***UPDATE: CHICK-FIL-A RESPONDS***
After all those people turned out to support Chick-fil-A, to stand with Chick-fil-A in light of the bullying from the other side, to stand in line for hours to make that Chick-fil-A’s best sales day ever, they turn around and concede to the bullies after all:
WASHINGTON TIMES – Chick-fil-A stopped funding traditional-marriage groups in an effort to open a new Chicago restaurant, but the company initially kept quiet about the decision, prompting gay rights groups to speculate that the company feared a backlash from conservative customers.
The Christian-rooted fast food restaurant agreed to stop funding groups such as Focus on the Family that oppose same-sex marriage in a meeting with the Chicago politician who had been blocking the company’s move there. Chick-fil-A wrote a letter to Alderman Joe Moreno affirming this, according to his spokesman, Matt Bailey, but the company initially wouldn’t allow his office to release the letter to the public. Three weeks later they relented.
“There was concern from them,” said Anthony Martinez, executive director for the Civil Rights Agenda, the Illinois lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender group that negotiated with both Chick-fil-A and the alderman to stop funding for so-called anti-gay groups. “They really didn’t want to announce it, really, but, of course, the alderman needed to clarify why he was changing his stance on them opening a restaurant within his ward.”
Chick-fil-A did not returns requests for comment, and has previously said it will not discuss the issue with the media.
Look, don’t get me wrong, this type of thuggery is anti-constitutional and has no place in America. This Chicago politician blocking Chick-fil-A should be impeached for doing something so nasty. These thugs have no place in government.
I just thought Chick-fil-A had more backbone. I realize they need to expand and it’s not their fault for the persecution they’ve endured. I just hate to hear another private company forced to concede to the left. I would rather them sue the pants off of this politician and the city of Chicago for violating their constitutional rights.
UPDATE: Chick-fil-A has responded to this latest controversy:
Sep. 20, 2012 Chick-fil-A: Who We Are. A Response to Recent Controversy.
For many months now, Chick-fil-A’s corporate giving has been mischaracterized. And while our sincere intent has been to remain out of this political and social debate, events from Chicago this week have once again resulted in questions around our giving. For that reason, we want to provide some context and clarity around who we are, what we believe and our priorities in relation to corporate giving.
A part of our corporate commitment is to be responsible stewards of all that God has entrusted to us. Because of this commitment, Chick-fil-A’s giving heritage is focused on programs that educate youth, strengthen families and enrich marriages, and support communities. We will continue to focus our giving in those areas. Our intent is not to support political or social agendas.
As we have stated, the Chick-fil-A culture and service tradition in our restaurants is to treat every person with honor, dignity and respect – regardless of their belief, race, creed, sexual orientation or gender. We will continue this tradition in the over 1,600 restaurants run by independent Owner/Operators.
For better understanding of our corporate giving, please click here to download the PDF document titled “Chick-fil-A: Who We Are.”
It doesn’t seem to clarify the specific arguments being leveled against it, but it does make clear they are trying to stay out of political and social debates. But all in all, I’m not so sure this is a denial.
Either way, make of it what you will.