Tornado Alley (PROG)

[SoxFan]

Intolerance at Chic-fil-A goes down - looks like the National Day of Intolerance will only be a one year event. I'm sure the batshit ring wing religious wacknuts will be despondent over this and will be in search for another chain to express their bigotry.


http://chicagophoenix.com/2012/09/18/chick-fil-a-agrees-to-end-anti-gay-donations-mandates-equal-treatment-of-gays/


After months of negotiations with Ald. Proco “Joe” Moreno over its anti-gay positions and donations, Chick-fil-A has agreed to cease donations from its non-profit charity to anti-gay organizations and issued a company-wide internal mandate calling for the equal treatment of all employees and customers.

WinShape, a non-profit funded by Chick-fil-A, has donated millions of dollars to anti-LGBT organizations — some classified hate groups — including Focus on the Family, according to The Civil Rights Agenda, which worked with Moreno and company executives in an advisory capacity as they negotiated to adopt new policies. Repeated attempts to confirm the information with Chick-fil-A have been unsuccessful.

The shift could ease intense opposition from the local LGBT community and the alderman that left many pitted against the restaurant chain’s plans to open a new location in the city.

“We are very pleased with this outcome and thank Ald. Moreno for his work on this issue,” said Anthony Martinez, executive director of TCRA. “I think the most substantive part of this outcome is that Chick-fil-A has ceased donating to organizations that promote discrimination, specifically against LGBT civil rights.”

The company outlined its shift in policy and practice in a letter addressed to Moreno (1st), who in July declared that he would block the popular fast food chain from opening a new location in his ward unless they changed their anti-gay policies. The letter, signed by Chick-fil-A’s Senior Director of Real Estate reads, “The WinShape Foundations is now taking a much closer look at the organizations it considers helping, and in that process will remain true to its stated philosophy of not supporting organizations with political agendas.”

Now, Moreno is set to end the ban by providing a letter of support and introducing an ordinance that would effectively enable the chain to open a standalone location in the 2500 block of North Elston Avenue in Logan Square on a parcel of land shared with a Home Depot store, according to TCRA.

Negotiations took 10 months to generate progress, and Martinez previously told Chicago Phoenix that Moreno has been in talks with the company since late last year. Moreno made national headlines when he announced he would ban the restaurant, initially garnering Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s support, and triggering the Chicago GOP to file a complaint with the Illinois Attorney General seeking a probe into the ban. Emanuel backtracked on his support shortly afterward. Days later, TCRA filed a complaint with the Illinois Department of Human Rights, alleging that Cook County Chick-fil-A locations discriminated against LGBT families.

The controversy sparked several protests outside of the Chicago Avenue restaurant location, including a pro-LGBT kiss-in demonstration and a boycott by the Gay Liberation Network in August.

“We feel this is a strong step forward for Chick-fil-A and the LGBT community; although it is only a step,” Martinez said, but noted that he’s not about to patronize the restaurant.

“I’m not going to be eating at Chick-fil-A any time soon,” he said. “I think people should make that decision for themselves.”

In an internal memo titled “Chick-fil-A: Who We Are” issued to franchisees and stakeholders, the company said that as a whole it would, “treat every person with honor, dignity and respect-regardless of their beliefs, race, creed, sexual orientation and gender,” and that its “intent is not to engage in political or social debates.”


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