Some members of the Denver City Council want to punish Chick-fil-A for its owner’s Christian beliefs about marriage. They are contemplating blocking the very popular chicken sandwich joint from setting up shop in the Denver Airport.
Besides the owner’s views on same-sex marriage, some members of the Council raised concerns about the “religion-influenced operation, which includes keeping all franchises closed on Sunday,” according to the Denver Post.
Concerned Council members invoke laws against discrimination; apparently unaware that one of the long-standing categories of protection is religion.
One Council member said doing business with Chick-fil-A would be similar to doing business with Donald Trump. “I would throw up in my mouth a little bit if we did business with Trump,” said Councilman Paul Lopez. Lopez called Chick-fil-A’s attempt to return to the Denver Airport after being absent for the past decade “really, truly a moral issue on the city.”
Chick-fil-A has never been charged with discrimination against anyone, let alone LGBTs. It is the religious views of Chick-fil-A owner Dan Cathy that have riled Denver City Councilmen.
Atlanta-based Concessions International and Denver’s Delarosa Restaurant Concepts would run the Chick-fil-A concession and have assured the City Council they do not discriminate based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Council members are concerned that some of the profits would nonetheless go to Chick-fil-A and use “corporate profits to fund and fuel discrimination.”
Since the controversy a few years ago, Chick-fil-A has become the target of the political left. Some college campuses have tried to keep the chain off their campuses and some cities have tried, too, including Chicago and Boston.
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