Conservative Christian groups are once again taking aim at Chick-fil-A, this time not for what the fast-food giant has done, but for what one local franchise chose to celebrate.The latest outrage centers on a Facebook post from a Chick-fil-A location in Orem, Utah, that congratulated two newly married men. The Dec. 3 post featured a photo of the couple standing in front of the restaurant and read, CONGRATULATIONS TO THE HAPPY COUPLE! Dougie & Toby recently got married and we are so beyond happy for them!Chick-fil-A couple. Photo: Chick-fil-A FacebookWhile many commenters applauded the message of love and inclusion, anti-LGBTQ+ activists were far less enthusiastic. Among the loudest critics was the Family Research Council (FRC), a conservative Christian organization designated as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center for its long history of anti-LGBTQ+ advocacy.In an article published Dec. 4 on its Washington Stand website, FRC accused the franchise of waffling on wokeness and claimed the post contradicted the biblical values the group believes Chick-fil-A should uphold. The organization argued that the mere act of publicly celebrating a same-sex marriage represented a moral failure for a company historically associated with conservative Christian beliefs.While most of Chick-fil-As chains are run by local operators, the fact that any location felt comfortable posting such a controversial message is further proof that the company hasnt weeded out the LGBT extremism that sparked so much backlash just a couple of years ago, the article stated.Some conservative Christians reportedly contacted Chick-fil-As corporate office demanding that the company denounce the Utah franchisee. Instead, they received a response that only deepened their frustration.Chick-fil-A embraces all people, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or gender identity, the company said in a statement shared with complainants, according to FRC. The statement also emphasized that the company is embedding diversity, equity and inclusion into its business practices.That position did not sit well with FRC leadership. David Closson, director of the organizations Center for Biblical Worldview, argued that embracing LGBTQ+ identities crosses a theological line. A company grounded in Christian conviction should be able to love and serve every person without endorsing categories that contradict biblical truth, Closson said.Other conservative commentators echoed the sentiment, framing the situation as part of a broader cultural shift. Right-wing blogger Steve Soukup lamented what he described as Chick-fil-As failure to resist progressive values, while Free Enterprise Project Director Stefan Padfield suggested that consumers unhappy with the companys stance should simply take their business elsewhere.The backlash is notable given Chick-fil-As long and well-documented history of anti-LGBTQ+ ties. In 2011, reports revealed the company had donated millions to organizations opposed to LGBTQ+ rights, including FRC and the now-defunct conversion therapy group Exodus International. Former CEO Dan Cathy famously responded at the time by saying the company was guilty as charged.Although Chick-fil-A curtailed some of those donations by 2017 and has worked to rebrand itself as it expands internationally, its efforts toward inclusion have increasingly drawn criticism from the political right. Prominent Republicans, including former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, have accused the company of becoming too woke for embracing DEI initiatives.For LGBTQ+ observers, the irony is hard to miss. A single franchise congratulating a gay couple has sparked outrage from groups that once championed Chick-fil-A as a cultural ally, a sign of how even small gestures of inclusion can provoke backlash in an ongoing culture war.Meanwhile, Dougie and Tobys wedding photo remains up, quietly celebrating love in a place few expected it, and reminding many just how much the cultural landscape has changed.Source