Controversy Brews As Rep. Kern Asks Oklahomans To Eat At Chick-Fil-A

Friday, July 27th 2012, 10:17 pm

By: News 9

Controversy is brewing over Chick-Fil-A's stance on marriage. The company's president, Dan Cathy, says he does not support same-sex marriage and the issue is ruffling feathers across the country and in Oklahoma.

Not long after Chick-Fil-A announced its disapproval of gay marriage, calls for boycotts of the restaurant began. Political leaders from across the United States are criticizing the fast food company's comments. In Oklahoma, a politician who is no stranger to controversy is weighing in as well.

Republican State Rep. Sally Kern spent time Friday issuing a statement asking all Oklahomans to eat at Chick-Fil-A.

"We need to support a business [that] is willing to take a stand for those values that Oklahomans believe and support," Kern said.

According to Kern, Oklahoma values do not support same-sex marriage. At the same time, political leaders from Chicago to Boston are saying the exact opposite. They say Chick-Fil-A is being discriminatory.

"Instead of calling for an appreciation day of a fast food company that supports intolerance and serves up deep fried fatty foods, [Kern] may want to consider a celebration of the gay people in Oklahoma and the contributions that they make every single day," Scott Hamilton, executive director of the Cimarron Alliance Foundation said.

The Cimarron Alliance is an Oklahoma City-based organization that advocates for the LGBT community. Hamilton says Chik-Fil-A has every right to say what it wants. At the same time, Hamilton says, people who support equality have every right to not eat at Chick-Fil-A.

"Over half of all Americans today believe in marriage equality for all people," Hamilton said. "It's time for us to move past the Sally Kerns of the world because the world is moving past Sally Kern."

Kern says those who do not follow her values are helping the country move away from its morality. Kern warns that straying from such values will produce "drastic consequences."

"We are in a culture war, and people need to start getting involved," Kern said.

Kern says the reason she is taking on the issue is because Oklahoma is a conservative state.

Chick-Fil-A has 16 locations in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. News 9's calls to Chick-Fil-A on Friday were not returned.