Gay marriage and McDonald’s: Dobson wins one, loses one

The news that same-gender couples have the right to marry in Connecticut has gays and lesbians rejoicing — and James Dobson of Focus on the Family fuming. But hey, at least his Colorado Springs-based ministry and media empire has something to celebrate: McDonald’s has removed the “Gay Agenda” from its menu, and now Dobson can supersize his Big Mac special value meal with pride.

With its 4-3 ruling on Friday, Connecticut became the third state, after California and Massachusetts, to legalize same-sex marriage. Dobson, whose Focus on the Family promotes the idea that gays and lesbians can pray away the gay, was quick to respond to the “tragic” news:

“[Friday’s] ruling by the Connecticut Supreme Court to impose same-sex ‘marriage’ adds another tragic example of runaway judges trampling on citizens’ right to decide public policy for themselves,” was Dobson’s statement, as issued by Focus. “In doing so, the court has placed the desires of adults over the needs of children, who, social science research proves, do best when they are raised by their married mom and dad living in the same home.

“We decry this decision by justices unelected and unaccountable to the people, and will do whatever is necessary to oppose it….”

Dobson’s statement goes on, but at least his ministry is tempering the news with the positive. One Focus-sponsored “Good News” feature of last week — headlined “McDonald’s Removes Gay Agenda from Menu” — highlights the Colorado-based ministry’s winning battle against McDonald’s.

Here’s the nuts and bolts: Last year the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce became a “corporate partner” of McDonald’s, which really brought out the Hamburgler in Dobson. In his June newsletter to supporters, Dobson raged on the “social craziness” of this “far-reaching nature of homosexual activism.” In fact, Dobson — whose last spotted sighting at an actual McDonald’s restaurant is unrecorded, actually threatened a personal boycott:

“The next time you find yourself in one of their restaurants, I wish you would let management know how disgusted you are with this new affiliation. As for me, I will patronize other food establishments,” Dobson threatened.

Last week, just as the Connecticut high court issued its ruling OK’ing same-gender marriage, Focus put McDonald’s back on the “family friendly list” after the fast-food chain agreed to not renew its membership with the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.

According to Jeff Johnston, gender issues analyst for Focus on the Family Action, this decision by McDonald’s to eradicate its alleged “gay agenda,” is “a terrific move.”

Break out the champagne, er, the Chicken McNuggets.

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