The Cracker Barrel chain of familial eateries astounded numerous individuals today with the publication of a favorable Pride message on its Facebook profile. This establishment, rooted in Lebanon, Tennessee, and renowned as a mainstay of America’s Southern and suburban regions for more than half a century, engaged in positive interactions by addressing laudatory tweets regarding its Facebook announcement.
The eatery franchise distinguished not only for its idiosyncratic emporiums of peculiar gifts and captivating peg solitaire games but also for its delectably hearty cuisine, has actively embraced and promoted Pride and inclusive values in recent years. Though there are those who still retain recollections of the company’s bigoted history, specifically its discriminatory treatment of LGBTQ+ staff members and the dismissals of numerous gay employees during the early 1990s.
In response to these actions, activists advocating for LGBTQ+ rights descended upon Cracker Barrel establishments to voice their opposition to the company’s promotion of what they perceived as exclusive “heteronormative principles.” Following the outcry, the company swiftly discontinued this policy, making significant strides toward positive change. It proudly boasts an 80 out of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index.
The progression of Cracker Barrel’s transformation remains unknown to many, particularly conservatives who, unsurprisingly, expressed dismay and indignation upon encountering the aforementioned Pride-related Facebook post. At the time of this report’s publication, it is worth noting that Cracker Barrel has admirably refrained from capitulating to the anti-LGBTQ+ movement that has targeted other businesses that have expressed solidarity with the queer community, such as Budweiser and Target.
