San Antonio Has Barred Chick-fil-A From Opening A New Location Due To The Company's Anti-LGBTQ Support
The fallout continues for Chick-fil-A. Last week, ThinkProgress reported on the company's continued financial support of anti-LGBTQ organizations despite having previously vowed to stop. Now, the Georgia-born fast food chain has been banned from opening a new location in Texas.
According to KTSA, the San Antonio City Council signed a seven-year contract on Thursday with national travel retailer Paradies Lagardère and will welcome a number of new restaurants to the airport's A Terminal. Though the project initially included Chick-fil-A, the council reportedly voted to approve it on the condition the chicken franchise is excluded from plans.
"With this decision, the City Council reaffirmed the work our city has done to become a champion of equality and inclusion," Coucilman Roberto Treviño said in a statement. "San Antonio is a city full of compassion, and we do not have room in our public facilities for a business with a legacy of anti-LGBTQ behavior."
In the wake of scandal, the company released a statement to PEOPLE welcoming "all people, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender identity." They're also fighting back against the recent San Antonio ruling:
The press release issued by the council member was the first we heard of his motion and its approval by the San Antonio City Council. We wish we had the opportunity to clarify misperceptions about our company prior to the vote. We agree with the council member that everyone should feel welcome at Chick-fil-A.
Chick-fil-A's 2017 tax filings revealed nearly $2 million in donations to Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Salvation Army, and Paul Anderson Youth Home, all of which have publicly opposed the LGBTQ community. And while this may come not come as a surprise given the brand's personal history in the same-sex marriage debate, execs promised to "no longer give to anti-gay organizations" in 2012, BuzzFeed News reported. So, yeah, this is definitely fishy.
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