Texas organization calls for boycott of Cracker Barrel

A national chain known for its food and aesthetic that drips in southern comfort is the next business facing backlash over its support of Pride Month and the LGBTQ+ community. The Texas Family Project called on supporters to boycott Cracker Barrel on Thursday, June 8, stating "a once family friendly establishment has caved to the mob."

Tennessee-based Cracker Barrel posted a photo of a rocking chair sporting a rainbow on Instagram the same day, and shared the chain is "excited to celebrate Pride Month with our employees and guests. Everyone is always welcome at our table (and our [rainbow] rocker). Happy Pride!"

The Texas Family Project is a "pro-family" organization that aims to mobilize supporters on issues such as abolishing abortion, banning trans athletes from women's sports, banning gender affirming care from minors, protecting children from obscene materials, and removing education related to gender and sexual identity and critical race theory.

Cracker Barrel gained a reputation for not being supportive of the LGBTQ+ community following an early 90s decision to "no longer employ homosexuals" resulting in "at least nine gay employees [being] dismissed," as described in a 1991 article from the New York Times.

Over the years, the company has attempted to counter that reputation, including in 2019 when it publicly disagreed with and barred Grayson Fritts, a police officer and Baptist pastor, and his church from holding an event over heinous statements that included the execution of gay people. The Houston Chronicle also reports the company has supported events like Pride "long before this week's post."

In 2013, the company pulled Duck Dynasty items from store shelves following anti-gay comments by one of the show's stars. Two days after the decision to remove the merchandise, Cracker Barrel returned items back to shelves after customers complained, saying "You wrote, you called and you took to social media to express your thoughts and feelings. You flat out told us we were wrong. We listened."

The conservative boycott of Cracker Barrel comes after Target announced in May that some Pride merchandise was removed from stores, citing worker safety. Bud Light reported a 23% drop in sales in May following a similar boycott over the company's partnership with transgender actress and social media influencer Dylan Mulvaney.

Here are this week's top stories:

The Ken Paxton impeachment drama has continued to unfold, with famed Texas defense attorney Tony Buzbee calling the investigation a sham and a personal vendetta. An Austin man with connections to Paxton was also arrested and indicted on eight felony charges.

Wildfires in Canada are causing smoke to lay in a thick blanket over much of the country, sending asthma sufferers to the hospital, delaying flights, postponing professional sports events and sending schools into remote learning.

A San Antonio rapper was identified as the person shot and killed while at a barber shop in the North Park Mall.

A KENS 5 news anchor is in the ICU following complications as she recovered from a surgery. Her family said her recovery could take weeks.

Lionel Messi announced he's coming to the MLS and Texans are already wondering when they'll get to see him play.