FREDERICK, Md. — A Chick-fil-A restaurant located on on Urbana Pike in Frederick, Md., was vandalized in the early morning hours on Sunday, according to a spokesman for Frederick County sheriff’s office.
Deputy-Corporal Gregory Santangelo said items glued to the store’s windows included marriage equality stickers and an image with the American and gay pride flags combined. There were also several homemade signs, he said, noting that physical evidence and video surveillance of a suspect were collected at the scene.
At least two other Chick-fil-A restaurants across the country have been vandalized since the company’s president, Dan Cathy, told the Baptist Press he did not support gay marriage, and acknowledged his company had donated millions of dollars to anti-gay organizations.
Among the stickers used to vandalize the restaurant were of the Human Rights Campaign’s logo — a yellow “equal” symbol on a dark blue, square background.
“Under no circumstances does HRC condone vandalism or the destruction of property,” said HRC spokesperson Dan Rafter.
“While this is certainly an issue that has stirred strong emotions on both sides, the only way we can effect real progress is by having a civil dialogue and continuing to educate consumers about the groups that Chick-fil-A donates to, and how those groups routinely demonize LGBT people,” said Rafter, in a statement.
“We change opinion by sharing our personal stories and humanizing this type of discrimination — not by vandalizing property in the middle of the night,” he said.
Josh Levin, campaign manager for Marylanders for Marriage Equality, issued a statement that read, in part, “We abhor any vandalism or disrespect in this campaign. … We encourage our supporters to have conversations with people they know who may be undecided on the issue.”
The restaurant opened as usual on Monday — all Chik-fil-A franchises are closed on Sundays, per company policy.
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when you want to make a statement nothing says it like stickers and flags
pro gay rights but this is still wrong
That was kinda immature on our part.
since when is it ok to vandalise something because u don’t like what they say?
This is not helpful.
people that is not the damn way… actions like that is what the right wing is looking for to show our “behavior”… ignorance like this marks the entire community
Since when is Vandalism ok?
Not a good way to behave!!!
well at least they didn’t get egged or tp’ed lol
This is NOT okay!
dumb asses….of course could have been some republican hets trying to fire up more hatred toward gays…would like to see the surveillance cameras
That is not the way to do things, those people just made it worse.
We’re better than this and don’t need to be doing this. All this does is give the other side leverage against us. We’ve been pegged as crazy and unstable forever, and this just lends credence to that. STOP VANDALIZING AND DESTROYING STUFF!!!
OK. Now I’d like to hear those same people offer some kind of apology as well for the people who do this kind of thing.
fighting hate with hate…real smart…NOT
This is too much!!
Another setback that was NOT needed. Peaceful protests people! Don’t stoop to their level!
i say good for the ppl that fight for our rights its time we start fighting back
This whole situation is quite comical if you ask me.
Well, now they will probably stereotype all of us as troublesome. That’s just swell. Thank you, morons.
I’m glad to see people that see that this is asinine behavior and in no reflects the true image we as homosexuals should be projecting. This was just a bunch of idiot individuals thinking they were cool and going to make a “statement.” Wrong.
Kit is right.
I’ve always said we’re in a cold war with the conservatives. If some want to take it hot, I can’t blame them. I wouldn’t, but that’s besides the point. Chik-fil-a is symbolic of the enemy, and our rage is totally understandable.
Protests are one thing, petty vandalism is another. Stuff like this just plays into the hands of the haters.
SMH. Our intentions may have been good but our actions were terrible. We as a people are more intelligent and better than vandalism.
wow this humiliating! It does not show a good representation of who we are at all :( The idiots that did this should be ashamed of themselves. Thanks for the negative publicity!!! We really didn’t that!!!
Am I the only one who thinks this is hilarious?
Funny, but not right. We can’t be known as vandals. Not a good look. Then again a little color never hurt anybody as long as nothing was broken….
Vandalism is not the answer.
Don’t put the Unicorn and rainbow stickers on the BUILDING….. use Cornify to make their web-site 100% gay-certified….. http://www.cornify.com
This makes us look like assholes….thanks guys. Wrong message :(
Well I’m sure this will change their mind on gay marriage! Immature idiots
That’s is not the answer!
Geez, all this love for buildings, so little respect for human rights.
Disappointed. Definitely could have been handled in a more mature manner.
This just gives them another reason to hate us. I can just hear them saying, “See? They’re vandals, too! All of them are bad people!” or something stupid like that….
My church that I grew up in and learned all my moral from and where I learned god loves me was a victim of vandalism this past weekend. Now the church has to spend money to remove the spray paint. I’m helping. Get it together people
Can that really be called vandalism tho?! Sounds more like “redecorating”
No this is NOT understandable. Am I against Chik-fil-A’s views- completely. But there is a point when you take things too far- this is making an ass out of yourself, and making everyone look bad. What happened to showing tolerance. I was for this protest against Chik-fil-A, but this is just getting outrageous, and making the LGBT community look like a bunch of immature idiots, who can’t contain themselves. Show your support for same sex marriage, by being tolerable, and voicing your opinion- NOT vandalizing property. Grow up!
A little civil disobedience is OK. Vandalism is not. All they’ve done is add fuel to the poor, persecuted Christian bullsh*t. Way to go.
Yeah ummm. This is the way we can get people on our side. I mean truly is this the message we really need to set? I mean yeah they treated us like shit but come on now this NOT any way to put on a show and or a statement. That just makes us look even more like a bunch of outsiders. Who in there right mind would do this. This is not what we as a comuity need or want to make us stand out? Please just don’t ever do this again this is very wrong and put us in even more of a bad stand :C
Come on… “be the change you want in the world” this is stupid.
That is just plain ridiculous. Very immature and disrespectful. As if the LGBT family don’t have enough negativity towards us, now we are labeled as vandalisms
protesting has gotten use so far they not going to stop so i say fight back. show them we have had enuf
We may not agree with what they are saying and the organizations they donate money to, but that is there right. We live in a free society that allows us to have differring opinions. We cannot and should not try to hurt their business or destroy property just because the don’t agree with us. I agree with what has been said, open and honest dialog and education will be the solution to this issue. Just like they cannot force their beliefs onto us, we cannot force our beliefs onto them.
(nelson muntz laugh) HA HA
geez. i bet it was the straights. they get a little toooo out of hand. =-P
Is anybody not clear on the fact that we already hate each other? Conservatives vs. GLBT people/progressives.
Great. Another set back.
Jerks
Oh no! That’s NOT good! Ug. :(
Awesome!
It was probably some kids that don’t know any better, but it is going to open up all new excuses to hate us like they need anymore, they make them up everyday
God what are we coming to a pack of wild rable… Im going to go throw up my lunch this has made me sick to the core get a group of gays, lesbians, trans, bisexual and intersex people NOW and go clean that of those scum bags walls this is not the key we will lose people who are sitting on the fence to support or not to support
Very juvenile and doesn’t reflect the respectable people we are… Disgraceful faggott.
Gosh!!!!!!
Good for them. When theocracy rings your doorbell, you don’t answer politely. You take the safety off.
You know what, I would not care if every Chick-fil-A in the country was bombed to rubble. I don’t advocate that, I just would not care.
I don’t blame them for doing this at all. I ask how can we have a civil dialogue at all, when we’re pretty much told that our very lives are opinions, and we’re villified for stamping on their free speech for just standing up for ourselves.
No, a dialogue suggests that both parties should be willing to compromise. What exactly do we have that we can compromise on? Equal rights? We don’t have those. They say we are demanding special right, but all they’re doing is protecting their own special rights while they step and spit on us.
No, I take no issue with someone putting some stickers on their windows to make a statement. No one destroyed anything. If anything, they made it a little more comfortable.
Can we all agree to just shut the Fuck Up about Chik Fil A already. Stop giving them press focus on other MORE important issues.
Wow, cause that’s gonna make them more tolerant.
Really? Way to show the world how mature being a LGBT can be. Shakes my damn head. I don’t like them but for gosh sakes JUST DON”T EAT THERE.
@Megan Mccarty – I take no issue with Chik-Fil-A having to pay money to remove the stickers. At least it’s not going to organizations that want to kill us.
Oh wow. Wrong answer. I’m truly sorry to hear this. I don’t support chic fil a. But this is never ever the answer.
I’m sooooo proud of the person that did it cheers to them Yayyyyyyyy :)
Honestly how do we know that they aren’t the ones vandalizing their own property to get the sympathy vote? Anyway if it was one of our own within the LGBT community it is a very small % and how awful is it that they plaster the building w/stickers and such? That same % in the bigoted community aren’t out just plastering our homes they are killing us and getting away with it in court if they even make it that far. Sad that when their business gets plastered by either side they get this much publicity but when it happens to someone within the LGBT community it doesn’t usually make nationwide news. Just my 2 cents and trying to look at it from more then one angle of possibilities.
As frustrating as I know intolerance and hate can be, vandalism will not bring about real change. It only adds fuel to the fire and makes the attempt to dialogue that much harder.
I’m against chic fil a beliefs but this is a lil to much come on LGBT COMMUNITY LETS SHOW THEM WE R BETTER THEN THAT
they deserve it
“Vandalising” with stickers and flags is SOOOO horrible compared to all the bullying and general intolerance that leads many to suicide….
Sure, THAT makes sense…
No matter how much hate Cathy spews, resulting to criminal behavior on our part only diminishes what we stand for… This is flat out wrong, and those who did it should be ashamed and held accountable.
Not cool, this makes us look very bad.
How is this okay to vandalize a business? If you don’t like their what they stand for, don’t shop there, but you don’t have the right to vandalize someone else’s property. How can you say someone is acting in hate towards you when you’re doing an act of hatred towards someone else….bullying works both ways….this is shameful!
Its just some stickers on a window. I don’t consider this vandalism. For years now people and entire groups have been referring to us as terrorist and calling for our deaths just because of our sexual orientation. You people better grow some balls because no one is going to hand us equality.
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2012/05/19/mississippi-2/
That isnt right. We may not agree with their views but thats sinking low.
Wrong is Wrong, regardless who does it! Chic,fil-A or Gay people, and I’m Gay, It” wrong to stoop to their level.
Only doing it with stickers or not, this is just not the way to do things. It only gives them even more reason to bitch about us. Prove we can be more “Christian” than them and turn the other cheek. Remember the quote from a certain wise man, “darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
The world isn’t that Black and White Gerry. Because a lot of people use that same argument to debase us for being gay.
This is just embarrassing.
I don’t really believe in chick fil a, just because they believe in hate and that’s not any kind of value I want to have my kids around. Doing this definately doesn’t help. Oh and speaking of my kids, they would know not to put stickers where they are not supposed to be. If they put them other places besides like a sticker book they’d catch hell from their mom.
There is no reason for this nonsense. Just like violence isn’t the answer neither is vandalism. *hangs head* :(
vandalized i say redecorated
So wait let me get this right…. It’s not ok for people who dont like us gay people to say what they want and stuff but its ok for us to vandaliz their stuff and say what we want? Sounds a little ass backwards to me. Just live and let live.
We Gays and Lesbians are wasting time on Chick-fil-A when we should be using our time to talk to our Congressmen and women and our Senators. Vandalizing and violence are not the answer. Chick-fil-A’s CEO expressed his views, not those of his Franchise owners.
I’m against vandalism a little well placed glitter bomb is ok and can mostly be cleaned with a vaccine or broom. Besides chick-fil-a is not the culprit the COO is. We went out to show pride on chick fil a day but now it’s time for political battles not physical ones. This is not something that can be won by stooping to hate ourselves.
I hope the person that was caught on tape is actually proven to be an anti-gay person and works for or is associated with chik fil a and thus proves that they are doing it for their own publicity. That would be awesome! :)
This pisses me off.
Now, I’m *exceedingly* pro gay rights. Anyone can look through my page’s history and see that. And I’m as enraged by intolerance as anyone else – but this is *not* what we stand for. Civil disobedience is fine, but *vandalism* is not. So, is this how we’re going to be? An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth? We stand for equal rights for the LGBTQ community – we supposed to be *better than this.*
Not going to their establishment and spreading the word about how they give money to hate groups has to be enough. They are a company in America, and entitled to their opinions.
This is not ok.
Nothing about this is understandable. Vandalism is not okay. I’m quite disgusted by this whole thing.
This is wrong. Don’t give them reason to justify their hatred.
just as bad as where chick fil a stood before now criminals will be associated with lgbtq community not good for the cause
Way to go , show them your just as ignorant as them . This kind of thing reflects on all of us. We haven’t been the ones to act like punks until now . This is a major step backwards ,
This kind of action makes us no better than them , I’m heartbroken
I hope that these people are caught. And I hope that this wasn’t LGBT people. I can’t help but to think this could be anti-gay people trying to make LGBT look bad. Wouldn’t be the first time CFA has done something like that.
hahahahahaaa.. how do ya like them chickens?
Oh noooo
/sarcasm
Im Sorry That was WRONG! Im proud of the Kiss in, but vandalizing the buisness is not cool in any zipcode.
Whoever thought that was a good idea, really didn’t think this one through. This isn’t going to help at all. Not one bit. Bad idea. Someone should of stop this way before it even happened.
I don’t agree with Chick Fil A ‘s stand on homosexuality, but vandalism is not the answer. Boycott the place, but don’t vandalize it. I may make you feel you have made a statement, but why put yourself in their league.
it may not be right, but at least someone fought back.
This is WRONG!!! There are soooooooo many ways to make a point or try to inform people and help change minds. THIS IS NOT ONE IF THEM!!!!!
Nooo! We can’t afford to have our own people boiling over like this! Now we’ve lost a lot of credibility!
And meanwhile I’m seeing posts this morning from adoring fans of the restaurant complimenting their wait staff for being kind and courteous to customers. They win, this was a crap move.
You become like those you hate…
Vandalized? I’d call that accessorized!
If we want people to treat other people with respect then we need to show respect ourselves. This action is hypocritical and counter-productive.
If i had to take a guess I’d such a bunch of young people did this. Not. Cool.
we had a major on our side, we(or most of us) boycotted them, and now look..thousands of ignorant people went their and supported Chick-fil-a’s hatred towards us. Vandalism is wrong, but at least they know that we won’t just sit on our asses and take this. Any ideas of how we could communicate in a civil way to those who discriminate against us? Is boycotting enough?
@Veronica Brezina: I think a much more effective, though time consuming and gut wrenching, would be to be available at the locations (and others) as PEOPLE! Just PEOPLE… I believe that a huge problem is decisions being made out of ignorance. Not intentional ignorance, just lack of exposure. If you insulate yourself (mostly unintentionally) with others that think like you do, you are not exposed to, or even take into consideration other opinions. I live in a rather “small town” area and we are one family of maybe four Jews. I can’t tell you how many times my kids have been told, “Hey, I’ve never met a Jew before, cool”. All it takes is an introduction and even better a civilized discussion to realize that there are intelligent people out there that don’t have the same opinions as you, and that does not make them wrong. You can at least see what that person looks like, and realize that perhaps they are not as different as you thought. They have to see you as people to consider you “worthy” of equal rights. If they can’t get past that… there’s no hope… Vandalism does not present our views as coming from people they want to meet, let alone get to know and feel a kinship with.
Finally gays who are not afraid good people
prob hired someone to come and do it ….