Chick-fil-A President Dan Cathy has received a torrent of reactions, both opposing and supporting, to his recent comment:
“I think we are inviting God’s judgment on our nation when we shake our fist at Him and say ‘we know better than you as to what constitutes a marriage’ and I pray God’s mercy on our generation that has such a prideful, arrogant attitude to think that we have the audacity to define what marriage is about.”
Alderman Joe Moreno, who represents Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood, plans to use his aldermanic privilege, a Chicago tradition in which City Council members defer to aldermen on local matters, to block the restaurant’s permit from opening up in his ward.
“It’s a very diverse ward — economically, racially, and diverse in sexual orientation,” Moreno told ABCNews.com. “We’ve got thriving businesses and we want more but at the very least don’t discriminate against our LGBTQ folks.”
Â
Chick-fil-A Blocked From Opening Second Chicago Store | ABC News Story
The Jim Henson Company also severed ties with the establishment and have donated their earnings from making toys for the chain’s kids’ meals to the gay support organization GLAAD.
Additionally, Boston Mayor Thomas Menino sent Cathy a letter informing him “There is no place for discrimination on Boston’s Freedom Trail and no place for your company alongside it.” The entire letter is below. And you may click here if you would like a downloadable pdf copy.
July 20, 2012
Mr. Dan Cathy, President
Chick-fil-A
5200 Buffington Road
Atlanta GA 30349
To Mr. Cathy:
In recent days you said Chick-fil-A opposes same-sex marriage and said the generation that supports it has an “arrogant attitude.”
Now — incredibly — your company says you are backing out of the same-sex marriage debate. I urge you to back out of your plans to locate in Boston.
You called supporters of gay marriage “prideful.” Here in Boston, to borrow your own words, we are “guilty as charged.” We are indeed full of pride for our support of same sex marriage an our work to expand freedom to all people. We are proud that our state andour city have led the way for the country on equal marriage rights.
I was angry to learn on the heels of your prejudiced statements about your search for a site to locate in Boston. There is no place for discrimination on Boston’s Freedom Trail and no place for your company alongside it. When Massachusetts became the first state in the country to recognize equal marriage rights, I personally stood on City Hall Plaza to greet same sex couples coming here to be married. It would be an insult to them and to our city’s long history of expanding freedom to have a Chick-fil-A across the street from that spot.
Sincerely,
Thomas M. Menino
Mayor, City of Boston
CC:
Steven Binnie
Carlisle Properties
26 Daniel Street, Suite 200
Portsmouth, NH 03801
I have to admit, as much as Cathy’s statement bothers me as I find him to be a closed-minded, ignorant bigot, Mayor Menino made a statement in his letter that was unknowingly hypocritical. Menino wrote, “There is no place for discrimination on Boston’s Freedom Trail” which is ironic in itself because is not the Mayor of Boston showing discrimination against Cathy and Chick-fil-A wanting to open up a store in Boston?
Nonetheless, I stand behind Mayor Menino’s opinion and letter to Dan Cathy. It takes a bold political figure to make a stand like this, and it does a heart good to see him stand up for equal rights.
On the other end of the spectrum are Cathy’s supporters. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee organized a “Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day” for Aug. 1.
“The goal is simple: Let’s affirm a business that operates on Christian principles and whose executives are willing to take a stand for the godly values we espouse by simply showing up and eating at Chick Fil-A on Wednesday, August 1,” Huckabee wrote on Facebook.
As of this afternoon, more than 117,000 people had indicated they’d participate in the event.
Sen. Rick Santorum (shudder) said on Twitter today that he was eating lunch at Chick-fil-A with five of his children.
“Enjoying chick-in-strips and an awesome peach shake at Chick-fil-A. See you here next Wednesday!” he tweeted.
We have a Chick-fil-A here in Albuquerque which is located pretty much on the complete other side of the county from where I live. I rarely go up to the far north side of the city, so I have not had anything from there for months now. Sad, because I really do like their sandwiches and waffle fries, but I will boycott them and eat elsewhere. They’ll never realize I will no longer add any more profits to their bank accounts, but I know – and that’s all that matters. I can lay my head down at night and not feel guilty because I do not have hatred and nor do I discriminate towards someone else because of who they love.
Sources and related articles:
ABC News: Chicago Politician Will Ban Chick-fil-A From Opening Restaurant After Anti-Gay Comments
ABC News: Chick-Fil-A Surprises Some With Gay Marriage Talk
Boston Herald: Mayor Menino on Chick-fil-A: Stuff it
Boston Herald: Experts: Mayor’s power has limits
Boston Herald: Mayor’s letter to Chick-fil-A
Motley News 
Leave a reply to Chick-fil-A has Donated Millions of Dollars to Anti-Gay and Hate Groups « Motley News and Photos Cancel reply