chick-fil-A. Yes, CFA hires LGBT people. No one’s been fired for being gay or coming out. It’s a job.  A job that can’t be taken for granted when work is scarce across the country. We have to eat too. So sure, boycott Chick-fil-A because you don’t agree with the CEO.  Will you change his mind? No. Will it change the amount of money my LGBT peers and I can earn?  Probably. Boycotting Chick-fil-A doesn’t hurt the company. It hurts the employees. And it’s hard enough working for a place that doesn’t think you should get married. But it’s work. Don’t take it away because you feel righteous.

 

That’s what I said four days ago. I meant it then. After today, though, I take it all back.

After all, I’m still a closeted gay woman working at a Chick-fil-A in the southern United States. And things these days, well, they’re complicated.

When Monday was dead, I was harboring hope that it was because so many people were boycotting Chick-fil-A. Apparently I was suffering from delusions, or temporarily forgot I live in the Bible Belt. Sunday, all the ministers at the evangelical churches in town told their congregations to show support to Chick-fil-A by eating there. The day? Today, Wednesday, August 1, 2012.

We were so busy we nearly ran out of food. We did run out of some things, like nuggets, strips, lemonade, and waffle fries. Though we didn’t have to close early like we feared, by 10 p.m., we barely had anything left. Never before have I been so grateful that I have tomorrow off.

Customers sang “God Bless America” in the dining room. They vocalized their support for “family values” in a way that made me want to vomit. We had two protestors outside, and I took five minutes to run out, hug them, and tell them: if I weren’t working here now, I’d be out here with you.

They said, “It’s okay, we know what it’s like to have to work for a paycheck.” Hearing that was ten times better than hearing from my acquaintances on the other side of the coin: “How do you work there and still sleep at night, knowing their stance against equal rights?” I sleep with a roof over my head, which is about all I can ask.

I can’t tell you much more about the customers today, because of my limited contact with them. I work in the kitchen, so I don’t see much of the clientele. What made today so difficult—more difficult than always being behind on food, running out of one thing or another, needing to be in two places at once, etc—was the attitudes of the other employees.

That’s what I said four days ago. I meant it then. After today, though, I take it all back.

After all, I’m still a closeted gay woman working at a Chick-fil-A in the southern United States. And things these days, well, they’re complicated.

When Monday was dead, I was harboring hope that it was because so many people were boycotting Chick-fil-A. Apparently I was suffering from delusions, or temporarily forgot I live in the Bible Belt. Sunday, all the ministers at the evangelical churches in town told their congregations to show support to Chick-fil-A by eating there. The day? Today, Wednesday, August 1, 2012.

We were so busy we nearly ran out of food. We did run out of some things, like nuggets, strips, lemonade, and waffle fries. Though we didn’t have to close early like we feared, by 10 p.m., we barely had anything left. Never before have I been so grateful that I have tomorrow off.

Customers sang “God Bless America” in the dining room. They vocalized their support for “family values” in a way that made me want to vomit. We had two protestors outside, and I took five minutes to run out, hug them, and tell them: if I weren’t working here now, I’d be out here with you.

They said, “It’s okay, we know what it’s like to have to work for a paycheck.” Hearing that was ten times better than hearing from my acquaintances on the other side of the coin: “How do you work there and still sleep at night, knowing their stance against equal rights?” I sleep with a roof over my head, which is about all I can ask.

I can’t tell you much more about the customers today, because of my limited contact with them. I work in the kitchen, so I don’t see much of the clientele. What made today so difficult—more difficult than always being behind on food, running out of one thing or another, needing to be in two places at once, etc—was the attitudes of the other employees.

via www.thedailybeast.com

Comments

[Larry Berry]

I can understand her point. However boycotting chik-fil-a doesn't take away her hours, not in the truest sense anyway. Sure their business goes down, due to the boycott, just like the boycotts of any business. However the people who aren't eating at chic-fil-a are eating at KFC (or some other place) instead. They didn't stop eating entirely. Therefore with the same amount of sales going down at chic = the sales increase elsewhere, which increases hours and hiring there, where she can work instead.

[Skittles]

People have a right to boycott whichever business they so choose. Just as you have the right to choose which business you will give your business to. I certainly sympathize with any worker who is losing hours or maybe even their job, however that does not mean people can't boycott the business. It also does not mean that it will have no effect. Even when cutting hours from his employess it will sooner or later affect his profit especially if people stand firmly enough.

[Becky]

As I've said before, it's not the president's opinion which is being boycotted (at least, not by me) - it's where the money is going. The company donates to hate groups - groups that advocate the murder of homosexuals. They say people vote for what they want with their dollars, and I don't want gays in Uganda being murdered. Nor do I want my rights as a female limited because of my biology. So I won't be giving any of my money to those causes. (Not that I'd eat there anyway - I'm a picky vegetarian, so I don't imagine there's anything on the menu I'd find not gag-worthy).

[Queer Geek]

I'm sorry that you work for a company that does not support GLBT issues but as a consumer I have a right not to give my hard earned money to a business. The economy is shit! No job is safe! Good luck. I'm sure Chick-Fil-Ass will stay open as we've seen the conservative groups filling their pieholes on that day.

[Bumblebee]

I feel the need to add my 2-cents; sorry your job sucks. I am, really, i understand what it's like, however, i have to say that one of the things i love about the hive is that not only do we support nearly every cancer, lukemia etc, charity, we all pitch in, there are charities that we donate to, as employee's that customers aren't even aware of. I donate 1 dollar a week to united way - i know it's virtually nothing, but i don't know anyone that works there that doesn't kick in atleast 50 cents of their paycheck. If you're working at a company that doesn't support you, for your gender or sexuality, or both, leave. I really really doubt that they're the only place hiring. I get it's a paycheck and a tough economy, but, it's not that hard. My hours are cut because a new "cheaper" grocery store opened in town, guess what? i'm not going to stand on my little podium and tell people how horrible they are because they want to save money/ie vote with their wallets. I'm going to suck it up, maybe get another part time job, and go enjoy some yummy KFC. (just kidding, i don't like fried chicken that much anyway, and...it's not like i'm choosing one over the other, because i think the nearest chick-fil-a is like...an hour + away...)

[Hellbound Alleee]

Of course you have the right to "give your hard-earned money to" blah blah. No one is saying you don't. When, in fact, did anyone tell you otherwise. But EVERYONE has the right to tell you that this business is supporting the execute the gays bill in Uganda.

Yet sure, go ahead and go eat there. No one is stopping you.

They still support the execution of gay people. Should make the chicken go down easier.

[Chicajojobe]

I can see her points, and yeah I can imagine that having to work all day around a bunch of people singing "God Bless America" while eating chicken to support the president of your company who donates money to organizations that work to ensure you can't get married...would be stressful.
I also agree it was inconsiderate of the organizations who cooked up the mass eat at Chick-Fil-A to not give them a heads up.

But even after her change of heart she missed two points:

1. Her company/managers contributed to the lack of food just as much. It wasn't like the Eat At Chick-Fil-A day was a secret! They knew it was coming. They should have prepared.

2. It isn't the fault of the people participating in the boycott that the lack of business was losing her hours. People aren't obligated to continue making purchases at a company who donates to causes they disagree with. It's Dan Cathy fault if it's anyone's. He has the right to speak his opinion, yes, but he did so without considering, or without caring, how it would affect his company and his employees.

[Larry Berry]

I wanted to add that I've seen many people tell me that it's silly for me to boycott them, because it's not like it will put them out of business. For me, I don't expect it to. It's not a matter of putting them out of business or even necessarily cutting into their profits. It's just as stated, I don't want to contribute my money toward their donations to hate groups. No, it may not hurt them at all. That's not my point though. I just wouldn't feel right Helping them fund it. It's more about my personal conscience than hurting them.

[NumismaticNerd]

This is exactly what I said on the facebook page, (except mine was a friend I know, who works at a mall one, not an actual restaurant) the boycott is only hurting the employees who get less hours, and -can't- find new jobs... If people could figure out where they can find new jobs, I'm sure they'd abandon ship too...

[NC Tony]

I said this on the FB page in regards to the idiot who ordered the free water and berated the drive thru girl about working at CFA, although I'm changing the wording here a little.

It's got to be hard for anybody working at CFA right now if they get shit from their open minded friends about working for a company that donates to hate groups. But just like Dan Cathy has the right to say what he wants, we, the consumers, have the right to spend our money elsewhere. I'm sorry if it cuts into the hours and paychecks of the people at CFA, but I don't want my money going to groups that think that gay people are some kind of plague upon mankind. Not that I ate at CFA all that often (I can probably count on my hands the number of times I've actually eaten there), but knowing what I know now about where the money goes insures that I never will again.

[Larry Berry]

Yeah, it should definitely never be taken out on the people who work there. They should not be berated or abused in any way, like the guy who got in trouble did. They shouldn't even be questioned about "how can you work for...". I won't eat there, but I certainly can't question someone (especially in such an insulting way) in this economy why they will work any job.

[Aquila]

Thanks for sharing your coencrns, D. I don't see why pursuing a harmonious relationship with your ex has to mean that you are going to get screwed. Our deal has been equitable, and in fact, he was probably more generous because of our peaceful relationship. If things were to change (like him becoming unexpectedly rich and not sharing it with the kids), then I would take the appropriate steps. I am certainly no pushover nor do I really appease him much. I just took the initial steps towards making our relationship a friendly one, and once he saw that it was beneficial for both the kids and him, he then had an incentive to continue the peace between us. And I always let him know if he takes advantage of me. One month he just decided not to pay me (because he is in a bad economic situation), and I told him that he needed to respect our agreements if he wanted to still be friendly and have family dinners. He admitted his mistake and remedied the situation.