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Chick-fil-A flap sees calls for action from both sides of same-sex marriage debate

By: Dean Reynolds

(CBS News) CHICAGO - A fast food chain known for putting Christian principles ahead of profits is facing a culture war over same-sex marriage.

The controversy is prompting politicians and activist groups on both sides of the issue to organize events where like-minded people can demonstrate their discontent.

The Chick-fil-A menu offers sandwiches, nuggets and strips, but critics say it is all served with a side-order of bigotry.

The company's boss has angered gay rights advocates, some politicians - even the Muppets - with his stand against same-sex marriage.

In an interview on The Ken Coleman Show last month, Chick-fil-A President and COO Dan Cathy said, "I think we're inviting God's judgment on our nation when we shake our fist at him and say, you know, 'We know better than you as to what constitutes marriage."'

Cathy added that his company is "very much supporting of the family, the biblical definition of the family unit."

Within days, the Internet was on fire with criticism. Some stores were picketed. The Henson Company pulled its Muppets out of a marketing deal with Chick-fil-A.

And the mayors of Boston and Chicago sounded off.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel told reporters, "What the COO has said as it relates to gay marriage and gay couples is not what I believe. But more importantly, it's not what the people of the city of Chicago believe."

Chick-fil-A has 1,600 locations in 39 states and Washington, D.C. and had more than $4 billion in sales last year.

Chicago has one Chick-fil-A franchise and there were plans afoot to build a second.

But city Alderman Joe Moreno says they can forget about getting a permit. "I'm not gonna sit on the sidelines and allow them to come in when I know in my heart that they believe in discriminating against gay people," Moreno says.

The franchise owner of the lone Chicago Chick-fil-A, Lauren Silich, says hold on: Her store welcomes everyone and has gay employees. "We are open to any sort of lifestyle ... believe what ... you want to believe in and what you do, to me, it really doesn't matter," she says.

Conservatives have rallied to the chain's side.

Radio host and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and former GOP presidential contender and Pa. Gov. Rick Santorum are urging everyone to patronize their local Chick-fil-A on Wednesday.

Still others wonder whether free speech is at issue here, and whether it's fair to consider action against a company because of the personal beliefs of its boss.

But a group called Equality Illinois is urging gay and lesbian couples to go to their local Chick-fil-A restaurants on Friday, Aug. 3 for a "kiss-in" campaign the group is promoting along with other gay rights organizations nationwide, according to CBS station WBBM.

Equality Illinois is also urging Chicagoans who support gay rights to participate in an "Eat for Love Day" on Wednesday. The organization is urging people to eat at a local restaurant that supports LGBT rights and "is unafraid to show its support for equality for everyone."

© 2012 CBS Interactive Inc.. All Rights Reserved.

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I will state for the record that I have no problem with what the guy said or him running his business the way that he sees fit. I have no problem with gay people or others boycotting or protesting within the law.... I have no problem with other people using this as a reason to support this business.... what I do have a problem with is an Alderman, a government official, in Chicago denying a company franchise a building permit because he disagrees with the spriritual, social and/or political beliefs of the owner... that is entirely unconstitutional. If he can prove that Chick-fil-a violated some laws in its hiring or business practices, then go after them, I have no problem with that... but you cannot deny a company a building permit simply because you THINK the COO is a bigot. And if that is allowed to stand, then it opens the doors for states and municipalities to start making these kinds of value judgments on any and all businesses that want to operate within their jurisdiction...

As a side note, I thought everybody knew of the strong Christian beliefs behind the Chick-fil-a company... why do people think they aren't open on Sunday?

I don't really eat Chik-Fil-A, but as the article said there is only one franchise in Chicago...

But it wouldn't stop me from eating there anyway. Unless they are directly turning down gay customers, I don't care where they spend their money. It's their own choice. I don't care.

I'm 100% in full support of gay rights and gay marriage, but in this situation, I'm not going to be mad, because the owners choose to spend their money a certain way. Wake me up when they start telling gay customers they won't serve them.

That was my exact take-away from the article. He "...knows in his heart..."

That councilman should be sued RIGHT NOW.

Does he think he is a King who can decide which laws get enforced and which do not? We've got enough of that right now.

This whole thing has got to be one of the dumbest freaking things to ever hit mainstream media.... and that is saying a LOT.


It's chicken. Who the hell cares?

Agreed

Yeah, I agree. In a country where it's better for 1000 guilty men to go free than one innocent man to be convicted, I don't see how you can legitimize blocking a business from opening unless there is at least some strong anecdotal evidence suggesting unfair hiring or employer practices.

The can believe what he wants....but it's stupid to walk around telling people. You're a fast food chain, not a politician. You're supposed to be concerned with maximizing your potential sales, not angering certain segments of the public.

I'm sure all the franchise owners aren't very happy about this. They just want to run a business with good profits, not be a location where gay marriage is supported or protested in front of their doors.

I might swing by the only store in Chicago, its about 6 blocks from me. I'll see if there are any protestors.

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what I do have a problem with is an Alderman, a government official, in Chicago denying a company franchise a building permit because he disagrees with the spriritual, social and/or political beliefs of the owner.

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That's just it, this alderman is infringing on the rights of the Franchise Owner who appears to not think like the owner of the company. What he's really doing is hurting a local business person that has no issues with the L/G community.

The guy is an idiot. (the alderman I mean)

I love Chick-Fil_A .... best chicken sandwich on the planet.

I'm not going to change my buying habits because the owner basically stated that he shares the same belief as the majority of Ohio voters. (The anti gay marriage amendment was overwhelmingly approved several years ago)

His restaurants have never been accused of discriminating against anyone ..... as far as I know, no gay person has ever been refused service or a job. The owner merely stated that his Christian beliefs compel him to view marriage as between 1 man and 1 woman.

I love how certain groups will support some pretty vile and disgusting politicians and groups ..... but if a Christian stands up for his beliefs ..... well, the Left wants to crucify him.

I think that it would be really funny if people decided to boycott Chicago. If they were planning on going there for vacation, or for a business convention of some kind, then sgo somewhere else instead. Further, Chicago has so many problems, especially as far as violence and murders on its streets ... often reaching double digits in a single weekend ......(they have already had in excess of 275 murders just so far this year) that I would think that the Mayor would have more important issues on his plate. I saw a brief clip of Raum Emmanuel talking about allowing the Nation of Islam to "patrol" the streets of the inner city in Chicago, and he looked like he was coming off a 5 day bender. His eyes were all bloodshot and sunken ...... he was shaky in his speech ..... and so on. I have to wonder if he is having second thoughts about wanting to be Mayor.

Now ..... I think that I'm gonna go have Chick-Fil-A for lunch. Sounds delicious.

If Chick-fil-A came out and said they weren't hiring gays or that they didn't want them eating in their restaurants, THAT would be a problem. For Dan Cathy to just come out and say that his company is based on bible values and that he values traditional marriage... who cares? That's his 1st amendment right, whether anyone agrees with the belief or not. Jeff Bezos (Amazon CEO) just gave $2.5M to defend gay marriage, should all traditional marriage supporters go nuts and try to shut down Amazon? Nope... that's his right as well.

What ISN'T OK is this crap coming out of Chicago/Boston about trying to block Chick-fil-A from their cities because they don't share the same values. So politicians are able to strong arm people based on whether they agree with their views? That's so illegal it's not even funny... when the Chicago ACLU is jumping all over those politicians despite the group's strong pro-gay rights stance, you know it's an open and shut violation.

If you don't agree with Chick-fil-A's principles and beliefs, the solution is simple: vote with your dollars. Choose somewhere else to eat.

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I love Chick-Fil_A .... best chicken sandwich on the planet.

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LOL I'm sorry to hear that.

LOL Beat me to it. Blech.

How can you guys not love Chick-Fil-A?

Man, their chicken sandwich is always juicy and tender ... their spicy chicken is an excellent blend of flavor and heat..... and their nuggets and strips are spectacular.

Yummy.

Great sandwich!

It's NOT what one thinks about homosexuality rather how one treats the person!

I like Chick-Fil-A's 1500 calorie peppermint holiday shake, but that's about it. I can make a much better fried chicken sandwich at home. The nuggets at Chick-fil-a... I'd go so far as to say they're gross.

Ok... to be fair, I don't eat at fast food places very often. When I want a chicken sandwich, I go to a real restaurant and get a real chicken sandwich.

Maybe Chick-Fil-A is OK as far as fast food is concerned, but there are probably at least a half-dozen places I'd go to first for a great chicken sandwich.

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I can make a much better fried chicken sandwich at home.

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I would hope that you can make almost everything better at home than you can get at a fast food restaurant... I won't speak for ytown but I believe he used a little hyperbole there.... but for fast food, their chicken sandwich blows away any other fast food chicken sandwich I've had...

YTown... Hyperbole... Nooo...

Many of the "real" restaurants use frozen chicken breast that comes in pre-battered or breaded.

Chick-Fil-A is always fresh, always hot, and their service is always excellent.

I also don't eat a lot of fast food anymore either. However, I do have favorites among them. Chick-Fil-A is definitely one of them.

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The can believe what he wants....but it's stupid to walk around telling people. You're a fast food chain, not a politician. You're supposed to be concerned with maximizing your potential sales, not angering certain segments of the public.

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So a successful business person shouldn't be able to talk about his personal beliefs for fear that he may anger somebody?

he was on the Ken Coleman show... a quick search for other guests include... President Jimmy Carter, Tim Tebow, Coach K, Senator John McCain, Tony Dungy, Gov. Mike Huckabee, Pat Summitt, Tony Robbins, Rep. Michele Bachmann, Josh Hamilton, Rev Run, Tony Hawk, T.D. Jakes, Jim Collins, Diane Lane, Mitch Albom & Rick Warren.... See a pattern?

It is pretty common knowledge that the ownership of Chick-fil-a is serious about his faith, that's why they aren't open on Sunday..... it's also pretty common knowledge that most of those who are very serious about their Christian faith oppose gay marriage... so if A=B and B=C.... this should not come as a big surprise to anybody.

Those who disagree with him, and those who saw a chance to score some political points, saw a chance to make a big stink about this... if it plays out like I expect it to, it will go like this..... in the end it will backfire and Chick-fil-a will be better off than it was before.... then the left will send in some gay guy looking for a job with a hidden camera and try to get some poor unsuspecting store manager to say something that he can post on the internet... and if they don't get it, they will keep trying until they do... it might the 46th store manager but the minute somebody says something stupid, then all of Chick-fil-a will get blasted again as being homophobic..... that is, of course, JMHO....

Chick-fil-a has always touted itself as Christian. Why is anyone surprised that they're against gays marriage?

JC.


You can't buy the amount of advertising, logo displaying, name dropping that chick-fil-a is getting right now. They saved millions by making one comment.

It kind of amazes me how much time, effort and resources people put into who is screwing who. I could care less. I'd rather put my energy into job creation and economic opportunity for all of our citizens.

What amazes me is that a Mayor of a city with so many problems, with a 9.8% unemployment rate, would try to keep jobs out of his city.

Doesn't seem too smart to me.

He's also alienating his constituents who might really like Chick-Fil-A, and who might be looking forward to a restaurant moving in close to them.

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I think that it would be really funny if people decided to boycott Chicago

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How is that funny? Tourism is a huge source of their money. It's a beautiful city and I would hate to see anything bad happen to it

Off topic: Chick-fil-a has garbage food anyways

The only reason I like Chick-Fil-A, is because it's one of the few fast food places that you can have healthy options.

I try to eat as good as I can, but sometimes I just don't have the time to go home and cook dinner.

Grilled chicken sandwich on a wheat bun and a cup of fruit at 310 calories and 4 grams of fat sure beats the hell out of 780 calories and 40 grams of fat for a Big Mac and fries.

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but it's not exactly a boon for business to say 'Hey, I'm a bigot!'

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Exactly.. he should have remembered that athiests and heathens buy chicken sandwiches too.

I love Chik-fil-a as well. I can get a meal there for reasonably low calories, as well as the best diet lemonade. I am not going to change the amount of time I eat there. However, I will not be going the day of the protest. I'm not going to be part of a political statement.

I went to Chick-fil-a today.. not as any great show of support, more because I had an errand to run and it was on the way... but the drive-thru line went around the building 1 1/2 times, they had a guy directing traffic in the parking lot to keep people from getting trapped and jammed up...

And I think its ironic that these mayors of Chicago and Boston are taking this bold political move... Chicago has 1 Chick-fil-a.. Boston has 0 (there are 2 in malls in the suburbs)... Raleigh NC has 26, Charlotte NC has 35.... Atlanta GA has 67..... But the guy in Chicago is going to block 1.....

All it is, is low sugar lemonade.