mta
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RED LOBSTER AND THE OLIVE GARDEN OPPOSE CIVIL RIGHTS
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Aug 22 21:06 UTC 1998 |
According to The Washington Blade (July 17, 1998, pg. 12, col. 1)
Darden Restaurants, the owner of Red Lobster, Olive Garden, and the new
Bahama Breeze restaurant chains, wants to be able to fire employees
solely
because those employees are Gay.
Darden Restaurants is going to court to try and get Cook County,
Illinois
human rights ordinance -- which prohibits discrimination based on race,
sex,
religion, sexual orientation, and other categories, in matters of
employment, housing, public accommodations and credit transactions --
declared unconstitutional. Their action comes in response to an order
from
the Cook County Human Rights Commission that they reinstate a Gay
employee
who was repeatedly ridiculed and eventually fired because of his sexual
orientation.
The restaurant is not trying to claim that it did not discriminate - it
is
acknowledging that it *did* discriminate, and that civil rights laws
which
prevent them from acting on their bigotry are unconstitutional! This is
not
just a company that supports an anti-Gay "foundation;" This is not just
a
company that discriminates and tries to cover it up; (although those
examples are bad enough!) This is a company that is actively seeking to
overturn important civil rights legislation - which would open the doors
for
countless other firings, harassment, and other forms of discrimination.
I know many of you often eat at these restaurants (I have as well), but
Red
Lobster and The Olive Garden are not establishments you should support.
Next time you're tempted to eat at Red Lobster or The Olive Garden,
imagine
your Lesbian
daughter/sister/granddaughter/aunt/niece/friend/mother/lover/self being
fired solely because she's a lesbian -- for no other reason.
Or imagine your Gay
son/brother/grandson/uncle/nephew/friend/father/lover/self losing his
housing - or being unable to find a place to live - solely because he's
Gay.
There are hundreds of other restaurants out there -- ones that aren't
using
your money to take away the civil rights of those you know and love.
Patronize them, but not Red Lobster or The Olive Garden.
BOYCOTT RED LOBSTER AND THE OLIVE GARDEN.
Please forward this on to as many persons as possible.
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