Moreno's office releases Chick-fil-A letter to WCT
Wed. September 26, 2012 10:28 AM by GoPride.com News Staff
alderman proco "joe" moreno
Chicago, IL -
A long week of debate over whether Chick-fil-A vowed to discontinue its anti-gay donations and adopt anti-discrimination practices was capped off with Ald. Proco "Joe" Moreno's office releasing to the Windy City Times the letter from Chick-fil-A representatives.
Moreno, who initially vowed to block the Atlanta-based fast food chain in his Northwest Side ward, announced last Wednesday 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 said he would reverse his decision.
Last Friday, Conservative former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee issued a statement on his website denying that Chick-fil-A has changed their position on funding anti-gay marriage groups.
"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 told Huckabee. "Chick-fil-A made no such concessions, and we remain true to who we are and who we have been."
The war of words was further complicated when Moreno refused to release the written statement from Chick-fil-A because of an agreement with the company not to do so.
Matt Bailey, Moreno's spokesperson, agreed this week to release the letter - signed by John Featherston, Jr., Chick-fil-A's senior director of real estate and dating back to January - to the Windy City Times.
(Read the full text of the letter on the Windy City Times)
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.
Moreno, who initially vowed to block the Atlanta-based fast food chain in his Northwest Side ward, announced last Wednesday 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 said he would reverse his decision.
Last Friday, Conservative former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee issued a statement on his website denying that Chick-fil-A has changed their position on funding anti-gay marriage groups.
"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 told Huckabee. "Chick-fil-A made no such concessions, and we remain true to who we are and who we have been."
The war of words was further complicated when Moreno refused to release the written statement from Chick-fil-A because of an agreement with the company not to do so.
Matt Bailey, Moreno's spokesperson, agreed this week to release the letter - signed by John Featherston, Jr., Chick-fil-A's senior director of real estate and dating back to January - to the Windy City Times.
(Read the full text of the letter on the Windy City Times)
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.