Why did the chicken cross the road? To escape the clutches of a homophobic fast food restaurant.

Crap, I screwed up the punchline. ItB次元官网网址檚 supposed to be: to escape the clutches of a fast food restaurant that supports traditional family values.

A few weeks back, Dan Cathy, the president of Chick-fil-A (an American chicken chain), was asked by a small Baptist newspaper whether he supports same-sex marriage.

He indirectly answered the question, saying, B次元官网网址淲e are very much supportive of the family B次元官网网址� the biblical definition of the family unit. We know that it might not be popular with everyone, but thank the Lord, we live in a country where we can share our values and operate on biblical principle.B次元官网网址�

Well Cathy was right about his views being unpopular.

Since then, a nationwide boycott of Chick-fil-A was launched and supported by an overwhelming number of Americans who defend gay marriage.

Cathy, the businessman, was martyred because of his personal views, which donB次元官网网址檛 seem to be related to his business practices. His restaurants still hire homosexuals and serve fried chicken to gay customers, if they so choose to work or eat there.

And though I disagree wholeheartedly with CathyB次元官网网址檚 stance on gay marriage, heB次元官网网址檚 absolutely right that he can openly share his values and operate on biblical principle, if he so chooses.

And heB次元官网网址檚 not alone.

An Angus Reid poll from March of this year suggest 48 per cent of Americans are still opposed to gay marriage. That means CathyB次元官网网址檚 not alone by any means. Statistically speaking, some 48 per cent of the owners of the businesses at which you shop share a similar view.

But 48 per cent is now a minority. And that minority is shrinking.

It seems Canada is more progressive, at 36 per cent opposition. But thatB次元官网网址檚 still a high number.

And itB次元官网网址檚 likely B次元官网网址� though I donB次元官网网址檛 want to generalize B次元官网网址� that the majority of those who donB次元官网网址檛 support same-sex marriage probably operate, like Cathy, on biblical principles, or other religious scriptures.

To boycott a company whose president doesnB次元官网网址檛 share the same religious views as you is silly. To boycott a company whose president doesnB次元官网网址檛 share the same political views as you is ridiculous. But to boycott a company whose president openly supports a form of inequality is reasonable.

And itB次元官网网址檚 unfortunate the Chick-fil-A employees who donB次元官网网址檛 agree with CathyB次元官网网址檚 stance B次元官网网址� even those who do B次元官网网址� are being branded and chastised for being affiliated with a homophobic company, but Cathy mustB次元官网网址檝e known the impact a public statement on this issue would have.

Not only that, apparently the company annually donates millions of dollars to organizations and groups that actively and openly oppose same-sex marriage.

ThatB次元官网网址檚 where I draw the line. Chick-fil-A doesnB次元官网网址檛 operate in Canada, so I canB次元官网网址檛 boycott it for reasons other than its unhealthy, deep-fried menu options.

ItB次元官网网址檚 one thing for a businessman to come forward and state his stance on an issue B次元官网网址� I may disagree with you, for reasons of equality or religion, but your views are your own. I wouldnB次元官网网址檛 boycott you for that.

However, itB次元官网网址檚 another thing entirely to use your companyB次元官网网址檚 profits to finance groups whose sole objective is to deny equal rights to a portion of the population that includes some of your employees and customers. ThatB次元官网网址檚 boycott-worthy.

I realistically donB次元官网网址檛 expect to change anyoneB次元官网网址檚 stance on gay marriage with this column. Your views, like mine, are founded in each of our upbringings and our understandings of our social and political environments.

But I, like many, should thank Cathy for coming out and publicly stating his position on such a divisive issue B次元官网网址� even if it makes no sense for a businessman to wade into the discussion.

At least thereB次元官网网址檚 an awareness now of where money goes once itB次元官网网址檚 exchanged for Chick-fil-A Chick-n-Strips; I wouldnB次元官网网址檛 want to knowingly have my money finance discriminatory ventures.

Maybe more business owners should be as open.

Kyle Slavin is a reporter with the Saanich B次元官网网址.