Tea-Part-A Fil-A Chick-Fil-A!

                         

The controversy continues with Chick-Fil-A and the members of the LGBT community.

The National Chick-Fil-A Appreciation Day was declared by every conservative agitator in the country in response to the progressives boycott of the fast food restaurant.

From observance off Interstate 75 in my area, I got the opportunity to see the exit ramp congested with vehicles heading to the restaurant nearly 1/2 mile away. I heard on the radio that lines were long and the wait was even longer.

Many across the country heard the rally cry from the Tea Party and conservative talk radio. They've showed up in droves. Waiting for up to three hours for a chicken sandwich with some of the world famous waffle fries.

Conservatives claim victory in bigotry. It's the way of the world. Chick-Fil-A is making a cash cow. S. Truett Cathy and his son Dan are getting booking on Fox News (likely Mike Huckabee, Sean Hannity or Bill O'Reilly), and he's the new Tea Party hero of the month.

Rush Limbaugh celebrates his 24 years of conservative agitating by asking his listeners to get a sandwich from Chick-Fil-A.

From Wikipedia, Chick-Fil-A had historically been identified with shopping malls, as most of its original restaurants were in their food courts. Its first freestanding store opened in 1986; most of its new restaurants also are freestanding.

The Chick-Fil-A Sandwich is famous for its spicy flavor and pickles on a toasted bun.

What brought the restaurant into controversy was an interview on the syndicated radio talk show, The Ken Coleman Show. Chick-Fil-A COO Dan Cathy made what was seen as an inflammatory statement. Cathy stated: "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'. 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."

Thomas Menino, the mayor of Boston is taking offense to the Chick-Fil-A's hardline stance against gay marriage.

In the wake of this interview, Thomas Menino, the Mayor of Boston, stated that he would not allow the company to open franchises in the city "unless they open up their policies.” Menino subsequently wrote a letter to Dan Cathy, citing Cathy's earlier statement on The Ken Coleman Show and responding: "We are indeed full of pride for our support of same sex marriage and our work to expand freedom for all people."

In Chicago alderman Proco "Joe" Moreno announced his determination to block Chick-Fil-A's bid to build a second store in the city: "They'd have to do a complete 180," Moreno said in outlining conditions under which he would retract the block. "They'd have to work with LGBT groups in terms of hiring, and there would have to be a public apology from [Cathy]." Moreno received backing from Chicago's Mayor, Rahm Emanuel: "Chick-Fil-A values are not Chicago values," Emanuel said in a statement. "They disrespect our fellow neighbors and residents. This would be a bad investment, since it would be empty."

Rahm Emanuel, the mayor Chicago has issued a resolution condemning Chick-Fil-A. 

San Francisco soon followed suit on July 26 when mayor Edwin M. Lee tweeted, "Very disappointed #ChickFilA doesn't share San Francisco's values & strong commitment to equality for everyone." Lee followed that tweet with "Closest #ChickFilA to San Francisco is 40 miles away & I strongly recommend that they not try to come any closer."

The proposed bans in Boston and Chicago drew criticism from liberal pundits, legal experts and the American Civil Liberties Union. Kevin Drum of Mother Jones magazine said "[T]here's really no excuse for Emanuel's and Menino's actions... you don't hand out business licenses based on whether you agree with the political views of the executives. Not in America, anyway."

UCLA law professor and blogger Eugene Volokh observed, "[D]enying a private business permits because of such speech by its owner is a blatant First Amendment violation." Echoing those views were Glenn Greenwald of Salon, professor John Turley of George Washington University, and Adam Schwartz, a senior attorney with the ACLU.

In response to the July 2 interview, the Jim Henson Company, which had entered its Pajanimals in a kids' meal toy licensing arrangement in 2011, said that it would cease its business relationship with Chick-Fil-A, and donate payment for the brand to Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD).

Citing safety concerns, Chick-Fil-A stopped distributing the toys.

A spokeswoman stated the decision had been made July 19 and was unrelated to the controversy.