Dan Cathy denies Chick-fil-A has changed anti-gay practices
Fri. September 21, 2012 7:21 PM by Jay Shaff
chick-fil-a president dan cathy
photo credit // twitter
Chick-fil-A COO Dan Cathy tells Mike Huckabee: We have made no concessions
Chicago, IL -
Conservative former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee has issued a statement on his website denying that Chick-fil-A has changed their position on funding anti-gay marriage groups.
Huckabee said: "I talked earlier today personally with Dan Cathy, COO of Chick Fil-A about the new reports that Chick Fil-A had capitulated to demands of the supporters of same sex marriage. This is not true. The company continues to focus on the fair treatment of all of its customers and employees, but to end confusion gave me this statement:
"There continues to be erroneous implications in the media that Chick-fil-A changed our practices and priorities in order to obtain permission for a new restaurant in Chicago. That is incorrect", Cathy said. "Chick-fil-A made no such concessions, and we remain true to who we are and who we have been."
On Wednesday, Chicago Alderman Proco "Joe" Moreno (1st) said that he had written assurances from Chick-fil-A's Senior Dir. of Real Estate that donations to anti-gay causes had ceased.
With the agreement Moreno, who had previously refused to allow the Atlanta-based chain to locate in his Northwest Side ward, said he would reverse his decision.
On Thursday, the Advocate reported that Cathy tweeted a photo of himself participating in a bike ride that supported the Marriage and Family Foundations, a charitable organization identified as having opposed same-sex marriage.
"In the best case, we hope that this is a road-bump in what is typically a long process. In the worst case, they have lied and distorted their intentions. Only time will tell," The Civil Rights Agenda executive director Anthony Martinez said shortly after the Advocate story broke.
Chick-fil-A raised the ire of the LGBT community this past summer when revelations it had made large contributions, estimated at over $5 million, via the WinShape Foundation to groups that oppose same-sex marriage. Gay protests were followed by support gatherings by anti-gay marriage groups and an appreciation day initiated by Huckabee.
Neither Ald. Moreno nor Chick-fil-A officials have responded to requests for comment.
Related:
Chick-fil-A's agreements "not an end game"
(ChicagoPride.com)
Huckabee said: "I talked earlier today personally with Dan Cathy, COO of Chick Fil-A about the new reports that Chick Fil-A had capitulated to demands of the supporters of same sex marriage. This is not true. The company continues to focus on the fair treatment of all of its customers and employees, but to end confusion gave me this statement:
"There continues to be erroneous implications in the media that Chick-fil-A changed our practices and priorities in order to obtain permission for a new restaurant in Chicago. That is incorrect", Cathy said. "Chick-fil-A made no such concessions, and we remain true to who we are and who we have been."
On Wednesday, Chicago Alderman Proco "Joe" Moreno (1st) said that he had written assurances from Chick-fil-A's Senior Dir. of Real Estate that donations to anti-gay causes had ceased.
With the agreement Moreno, who had previously refused to allow the Atlanta-based chain to locate in his Northwest Side ward, said he would reverse his decision.
On Thursday, the Advocate reported that Cathy tweeted a photo of himself participating in a bike ride that supported the Marriage and Family Foundations, a charitable organization identified as having opposed same-sex marriage.
"In the best case, we hope that this is a road-bump in what is typically a long process. In the worst case, they have lied and distorted their intentions. Only time will tell," The Civil Rights Agenda executive director Anthony Martinez said shortly after the Advocate story broke.
Chick-fil-A raised the ire of the LGBT community this past summer when revelations it had made large contributions, estimated at over $5 million, via the WinShape Foundation to groups that oppose same-sex marriage. Gay protests were followed by support gatherings by anti-gay marriage groups and an appreciation day initiated by Huckabee.
Neither Ald. Moreno nor Chick-fil-A officials have responded to requests for comment.
Related:
Chick-fil-A's agreements "not an end game"
(ChicagoPride.com)