Denver City Council stalls Chick-fil-A consideration citing its gay marriage stance
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Some Denver City Council members have stalled consideration of Chick-fil-A’s bid for a 7-year concession to operate a restaurant at the Denver International Airport, citing the company's stance against same-sex marriage.
According to the Denver Post, Business Development Committee member Paul Lopez believes that having the chicken chain at the airport is a “moral issue on the city.”
Openly gay councilwoman Robin Kniech, while addressing the council Tuesday, said: “We really want to look into the policies and practices of these companies, and just make sure that they conform to ours in the city, the State of Colorado. We have a marriage decision nationally. This is really about policies and it's about practices.”
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During the meeting none of the 10 members in attendance defended Chick-fil-A.
Kniech later told the Denver Post she was worried about a franchise in Denver generating “corporate profits used to fund and fuel discrimination.”
In 2012, Chick-fil-A's president Dan Cathy said that the "biblical definition of the family unit" did not include same-sex marriage.
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Soon after Cathy’s controversial statement, Boston and Chicago tried to block new Chick-fil-A locations but efforts were not successful. In the past two years, the fast food chain has been trying to update its image as it appeals to a younger market, and Cathy has said he regrets inserting the company into political debates.
In response the Denver City Council, Chick-fil-A released a statement, saying:
“Chick-fil-A, Inc. and its franchised restaurant owners are equal opportunity employers, employing more than 75,000 individuals who represent many diverse viewpoints, opinions, backgrounds and beliefs.”
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If the Business Development Committee rejects the lease, an individual member could introduce the deal in the full council, the Post reported.