I stopped (reluctantly, from a taste perspective) going to Chick-fil-A back in 2012 when it became clear that the company was involved in far-Right shenanigans, particularly with company profits going to fund anti-gay causes.
That controversy has died down some, but the Denver City Council, faced with a franchise application at Denver International Airport, has had concerns over it bring the proposal to a halt.
On the one hand, I'd rather the social aspects of the matter were handled more directly by people choosing (or not) to visit the hypothetical Chick-fil-A. Having the government penalize someone for their religious / political opinion is not a good thing (whether I agree with that opinion or not).
On the other hand, the government is involved here, not as censor, but as landlord and marketer. It may not be legit for them to say, "We don't like your beliefs so we will not do business with you," but is it legit for them to say, "We are concerned with how this reflects on the airport and how some visitors might feel about it," and reject it on that basis?
(Leaving aside the service level concerns over Chick-fil-A being closed on Sundays.)
I dunno. I just know that if they open up, that will be one more place where I don't go to Chick-fil-A.
Chick-fil-A location at DIA paused after Denver Council cites chain’s LGBT stances
Denver City Council members considering Chick-fil-A’s potential return to Denver International Airport say the chain’s stance on same-sex marriage is a w
Me, too. I was so angry when the shenanigans came out. They were supposed to be the good kind of Christians, the kind that did good work, were humble and friendly and funny, and DIDN’T HURT PEOPLE WITH THEIR FAITH. I went there with Ray a ton of times. It’s still a bit raw.
Yeah, have only been a couple times and not since the news came out about the general zealotry behind the company.
It used to be one of our go-to lunch-during-Saturday-errands places. The "play places" at the one near us was the first that our daughter played in (and one of the first she outrgrew). I could eat chicken nuggets and waffle fries and lemonade until I got sick.
So … maybe just as well.
I went to CFA for the first time ever about a month ago, because, well, I'd never been. Beforehand we stopped by Planned Parenthood and donated $40 as an indulgence. They laughed like maniacs when I told them about it, and said that I was not the first person to do so. I won't need to do so again. Blergh.
One argument I had in mind while writing this, but forgot to add, was that DIA has previously shown it is willing to restrict certain commercial products on the basis of the impression it gives of the airport, i.e., no "pot" themed objects (even things that contain no marijuana, like pot-themed t-shirts).
If that's legal to do, then the City Council can certainly say that a business associated with anti-gay sentiment would send a bad message.
(That leaves an opening for similar arguments against pro-gay establishments, or businesses known for contributing to Planned Parenthood, etc. That blade cuts both ways.)