While many people love eating at American fast food chain Chick-fil-A, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio apparently does not. The politician has actually boycotted the well-loved Christian establishment and called on his supporters to do the same because of its "anti-LGBT" stance.
"What the ownership of Chick-fil-A has said is wrong," he told DNA Info. "I'm certainly not going to patronise them and I wouldn't urge any other New Yorker to patronise them. But they do have a legal right."
Blasio's statement came after Councilman Daniel Dromm accused the fast food chain of spreading a "message of hate" back in 2012. Company president Dan Cathy said then that marriage is exclusively between a man and a woman only. His statement upset many from the LGBT community. Cathy was also accused of donating money to several anti-LGBT groups.
Chick-fil-A has three restaurants in Manhattan, and it plans to open more establishments throughout the city. A spokesperson said the company has over 80,000 employees with different backgrounds and beliefs but all united in their desire to provide great service and good.
"The Chick-fil-A culture and service tradition in our restaurants is to treat every person with honour, dignity and respect — regardless of their beliefs, race, creed, sexual orientation or gender," she said.
The spokesperson also dismissed accusations that the company only donates to anti-gay organisations, saying it has made several donations to groups across the city, including Harlem RBI and New York Cares.
Fox News & Commentary host Todd Starnes also came to the defence of the fast food chain. "Chick-fil-A is not in the business of spreading hate. They are in the business of selling chicken and waffle fries and deliciously refreshing lemonade," he writes. "And they do not have a policy that prohibits same-sex love. That's a blatant lie."
