Estimated read time: 5-6 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — A fast-food restaurant is at the center of a controversy over corporations' role in politics and the exercise of free speech.
Chick-fil-A president Dan Cathy made waves last week with comments opposing gay marriage. The company has long been known to espouse traditional religious values, and has given more than $2 million to organizations such as Exodus International and the Family Research Council.
"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,'" Cathy said during an appearance on ‘The Ken Coleman Show.' "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."
He later confirmed to the Baptist Press that the company was "guilty as charged" in supporting "the biblical definition of the family unit."
The comments set of a nationwide policy debate, as politicians in two major cities have moved to block the expansion of Chick-fil-A within their jurisdiction.
Boston Mayor Thomas Menino told the Boston Herald last week that the restaurant "doesn't belong in Boston."
"You can't have a business in the city of Boston that discriminates against a population," Menino said. "We're an open city, we're a city that's at the forefront of inclusion."
Menino had said he would make it "very difficult" to open a Chick-fil-A in Boston, but on Thursday told the Boston Herald that his "tough talk" was a "mistake," and that it would be interfering with the restaurant's rights if he prevented a new store from being built. He said his distaste for Cathy's remarks remains unchanged, though.
Alderman Joe Moreno of Chicago's 1st Ward soon followed suit, saying he will prevent the company from opening a restaurant in the city's Logan Square neighborhood until Chick-fil-A comes up with a written anti-discrimination policy.
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel voiced support for Moreno, saying in a statement to the Chicago Tribune that "Chick- fil-A values are not Chicago values. They disrespect our fellow neighbors and residents."
Mountain View, in San Francisco, has also temporarily blocked the chain from opening any new restaurants.
Media outlets including Bloomberg, the Los Angeles Times and the Chicago Tribune have published editorials on the constitutionality of the politicians' moves, saying that blocking the company for an unpopular opinion sets a bad precedent and is of doubtful legality.
Students of [at least 10 universities](<http://www.change.org/petitions#search/chick-fil-a university>), including New York University and the University of Florida, have launched petitions on Change.org asking university officials to remove existing Chick-fil-A restaurants from their campuses. None of the requests have been granted as of Thursday.
One Chick-fil-A partner has stopped working with the company because of Cathy's comments. The Jim Henson Company announced Friday that it would end its partnerships with the restaurant and that it would donate its payment from the puppet kit promotion in Chick-fil-A kid's meals to the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation.
"The Jim Henson Company has celebrated and embraced diversity and inclusiveness for over fifty years," the company said in a statement. "Lisa Henson, our CEO, is personally a strong supporter of gay marriage."
Pictures circulated this week of a sign at a Chick-fil-A in Texas that claimed the toys had been "voluntarily recalled … due to a possible safety issue." The recall purportedly took effect July 19.
A comment on the company's Facebook page after the recall went viral after what appeared to be a fake account stood up for the company.
The account was found to have existed for only eight hours before the comments were made, and used a stock image picture of a teenage girl. It was not proved that Chick- fil-A had anything to do with the comments, and the company said on Facebook that the claim was "100% false."
The company's critics are not the only ones voicing their opinions; supporters have been equally vehement. Along with threats of boycotts, there have been promises to eat at Chick-fil-A even more than usual.
Rick Santorum and Mike Huckabee have also come out in support of the company: the two have promoted a "Chick- fil-A Appreciation Day" on Aug. 1.
"No signs and no protests are needed to make your voice heard," Santorum said in an email to supporters. "Just simply have a meal at Chick-fil-A on August 1 for ‘Chick- fil-A Appreciation Day' and our support for traditional values will be heard loud and clear."
The event comes two days before a national same-sex kiss day that has been organized for Aug. 3 by those opposed to Cathy's statements.
Chick-fil-A has released a statement of its own in the aftermath of Cathy's comments, saying the company is known to "treat every person with honor, dignity and respect — regardless of their belief, race, creed, sexual orientation or gender."
"Going forward, our intent is to leave the policy debate over same-sex marriage to the government and political arena."
